Road trip guide: Conquering Mount Tilton in Colorado

Mount Tilton is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.777m (12,391ft) above the sea level, located in Gunnison County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of Colorado.

Mount Tilton

Set high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, within the White River National Forest, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called County Road 740. Always check the weather forecast before you start your journey: adverse conditions are common. Winter comes early and stays late on this trail, so you may only be able to safely run it in the middle of the summer. It is not generally snow-free until late June or even July in some years.

Starting at the paved CO-135 road, the road to the summit is 26.07km (16.2 miles). Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1.158 meters. It’s steep in parts, hitting a 22.6% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Road conditions are always changing. 4x4 vehicle required. It offers a little bit of everything, including fantastic views at the end.
Pic: Patrick McKiernan