DESCRIPTION

Pick your hiking adventure! Judd Falls & Copper Creek Trail are the same trail. Judd Falls goes for 1.5 miles from the trailhead and is one of Crested Butte’s best fall hikes. It starts about 6.5 miles north of Mt. Crested Butte on Gothic Road. The Judd Falls portion of the route will take you on a rocky (but not steep) trail through a large aspen grove. Gaps in the trees provide a stunning view of fall foliage on the eastern side of Gothic Mountain. The Copper Lake stretch will take hikers past the Judd waterfall for those looking for a more challenging hike that will top out at a beautiful mountain lake. Go just a bit further past the lake to East Maroon Pass for epic views into multiple drainages.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

There is a pit toilet and large parking area at the trailhead. This trail will take hikers 3 miles round trip and 160 feet of elevation gain if stopping off at Judd Water Fall and 11 miles round trip and nearly 2000 feet of elevation gain if taking the trail all the way to Copper Lake and back. The trail will be a wide dirt road through the aspen forest and more narrow and rocky terrain further up to the falls. From the falls continuing onto Copper Lake, you will follow an old 4x4 road that continues as a double track all the way up. There will be three stream crossings on the section from Judd Falls up to Copper Lake.

EXPERIENCE LEVEL:

Beginner to Judd Falls; Advance to Copper Lake