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Daisy Pass Trail

Excellent day hike outside Crested Butte, Colorado
Connects Baxter Basin to the NE and Democrat Basin to the SW
Approx. 7 miles north of the City of Crested Butte

Recommended Season: Late July through August
Elevation Gain: 1,855 feet if one starts at the second stream crossing (Waypoint A)
Time: 2-3 hours up
Recommend starting early in the morning and head down by noon. Thundershowers are common during summer afternoon. Reliable water source at 10,284 feet elevation.



Directions:

Drive through Crested Butte, and turn north on County Road 734 just outside of the City. This is an unpaved road and it will take you northward along the Slade River. Drive pass the spur to Gunsight Pass, and continue northward on the main road. At the old townsite of Pittsburg, the road will cross the Slade River. Stay to the left of the split. If you don’t have a high clearance vehicle you will have to park your car here. I’ve driven a 4WD Suburban and a 2WD Tahoe across during high water season (Early and mid-July) without any trouble. Continue on the unmarked Forest Service road. A tributary of the Slade River will be on your left.

You can drive your car all the way to yet another stream crossing (Waypoint A). In my opinion, one should not drive pass this point unless you have a true mountain goat 4WD vehicle (a rock slide 1/8 miles up makes passage very difficult in 2008). Park your car by the stream and start hiking. Please note: This stream crossing can be dangerous, especially early in the season when water is high. If one were to be swept away, the hapless soul will be washed down a series of cataracts under snow tunnel in frigid water. If the water is high, consider turning back and try again on another day. In early July, 2008, I decided to turn back. The mountain will always be there. No need to risk your life.

The trail gains elevation through the Baxter Basin. You can see the Daisy Pass as a notch on the mountain cliff above. A lone pine tree marks the pass. One can see it for miles. As you climb higher do not miss the split to Daisy Pass (Waypoint B: Daisy Pass Split) You will climb through Alpine slopes carpeted with a profusion of wildflowers during late July and early August. The last few switchbacks are steep, and a hiking pole is of considerable help. Finally, the trail tops out at 11,656 feet (Waypoint C: Daisy Pass) The Democrat Basin is on the other side of the Pass.

Waypoint A: Second Stream Crossing: N38° 57.674’ W107° 05.299’ 9,801 ft
Waypoint B: Daisy Trail Split : N38° 57.104’ W107° 06.003’ 10,727 ft
Waypoint C: Daisy Pass: N38° 56.744’ W107° 06.151’ 11,656 ft


All readings taken with my Garmin eTrex Vista Cx GPS

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