Three contiguous peaks south of Eagle and west of Crooked Creek Pass are called Red Table Mountain. The middle high point of these is Mount Thomas. The Mount Thomas Trail runs from east to west and is defined by a series of cairns near treeline. There are impressive vistas to the south into the Fryingpan River Valley from most of the trail. The final third of this hike to Mount Thomas from the east has been proposed as a wilderness area and bicycles and ATVs are forbidden.
Begin from the trailhead sign up to the south. The trail passes through mostly open terrain as it rises by switchbacks to a ridge. As you proceed westward, remember that your target lies above timberline and is marked by a large cairn of red rocks.
After crossing a long talus slope, you arrive at a high point of the trail that then descends to the west. From this high point, leave the trail and hike over tundra and rocks to the north for 75 yards to the large rock pile at the summit.
The terrain to the north drops off steeply. Retrace your route for the 4.4 miles back to the starting point.
Dave Muller, a Denver psychiatrist in private practice, is the author of several hiking guides.
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The details
Hike distance: 4.4 miles each way
Hiking time: Up in 134 minutes. Down in 107 minutes
Starting elevation: 10,340 feet
Highest elevation: 11,977 feet
Elevation gain: 2113 feet (includes 238 extra feet each way)
Trail: All the way until the last 75 yards
Difficulty: Moderate
Relevant maps: Trails Illustrated No.126
Crooked Creek Pass 7 1/2 Minute
Eagle County No.3
White River National Forest
Views from the summit: NE to Mount of the Holy Cross
E to Savage Peak
SE to Mount Yeckel
Getting there: From Interstate 70, take the Eagle exit, west of Vail. Then drive south through Eagle and up the Brush Creek Road to Sylvan Lake. Drive 5 more miles up to Crooked Creek Pass. One hundred yards before the pass take the Red Table Mountain Road on the right and descend south southwest. After three-tenths of a mile on the main road, turn sharply left and reach a road junction at six-tenths of a mile from Crooked Creek Pass. Ascend to the right and in three-tenths of a mile farther take a side road on the right at the Mount Thomas Trailhead with power lines above. Some regular cars can reach this trailhead. Without four-wheel drive you may wish to walk the nine-tenths of a mile from Crooked Creek Pass to the trailhead.
