Fancy Pass Trail - Vail, CO - One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the state

The Fancy Pass Trail is located near Vail and Pando, Colorado. The trail's scenery is beautiful and lives up to its name with the Sawatch Range to the west and the Continental Divide and Mosquito Ranges to the east. The Fancy Pass Trail is one of the most beautiful trails in Colorado and welcomes hikers from all over the country. The trail consists of a loop that is approximately 8.5 total miles from start to finish. The trails skill level is for the moderate to advanced hiker as some areas prove to be strenuous in nature.

At the beginning of the trail there is a steep climb that leads to Fancy Pass and then proceeds downward toward the Missouri Lakes area. The trail continues along the Missouri Creek and boasts scenery from glacial valleys, high alpine lakes, and beautiful cascading streams. The southern portion of the trail reaches the Holy Cross Wilderness.

The trail is open for hiking season from late June until October. There is an elevation gain along the trail of 2,584 feet and reaches 12,390 feet at its top elevation. Completion of the loop takes approximately five to six hours depending on the hiker's speed and endurance.