From where we camped, this is a 21 mile route with 5,600' of vertical gain, ranging from 8,800' - 12,100' above sea level. The trail is entirely single track that ranges from buttery smooth, rolling terrain to loose, steep, washed out dry creek bed.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/415902677
Cody, our Australian Shepherd, and I ran this loop in mid-October and had a blast. The family drove up from Golden, CO on Friday night, took I-70 to the CO-40 exit, over Berthoud Pass, through Winter Park and Granby, up CO-125, and down CO-21A until you get near the Never Summer trailhead. The trip took about 3hr 15min to get to the campsite.
We saw three trucks with people near the trailhead, all of whom had hunter blaze orange on. This was October and the hunting season was in full force. Be aware and visible.
Running up the dirt road for .25mi, we found the #1141 Never Summer trailhead on the left side of the road and we started up. This is fairly runnable grade, narrow single track with rocks and roots but no big jumpy moves all the way up from 9,900' to the top of Fairview Mountain at 12,140'. Around 11,400' you'll see a junction to Jack Park Trail on the left. Continue right up the steeper trail to stay on trail #1141. At 11,800' there is an unmarked trail junction. Take the trail on the left to go up to Fairview Mountain. If you go straight, you'll be on Bowen Pass Trail.
At the top of Fairview Mtn. there's an amazing view on both sides. Enjoy. Most of the Bowen-Baker loop is below treeline, so take some pics. The trail down to Parika Lake is loose gravel but lots of fun to bomb down. Continue down the trail from Parika Lake on fairly steep, technical rock trail with switchbacks and creek crossings. You won't make up a ton of time on this downhill because of its difficulty.
At a creek crossing at mile 6.5, you'll see the Baker Pass Trail on the left. Don't take this unless you want to add miles to your loop. Keep right and keep going downhill. From the top of Fairview Mtn. down to the Bowen-Baker Trailhead it's 6 miles of non-stop downhill with lots of creek crossings. I drank the water untreated and didn't get sick. YMMV.
At a creek crossing at mile 6.5, you'll see the Baker Pass Trail on the left. Don't take this unless you want to add miles to your loop. Keep right and keep going downhill. From the top of Fairview Mtn. down to the Bowen-Baker Trailhead it's 6 miles of non-stop downhill with lots of creek crossings. I drank the water untreated and didn't get sick. YMMV.
Just before you arrive at the main Bowen-Baker trailhead near CO-34 Trail Ridge road (my mile 10), you'll get to the registration box for hunters and backcountry overnight hikers. Run past this through open forest on a crushed gravel trail, and then at a small parking lot, take a hard right and go through the gate to get on some smooth rolling trail. Follow the trail signs to the right on some gentle uphill single track for ~3 miles up to the trail junction that leads to Trail Ridge Road (left) or Bowen Pass Trail (right). Take a right to stay on trail 119 Bowen Pass Trail. This trail is very smooth and runnable for 3 miles, so take advantage. Once you get to 9,800' it's much rockier and steeper.
There is not much water for the next 4 miles from the previous junction, until you cross the creek and head toward the Blue Lake trail turnoff, so take advantage when you can. Continue on Bowen Pass for another 2 miles until you see the Bowen Lake trail junction on your left. Stay right on the Bowen Pass Trail. The next 2 miles is rocky and steep up to treeline and the open basin near Ruby Lake. We heard elk calling to each other in this basin with incredible views of Cascade Mtn. to lookers left, Ruby Mtn. next to it, Bowen Pass Straight ahead, and Bowen Mtn. on lookers right.
Climb up 400 feet of vertical from 11,000' to the top of Bowen Pass. At the top of the pass is a junction. On your left is the Cascade trail, part of the CDT. Continue straight on Bowen Pass Trail down the other side of the pass. In about .2 miles you'll reach the junction to the Ruby Mountain trail on the left, which says it's part of the CDT. This trail will take you the long way down to western-most Illinois River trailhead. Stay straight to drop back down onto trail #1141 to get back to your start. It's about 3 miles of single track downhill with views for days. Trail #1141 exits onto the dirt road and back down to wherever you decided to camp off the road.
You made it!
There is not much water for the next 4 miles from the previous junction, until you cross the creek and head toward the Blue Lake trail turnoff, so take advantage when you can. Continue on Bowen Pass for another 2 miles until you see the Bowen Lake trail junction on your left. Stay right on the Bowen Pass Trail. The next 2 miles is rocky and steep up to treeline and the open basin near Ruby Lake. We heard elk calling to each other in this basin with incredible views of Cascade Mtn. to lookers left, Ruby Mtn. next to it, Bowen Pass Straight ahead, and Bowen Mtn. on lookers right.
Climb up 400 feet of vertical from 11,000' to the top of Bowen Pass. At the top of the pass is a junction. On your left is the Cascade trail, part of the CDT. Continue straight on Bowen Pass Trail down the other side of the pass. In about .2 miles you'll reach the junction to the Ruby Mountain trail on the left, which says it's part of the CDT. This trail will take you the long way down to western-most Illinois River trailhead. Stay straight to drop back down onto trail #1141 to get back to your start. It's about 3 miles of single track downhill with views for days. Trail #1141 exits onto the dirt road and back down to wherever you decided to camp off the road.
You made it!
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