Carbonate Peak
A bushwhack for experienced route-finders only.
Plan Around Carbonate Peak
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Carbonate Peak Details
If you want to summit Carbonate Peak, you should be prepared to do some route-finding, as this hike does not actually have an established trail. The climb is difficult and strenuous: the route up the peak is four miles and gains about 4,200 feet of elevation. Carbonate Peak is visible directly east of the Visitor Center -- it's the rounded, bald mountain. The lower grassy peak to the north is called Little Baldy, and has great views of the dune field: it's a shorter and less difficult destination if that's what you'd prefer. Either way, you simply start by hiking across country from the Visitor Center. Note the curving ridge line rising to the south: you may find the ridge an easy point of reference to use when trying to reach the summit. When hiking back down, be sure to orient yourself to Revelation Point before dropping into the trees; it easy to miss the ridge and end up in Morris Gulch.
Difficulty
High
Distance
8 miles
Estimated time
All day
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Carbonate Peak
Compare nearby parks around Carbonate Peak when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Carbonate Peak
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Carbonate Peak while the map context is still fresh.
3.0 mi away
Entrance Station
The park entrance is located on Colorado Highway 150.
3.0 mi away
Wellington Ditch Trail
A short trail that connects the Montville Nature Trail to the Pinon Flats Campground.
3.1 mi away
Mosca Pass
Get to the top of Mosca Pass, an old toll road used by Native Americans, via a singletrack hiking trail or an old gravel road.
3.2 mi away
Montville Nature Trail
A short trail if you're looking for a change of scenery from the dunes.
3.2 mi away
Montville/Mosca Pass Trailhead
A parking area with access to both the Montville Nature Trail and Mosca Pass Trail.
