An off-trail approach to Interocean Pass Trailhead, 4 miles round trip.
This hike is interesting because it is quite close to Paonia, 2 miles up the Lone Cabin access road to Gunnison National Forest. . We will park at a spot just above “Sam’s Divide,” (a feature named on the Paonia USGS 24000 topo quad map). We'll walk 2 miles to the base of Interocean (IO) pass trail, between Lamborn and Coal Mtn. We’ll have lunch at a man-made campfire ring with 3-large stone seats on a rock glacier near the IO pass TH. We return by the same route for a total hike of 4 miles gaining 800 ft elevation (7,600 to 8,400 ft).
There are many interests along the way: the IO reservoir, views of Lone Cabin Reservoir, a rock glacier, the proposed Coal Mtn wilderness expansion area, great views of peaks, irrigation ditches, a Paonia spring water pipeline, a good look at IO pass from the bottom, an aspen forest and a cattle grazing lease that will be recovering and devoid of cattle at the time of the hike. Maps for the hike can be found here.
Due to walking on some informal sections of trail and off-trail sections, this hike is strenuous. We will meet at Western Slope Conservation Center's office (204 Poplar Ave, Paonia) at 8am to carpool up the 4WD road to the starting point. We should be done by 2pm. This hike is capped at 10 people.
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