Explore Steamboat, Crags Trail #1182

Trail access

#1: Go north of Steamboat on the Strawberry Park Road to County Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road) and turn right. Travel approximately 9 miles on this road just before Summit Lake turn right and park in the provided parking lot. Walk the Wyoming Trail #1101, about 7 miles passing the 1168 and turn left onto the Crags trail. USE: Light to Moderate

#2: From the Mad Creek area travel on trail #1100 into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness and turn right onto the Luna Lake Trail #1168. Continue east until reaching the lake. At the eastern end of the lake, next to the forested edge the Crags trail #1182 begins.

Trail attractions

There is adequate parking at the Summit of Buffalo Pass. Please help protect the vegetation by using the provided parking lot. The trail described can be combined with others to provide a multi-day back packing trip. While views are outstanding and the lakes pristine, part of the Crags trail is in an area where much snow cover is still encountered in July and August. This portion is marked by cairns up to its junction with the Divide. Please remember Wilderness Ethics during your trail time.

Narrative

Beginning the Crags trail from Luna Lake, the user will wind uphill through thick forest and pass Lake of the Crags on the left after about half mile. Leaving Lake of the Crags the trail continues gently uphill turning sharply east up through meadows of snowpack seen through late August. This portion of trail is marked by dispersed cairns. Continue to the top of the trail and junction with the Continental divide, Wyoming Trail #1101. From this point views are extraordinary! See if you can pick out Mount Ethel at 11,924' or Lost Ranger Peak at 11,932'!