Little Elk
Little Elk Trail is a 12.1-mile trail in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Uncompahgre Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison 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 | 38.1772° N, 107.3230° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 38.0824° N, 107.3534° W · 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 5 segments.
The trail
| Length | 12.1 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately 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 | 9244 |
| Forest | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (unit 0204) |
| 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.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 07/01 to 09/15 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 07/01 to 09/15 (month/day) |
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
- Uncompahgre WildernessFS · about 74% 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
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Trails nearby
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireElk
2 mi from the trail midpoint · 7,257 acres · 90% contained
- PrescribedUpd Baldy Mountain Piles Rx
21 mi from the trail midpoint · 120 acres
- WildfireGold Mountain
21 mi from the trail midpoint · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedEast Bench Piles Rx
31 mi from the trail midpoint · 5 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Little Elk Trail?
The Forest Service records 12.1 miles under this name in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, the sum of 5 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Little Elk Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock are allowed. 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 Little Elk Trail start?
The line begins at 38.1772° N, 107.3230° W and ends at 38.0824° N, 107.3534° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Little Elk Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Uncompahgre Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Uncompahgre Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Little Elk Trail?
Big Blue Campground (4.4 mi) and Alpine Ranger Station (4.8 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 2 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Little Elk Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately 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 Little Elk Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Little Elk Trail?
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Forest Service unit 0204. The trail is in Colorado.
Source: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests official page
Is there a fire near the Little Elk Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Elk at 2 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 5 segments named Little Elk in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0204. 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 November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.