White River National Forest · Colorado

Pitkin

4.9 mi of trail, end to end · native material surface · trail No. 2012 · trail class 3 · typical grade trail_grade · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking, horse

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 39.6430, -106.3030 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Perham Creek TH #1949 the Forest Service's write-up

This trail was made possible by Pitkin County Open Space Board. They purchased the land for the parking area all the way to the National Forest boundary. The trail is fairly steep the first half mile, then moderate to the ridge top. From the ridge to Middle Thompson Creek it is downhill with a steep section from the stream crossing to the road. Recommended route for bicycles is to ride from the Middle Thompson trailhead to the Perham Creek trailhead. The trail starts 200 feet north from where roads 305 and 306 fork. This trail follows large stands of pinyon and juniper with lots of scrub oak. Trail offers a unique view of Mt. Sopris.

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Pitkin TH #2012 the Forest Service's write-up

The Pitkin Trail begins in East Vail and ends at Pitkin Lake: The first mile of the trail is strenuous as it climbs steeply out of the Vail Valley. The grade levels out somewhat as the trail passes through mature aspen groves and spruce-fir forests and a series of moraines from an ancient glacial retreat. After about 2.5 miles, steep switchbacks reveal the first of two waterfalls on Pitkin Creek about 200 yards to the east. After a number of false summits, the trail reaches Pitkin Lake, nestled beneath an arc of gray granite in the alpine tundra.

Trailhead parking is limited: park in town and take the free bus to the trailhead.

Restrictions <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recarea/?recid=81106">Eagles Nest Wilderness </a>regulations apply to areas within the Wilderness boundary

This hike on fs.usda.gov

Every trail in White River National Forest

All 729 trails in White River National ForestFind a trailForest on fs.usda.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.