Black Cloud Trailhead - Twin Lakes, Colorado

Jonathan Rodriguez

This trail has some spectacular views of the southern mountains going up before the ridge line. You gain over 3k ft in the first 3 miles and is uphill until you get over the first hump on the ridge line at about 13k ft. This trail is difficult and will challenge you. If you're not acclimated, come from sea level, or don't workout/run often then you will have an extremely difficult time. I still highly recommend it if you're in shape and love a challenge. It was 11.4 miles and took me 8 1/2 hours to complete.

Khai Mrant

Not an easy hike. It is very difficult and does demand so much energy, but we felt so great as we got to the top.
A few things: you can park and sleep at the trailhead for free. There's also the twin lake campground two minutes away. The campground is first-come, first-served. It has toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, barbecue stands, and costs $21/night.

John Bundy

Amazing Views!! Depending on your Conditioning, could be a difficult trail of you go all the way to Mt. Elbert. Be prepared for almost consistent incline climbing. Approximately 5,300ft of Elevation gain over 5+ miles.

David Fernandes

The Black Cloud Trail has been my preferred way to go up Mt Elbert for a long time. Trailhead remains "accessible" during the snow months (might need a shovel to dig yourself a parking spot though). Fall isn't bad either 🙂
This route goes fairly quickly up the ridge and from there goes around to "little Elbert" and a few false summits before reaching Mt Elbert proper. The views of La Plata on the other side of the valley are always fantastic.

Iurii Novak

It was a hard trial for me. But I did it. And that's my new elevation record 14400 foot!

William Lee

A long (10 hours, 15 mins) and brutal hike that tested my own resolve, as well as my friendship with my hiking companion (my fast-onset case of acute altitude sickness at about 13,000 feet didn't help). We both ended up winners all around. I can't wait to do it again!

Despite its difficulty, this is the only trail I would recommend for anybody in the top 20% fitness-wise. We saw 16 other people on the trail all day, but when we got to the top the other two trails were just long, slow-moving, single-file lines of...everyone else. I'm not that guy.

The trailhead/parking lot was difficult to see in the dark. It's simply a small wooden marker that's mostly obscured by vegetation, with two dirt tire-tracks next to it. I passed it twice before finally spotting it in time to slow down and turn in.

You can camp at the trailhead/parking lot, which is convenient. I'd recommend starting at 04:00-05:00 if you want to be back down by mid-to-late afternoon. This trail was actually fairly easy going for about the first 2 miles, just difficult enough to keep conversation brief. The middle mile is a very steep incline, and really wiped us out. The ascent is so rapid that altitude sickness can really sneak up and bite you hard. Even if you're not one of the 40% that's susceptible to altitude sickness at that level, prepare to be challenged: I'm no slouch, and it was somewhat difficult even before the AMS set in.

The last two-and-a-half miles are dangerous in their own way. Once you get to the top of the ridge, make sure you can get back to that spot. The path all but disappears, and almost immediately you will be navigating trackless, treacherous footing (scree): trying to find the trail back down could be pretty difficult if you don't make a pretty good mental note of where it begins.

Winds for the last three miles were very high: several gusts threatened to knock us off our feet. We started (early August) in tee shirts, and were in coats, stocking caps, and gloves by the end: it was about 32⁰F at the top, even before factoring in wind chill.

Our trekking poles were indispensable for the latter half of the ascent, as well as the "middle mile" slope on the descent.

George McIntire

Was a very enjoyable experience. Was clean and very nice. Some very great views of our America.
Only bad was a guy in a older white conversion van with barking dog actually stalking me as I was resting in a spot he wanted. He said some very rude and derogatory things.

Zachary Tucker

A steady route with about 90% of the ~5,000' in elevation gain in the first 3.5 mi (5.7 mi there, 5.7 mi back). The views at that point (Mt. Cosgriff) are absolutely amazing if you feel like turning around there.