Mosquito Pass - hiking in Summit County Colorado

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Mosquito Pass

Length: Approx. 6.6 miles roundtrip
Highlights: Mining Ruins, Spectacular views of Mosquito Gulch, the thrill of walking in the footsteps of "Father" Dyer
Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Elevation Gain: Approx. 1,500 ft.

Directions: Drive 16.3 miles south on Colorado 9 from the stop light at Main Station Mall in Breckenridge. Turn right onto Mosquito Gulch Rd. (dirt) and drive 4.4 miles where you bear right at the fork that says "4WD Only" (It is now 5 and a half miles to the pass). In spite of the warning sign, we have been able to proceed in a standard 2WD vehicle for another couple miles until you come to a sharp hairpin turn by a large tarn as seen in the photo below. You can park here. There used to be a sign here that noted that this was a stagecoach toll road between Denver and Leadville until 1881 but all that is left of the sign now are old sign posts! Cont.'d below:
	Above: Mining Ruins dot the Landscape in Mosquito Gulch

Below: Driving Back Mosquito Gulch.

Elevation here is about 11,540' and you can walk the 4WD road for about 3.3 miles to the pass at slightly over 13,000'.

Description:
O.K. - this is not a Summit Co. hike. It is in Park County. Maybe we should call this a "daytrip" but the beauty of this area is unsurpassed. As you hike to the pass consider that you are walking in the footsteps of Father John Dyer - 19th century Methodist minister and mail carrier who

	weekly made this trek, often in snowshoes, from Alma to Leadville. You can visit the Methodist church that he founded in the late 19th century in Breckenridge (located a couple blocks off Main St.) The mining ruins, views of Leadville and Mosquito Gulch are spectacular. Yes, you can drive to the pass in 4WD but why would you want to ruin an invigorating hike?? "I LIKE TO BE ON TOP" t-shirt and other merchandise Click logo above
Above: Park here close to the sign noting the Denver- Leadville toll road.		Above: Great views of Mosquito Gulch.

Above: The tarn in the background is about at the starting point for this hike.		Above: more mining ruins dotting the landscape

Above: Follow the 4WD drive road to the pass - listen for the ghost of Father Dyer		Above: As you approach the pass, expect to find snow - even late in the season.

	beginner		intermediate	advanced
	Black Powder Pass		Mohawk Lake	Quandary Peak 14,265'
	Lily Pad		Chihuahua Gulch	Lincoln & Bross 14,291' / 14,177'
	St. John's		Mt. Royal	Bierstadt Peak 14,060'
	Mayflower Gulch		Wheeler Lakes	Willow & Salmon Lakes
	Loveland Pass		Radical Hill Trail	Upper Crystal Lake
	Salt Lick Trail		McCullough Gulch	Gray's & Torrey's 14,278' / 14,267'
	Mesa Cortina Trail		Mt. Sniktau	Mt. Democrat 14,152'
	St. Mary's Glacier		North Ten Mile Trail	Mt. Victoria
	Sally Barber Mine		Willow Falls	Mt. Elbert 14,433'
	Oro Grande Trail		Eaglesmere Lakes	Buffalo Mountain 12,777'
	Meadow Creek-Salt Lick		Mosquito Pass	Eccles Pass
	Shrine Mountain Trail		Webster Pass	Mt. Huron 14,003'
	Ptarmigan Trail		Ptarmigan via Wilder Gulch
	Peaks Tr. Barton Gulch		Wheeler Lake - Park County
	Hoosier Pass Loop		Lenawee Trail
	Spruce Creek Loop	NEW!	Nightmare on Baldy Mine
NEW!	Tenderfoot Mountain Trail

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Note: The Summit County Explorer website is for entertainment purposes only. SCE will not be held liable for the any accidents or injuries resulting from the activities listed on this site. Trail conditions change daily and we assume no responsibility for the safety of any individual during any of these activities. Please consult actual trail guides and maps before attempting any of the activities mentioned here.