Eccles Pass via Meadow Creek TH

Access:  The Meadow Creek Trailhead on the north side of I-70 off Frisco/Breckenridge Exit 203
Start: 1004, 8/20/2013

Total Distance: 14.14 mi

Duration: 3:01:01

Avg. Pace: 12:48 

Lowest/Highest Elevation: 9,186'/11,900'

Weather: 65F/Mostly Sunny

The Route

The Route (mileage from the start in parentheses):

The Eccless Pass loop around Buffalo Mountain is located at the southern end of the Gore Range in Summit County. I opted to run it counter clockwise. It is primarily single track. Ascending steeply from Meadow Creek, the trail levels off and forks at 0.5 mi. Take the right onto the Lily Pad Lake Trail up to the unremarkable Lily Pad Lake (1.5 mi), where the trail continues north.

Looking back on Dillon Reservoir from the Lily Pad Lake Trail

Stay left on the main trail leading to a paved neighborhood road called Ryan Gulch Circle (3 mi). Descend the road to the Buffalo Cabin Trailhead. Continue 1 mi on Buffalo Cabin Trail until the trail splits. Continue straight onto South Willow Creek Trail. DO NOT turn left, as the remainder of the Buffalo Cabin Trail leads up Buffalo Mountain. The South Willow Creek Trail quickly deteriorates into a narrow descent over steep rocks. Some route finding is required here. After 0.25 to 0.5 mi of descending, the trail widens and flattens out leading to a few small stream crossings over logs. After the stream crossings, the trail merges with the Gore Range Trail, turning left (5 mi). Continue a little under a mile, where the South Willow Creek Trail splits from the CDT. The South Willow Creek Trail is a short detour to a waterfall. 

Willow Creek Falls

 Continuing right at the split to stay on the GRT, the trail starts to climb in earnest over the next 3 mi through rocky single track in alpine meadows, thick brush, and tight trees in the shadow of the north face of Buffalo. This is the most difficult, most desolate and arguably prettiest section of the loop. 

Looking North from the Gore Range Trail

Around 8 mi in, treeline is reached and the trail splits (unmarked) between the Gore Range/Eccles Pass Trail and the Red-Buffalo Pass Trail. 

At Tree Line

Stay leftish to Eccles Pass unless you want to go over Red-Buffalo Pass down to East Vail.  After another mile of climbing, Eccles Pass is reached (9 mi). 

Looking North to Red Peak from Eccles Pass

 Continuing down from Eccles Pass on the Gore Range Trail, the trail again splits (marked). 

Split of Meadow Creek and Gore Range Trails

Stay left on the Meadow Creek Trail. The next 5 mi follow the wider, more popular Meadow Creek Trail back down to the Meadow Creek Trailhead.

Overall Impression:
This is mostly a secluded scenic route through alpine meadows and lakes. The beginning near Lily Pad lake is littered with beetle kill, but the South Willow Creek section of the trail all the way up to Eccles Pass is aesthetic and completely desolate - thick forests of Aspen, Douglas Fir and Ponderosa, peppered with small streams and open meadows. I recommend the detour to the South Willow Creek Falls if not in a rush. It's a beautiful spot to re-energize before the big climb up the Gore Range Trail to the top of Eccles Pass. The 5 mi descent from Eccles Pass is fast and steap. If you charge it, you'll feel it on your quads by the bottom.

The Run:
http://runkeeper.com/user/bwayne/activity/228557662