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Mount Evans Wilderness
Located within the Mount Evans Wilderness, the 13.4 mile Rosalie Trail is
rated as Moderate. The Rosalie Trailhead is at an elevation of 11,670' while
it's destination is at 9,280'. The highest point of the Rosalie Trail has an
elevation of 11,800'.
Rosalie Trail is a popular trail extending from Guanella Pass to the
southeast edge of the Mt. Evans Wilderness.
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Rosalie Trail offers a variety
of scenery, including spectacular views of Mt. Bierstadt and the glacial
cirque on the south side of Mt. Evans. The trail intersects the Abyss Lake,
Threemile, and Tanglewood Trails, thus offering interesting extended hikes.
Several stretches of the trail are above treeline. Rosalie Trail is rated as
difficult primarily due to its length and the elevation gains in traversing
its entire length. There is a parking lot at each trailhead. In addition,
the Deer Creek Trailhead provides a corral for horses, but camping at this
trailhead is prohibited.
This description of the Rosalie Trail begins at Guanella Pass and ends at
the lower terminus near Deer Creek Campground. From Guanella Pass,
take the trail leading south out of the parking area. Halfway up the
hill, the trail veers east and south as it contours around the hill.
Further south, it rejoins the ridge, and then gradually descends to the
southeast, following a series of marker posts through the willows.
Shortly after reaching the trees, the trail crosses Scott Gomer Creek and
continues southeast to a low saddle before dropping down into an unmarked
drainage east of Scott Gomer Creek. Farther down, the trail joins the
Abyss Lake Trail. Continuing down the valley, you will soon reach
another intersection. Here the Abyss Lake Trail goes to the right down
the valley to the Abyss Trailhead, and the Rosalie continues southeast
towards Deer Creek.
The next stretch of the Rosalie Trail is steep in places as it climbs up
a glacial moraine through an old burn. This section of the trail has
some spectacular views of Mt. Bierstadt and the sheer south flank of Mt.
Evans. As the trail again begins to descend, you will reach the upper
end of the Threemile Trail, just east of the pass. The Threemile Trail
goes south, then down to Threemile Creek, and the Rosalie Trail continues in
a southeasterly direction descending the Deer Creek drainage. Near the
Wilderness boundary, the trail rises to the north away from the creek and
eventually follows an old logging road to an intersection with the
Tanglewood Trail. From this intersection, the Tanglewood Trail goes north up
Tanglewood Creek and on to join the Roosevelt Lakes Trail. The Rosalie Trail
turns south and goes downstream to the Deer Creek Trailhead.
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