Bemrose Creek Ski Circus describes a complex of trails originating at the summit of Hoosier Pass. It has opportunities for out-and-back trips or, if you set up a car shuttle, a wonderful, easy downhill run.
With the development of homes in the neighborhood of the lower trailhead, access and route-finding have become a little more complex in recent years, but after a couple of conversations with the Forest Service (White River National Forest now has jurisdiction), I finally figured it out. (At one point I was ready to suggest to The Post’s Travel editor that we rename this week’s column “Trail Mix-up”!). The effort was worth it, however, because the area offers great snow, outstanding views and fun trails.
In the past the lower trailhead was on Colorado 9, located near an old cabin 1.4 miles north of Hoosier Pass. This is still used by some people even though the Forest Service has now created a parking area and trailhead signage just off Colorado 9 on County Road 670. I will describe routes ending at each of these trailheads.
This week’s route starts on the “Flume” trail and then picks up the “Woods” trail down Bemrose Creek.
Hike Description
From the large parking area atop Hoosier Pass, carefully cross the highway to the east side (possibly the crux of the route!) and put on your skis or snowshoes. The sign advertising the Bemrose Creek Ski Circus is up the hill a few yards. Follow the road as it heads slightly north (left) before turning east.
The Flume trail contours around the Hoosier ridge, crossing several drainages as it heads generally east and northeast through evergreens. With good snow cover, you may never realize that you’re traveling on top of a steel water pipe.
After 2.1 miles of kick and glide, you will reach a significant opening in the trees as you cross one of the streams that feeds Bemrose Creek (way point “Junction Gulch”). Look for a sign on a tree on the downhill side of the trail, indicating the start of the Woods and Creek trails. The sign is easy to miss.
There is usually a track heading down the drainage from here. To join the Woods Trail you should take this downhill track, infrequently marked with blue diamonds. Looking down this drainage you have unobstructed views of Quandary Peak and North Star Mountain.
Three-tenths of a mile after leaving the Flume trail, look for a large, standing dead tree on the left side of the meadow. A sign on the tree indicates the Woods and Creek trails (way point “Tree with sign” ).
Take the left fork (Woods Trail) and follow the blue diamonds onto a road cut through the trees. This well-marked section of the trail offers a delightful, easy downhill run. Seven- tenths of a mile past the sign on the tree, the trail enters an open area (waypoint “Trail Junction”). The blue diamonds, difficult to follow here, head to the right and drop down to Bemrose Creek, joining the Forest Service Road at way point “Road.”
This intersection, the start of the Woods Trail, is marked only by a blue diamond attached to a small conifer, and is easy to miss if following the route in the reverse direction.
Turn left onto the road (FSR 670) and head downhill, still following blue diamonds. After just over a tenth of a mile on the road you will reach a point where the road is plowed (way point “End of Plowed Road”). Continue past the snow pile and continue to follow the blue diamonds as the road makes a sharp right turn (way point “Garage”) then a sharp left turn at the intersection with Forest Service Road 674 (staying on FSR 670). The road crosses a creek, passes the junction with FSR 671 and continues on to the parking area (way point “Parking”).
The map shows several alternative options to the route described here. The Creek Trail is, I believe, unmarked. I found it quite easy, however, just to ski down the drainage and bushwhack a little until reaching the water diversion dam (way point “water diversion dam” ). From here, just head down the road and rejoin the Woods Creek route.
If you decide to stay on the Flume trail beyond waypoint “Leave Flume,” another alternate route is to head down Bemrose Creek at the end of the Flume Trail (marked with a sign for Bemrose Creek) and ski down the main drainage until you can join the Creek Trail (see map).
Dave Cooper is the author of “Colorado Scrambles: A Guide to 50 Select Climbs in Colorado’s Mountains.”
The details
Getting to the trailhead
Hoosier Pass Trailhead: 10 miles
south of Breckenridge on Colorado
9 (way point “Hoosier Pass Parking.”
Lower trailheads: The recommended
parking for access to the
lower trailhead is off Forest Service
Road 670. FSR 670 is located
1.7 miles north of Hoosier Pass.
Turn south onto this road and drive
one-tenth of a mile to the plowed
parking area by the sign for the ski
circus (way point “Parking”). Note
that no parking is allowed beyond
this point. Please don’t park along
the road.
The trailhead marked “Alternate
Parking” on the map is located at a
plowed turnout 1.4 miles north of
Hoosier Pass at the information
sign and historic cabin site.
Hike Statistics
Hoosier Pass to lower trailhead:
1,100 feet of cumulative elevation
loss in 3.9 miles (one way). Net elevation
loss is only 500 feet.
Difficulty: If you stay on the trail
described, this is an easy ski or
snowshoe, though above 11,000
feet. There are lots of options for
telemark skiers on the slopes north
of Bemrose Creek.
