Hikes/United States/Colorado/Elk Mountains

Difficulty

Moderate

Elevation

159 m

Distance

4.3 km

Duration

1-1.5h

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Whetstone Vista Loop

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The Whetstone Vista Loop is a pleasant hiking route in Crested Butte, Colorado that will see you traverse a forested hillside for views across the Slate River Valley. While out hiking the trail, you will meander uphill along the lower slopes of Crested Butte Mountain, passing through the tree cover to enjoy beautiful views of nearby Whetstone Mountain. The latter portion of this trail does follow alongside the road, so make sure that you are being mindful of passing vehicles, especially if children or dogs are present.

Route Description for Whetstone Vista Loop

While the Whetstone Vista Loop is a fairly laidback and easy-to-navigate hike, finding the trailhead can be a bit of a challenge. After parking your vehicle, keep an eye out for a trailhead sign next to a dirt path. Additionally, parking here can be hard to come by, particularly during peak times, so try arriving early to get as close to the trailhead as possible.

Even though it can be a bit tricky to locate the starting point of this hike, once you are on the trail it is a fairly straightforward adventure. Along the trail, you will experience a lovely woodland setting, as well as stunning views across the river valley that include the surrounding Elk Mountains, making for an excellent day on the trails, no matter your skill level.

Setting out from the trailhead along Brush Creek Road, you will head north along the dirt footpath next to a private residence driveway. Here, the path will wind back and forth to the north, as you enter into the tree cover and cross over the driveway to work around the house.

Following along the woodland path for the next 0.9 km, you will meander through the forest and enjoy intermittent views of the surrounding valley through the breaks in the tree cover, before arriving at a junction in the trail. For those that want to extend the overall length of their hike and visit Grant Lake, you can turn left and make a detour to visit the water’s edge to the northwest. If not, simply keep to the right here.

Making your way east across the lower slopes of Crested Butte, you will pass through several meadows and enjoy views looking out across the Slate River Valley towards Whetstone Mountain. Here, the trail will descend to the southeast and bring you to the edge of Brush Creek Road.

Turning to the right, you will follow along Brush Creek Road for 1.2 km as it leads you to the west. Make sure to keep an eye out for passing vehicles, as you continue along the road until you arrive back at the starting point of the Whetstone Vista Loop.

Trail Highlights

Whetstone Mountain

Situated in the West Elk Mountains, a subrange of the Rocky Mountains, Whetstone Mountain is a prominent peak with an elevation of 3,818 m. The mountain is categorized as a laccolith and features several cirques on its north side that are the result of glaciation.

Insider Hints for Whetstone Vista Loop

Arrive early to secure parking at the trailhead.
The trailhead can be easy to miss, but it is marked with a sign along the dirt path, right next to a private driveway.
Wear proper hiking boots to better traverse the trail.
The hike can be extended to the northwest if you want to visit the shores of Grant Lake.

Getting to the Whetstone Vista Loop Trailhead

The trailhead for the Whetstone Vista Loop can be found 3mi east of Crested Butte along Brush Creek Road.

Route Information

Backcountry Campground:
No
When to do:
April-September
Pets allowed:
Yes - On Leash
Family friendly:
Yes
Route Signage:
Average
Crowd Levels:
Moderate
Route Type:
Circuit