The best running trails in Buffalo Peaks Wilderness

One thing that sets the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness apart from other wilderness areas is how high some of its riparian environments climb. At elevations of 10,000 feet and above, there is a multitude of streams, beaver ponds, and herds of animals. This spot on Tumble Creek Trail is known for constantly having ponds and seasonal pools. This is also a good place to refill your water if you are running with a filter bottle.

At 11,938 feet, Weston Pass is the high point on the mountain road connecting the towns of Fairplay and Leadville. The road really isn't too rough until the final mile or so on both sides. There is plenty of parking along the road and from different trailheads to make a run up to the pass as far as you want it to be. Don't forget to visit the alpine pond below Weston Peak just a short distance off the main road.

The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness encompasses over 40,000 acres and has a different "feel" from the other wilderness areas around the Sawatch and Mosquito mountain ranges. This wilderness area is much less visited than others (probably due to accessibility and proximity to larger cities), which means it offers more solitude than a lot of other outdoor spaces. Wilderness areas have different rules than other outdoor spaces (such as state parks and national forests) so it's best to be prepared for backcountry travel, and make sure to always follow LNT principles in these more fragile environments. If you want to experience the alpine wilderness without too many crowds, the Buffalo Peaks could be what you're looking for.

Rich Creek Trail is the epitome of the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness. Much of the trail travels through a high alpine meadow and holds water much of the year (welcoming late season wildflowers and wildlife). It's likely you will encounter others out using this trail, and it is in an easily affected area so please keep on established trails or spread out as a group when having to travel off trail. It is a climb up to the meadow, but the running is relatively flat and gradual in the meadows.

One thing that sets the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness apart from other wilderness areas is how high some of its riparian environments climb. At elevations of 10,000 feet and above, there is a multitude of streams, beaver ponds, and herds of animals. This spot on Tumble Creek Trail is known for constantly having ponds and seasonal pools. This is also a good place to refill your water if you are running with a filter bottle.

Of the two Buffalo Peaks, East Buffalo is the shortest at 13,300 feet. That being said, it also has the tougher slopes. Both peaks require some alpine route finding and class 2 scrambling, but the ascent/descent for East Buffalo is a little rockier. This is why a proposed loop for both peaks goes up East Buffalo and down West Buffalo.

At 13,326 feet, West Buffalo is just barely the highest of the two peaks. The ridge walk between the two summits is never more intricate than class 2 moves but does require some route finding and boulder hopping. Not a lot of running happens on the peaks or the ridge, but the lower trails offer awesome singletrack. The views from the top of West Buffalo Peak gives you the eagle's eye over all the land nearby. Across the valley you will be able to see a number of 14ers in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, and to the east you can see Pikes Peak (on a clear day).

Tumble Creek Trail is a wilderness trail just outside of Buena Vista, Colorado, that spends the majority of its time in the trees as it winds between 12,000 and 13,000 foot peaks. At this spot (a little over 11,000 feet elevation), the trail breaks into an open meadow with views of the Buffalo Peaks and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness areas. The running is spectacular through the meadows, and you can easily tie into other wilderness trails using this trail.