Grouse Area Trails in Minturn
The Grouse trailhead opens onto short or long loops for hikers, runners and riders heading toward the wilderness via Grouse Lake or West Grouse Creek. A 2022 VVMTA project extended Full Nelson to connect West Grouse Creek with Grouse Lake and built the Ditch Trail linking Haymeadow to Grouse Lake. The suggested loop climbs West Grouse Creek, crosses Half Nelson and Meadow Mountain, descends Full Nelson to Grouse Lake, climbs Haymeadow, crosses the Ditch Trail, and returns on Full Nelson and West Grouse Creek. For a bigger day, add Meadow Mountain, Whiskey Creek and Everkrisp for the 20-mile, 4,500-foot Meadow Mountain MEGA.
10.2 mi
2,300 ft gain
1 hr 45 min
Advanced
Highlights
- Technical descending on West Grouse Creek and Grouse Lake
- 2022 Full Nelson and Ditch Trail additions
- Multiple loop configurations
- Meadow Mountain MEGA extension
Trailhead & parking
Grouse Trailhead
Park at the Grouse trailhead on Highway 6 and 24, about half a mile from I-70; the lot fills, so the Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea lot across the street is the backup.
Directions- Season & conditions
- Late spring through late fall; closed to bikes Nov. 23 to May 21.
- About this data
- Distance, elevation, time, season and parking are from the article, which rates the loop intermediate to advanced. Coordinates from public map data.