Buchanan Pass
Buchanan Pass Trail is a 15.8 miles trail in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2 to 3, moderately developed to developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. It enters Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 40.1313, -105.5058 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 40.1096, -105.6967 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 11 segments.
The trail
| Length | 15.8 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed; 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 910 |
| Forest | Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests (unit 0210) |
| States | Colorado |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Indian Peaks Wilderness WildernessFS · about 63% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
No season published · listed none · <p><strong>The Middle Saint Vrain road and trailhead access are open seasonally. For current information on road openings and closures, check the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5339508">Road Status Table.</a></strong></p><p>Conditions are generally best from June through October. Higher elevations on this trail are typically snowy until late June or even July in wet years.</p> The following regulations apply to the Middle St Vrain Road: Dispersed camping is prohibited within the first 1/2 mile. All vehicles must be either street-legal or registered annually through Colorado State Parks' OHV Registration Program. Campsites should be at lea | 0 mi |
No season published · listed none Indian Peak Wilderness restrictions apply: Motorized equipment and mechanized transportation are prohibited. Pets must be on a hand-held leash at all times. Campfires are prohibited year round. Campsites must be at least 100 feet away from water and trail. Gro | 0 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date. The recreation page link goes to the Forest Service site, which may redirect to the forest's recreation index.
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Explore
Park units nearby
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Buchanan Pass Trail?
15.8 miles, the sum of the 11 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Buchanan Pass Trail?
hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Buchanan Pass Trail start?
The line begins at 40.1313, -105.5058 and ends at 40.1096, -105.6967. The nearest recorded trailhead is Middle Saint Vrain Trailhead, 0 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Buchanan Pass Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Indian Peaks Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Where can I camp near the Buchanan Pass Trail?
Peaceful Valley (0 mi), Camp Dick (0.2 mi) and Pawnee (0.4 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Buchanan Pass Trail?
Trail class 2 to 3, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed to developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Buchanan Pass Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Buchanan Pass Trail?
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Forest Service unit 0210. The trail is in Colorado.
Source: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests official page
Source
This page is built from 11 segments named BUCHANAN PASS in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0210. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.