Date hiked: 6-10-20 to 6-11-20; first three miles from Guanella Pass 8-14-20

Mileage: 27 miles out and back

Usage: Medium on the Bailey side. High on the Guanella Pass side. High around the Abyss Lake trail.

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Part 1: Bailey to treeline (7 miles one way)

The trail starts out following Deer Creek, but at the first bridge a quarter mile in, it veers north along Tanglewood Creek. Across the next three-quarters of a mile, the trail grows steeper in the hillsides, and crosses the creek two more times. The third one has a bridge, but not the second. Where the trail levels, you’ll soon come up on a signed intersection. This is where you’ll turn to continue onto the Rosalie Trail.

The Rosalie Trail pulls away from the creek. Steeper now, it doesn’t flatten until it reaches a crest between Tanglewood Creek and Deer Creek. A lot of downed trees litter the forest on all sides of the trail, but the trail itself is clear. Wildflowers color the undergrowth, and the trees thin to distant views of treeline.

At 3 miles, a long descent ends at a campsite on Deer Creek. The pass briefly flickers into view before losing it near the wilderness boundary. From here, the trail holds tight to the creek on a level grade.

After 1 mile, the trail grows steeper, and rocky, as it pulls further away from the creek. It levels again at a large meadow, crosses Deer Creek, then switchbacks to gain ground near the head of the basin. At a meadow at the base of Deer Creek’s headwaters, the trail pulls away from Deer Creek to follow another drainage to the pass.

Switchbacks gain ground quickly, pulling above treeline to meet with the Three Mile trail at 6.25 miles. On the way back down, I saw a moose in the willows along the switchbacks. A long easy stretch above treeline reaches the high point at 11,676 feet.

Part 2: The descent into Scott Gomer Creek (2.5 miles one way)

From the high point, a slow descent finds the ridges above Lake Fork Creek and Scott Gomer Creek. Gradual switchbacks, sometimes difficult to keep track of in trees, lead into a steep and rocky slope high above Lake Fork Creek. Losing 650 feet in 1.25 miles, the trail crosses the creek on two logs, and another set of switchbacks ends a quarter mile before the Abyss Lake intersection. Turn left, and take the next right really soon after that (this one is easy to miss, so keep an eye out).

This section of the trail is a lot busier, both with backpackers and day hikers headed up to Abyss Lake.

Part 3: To Guanella Pass (4.5 miles one way)

In the forest at the edge of the meadow that surrounds Scott Gomer Creek, the trail starts out relatively flat, but it soon gets rocky and steep on its way to another high point. The trail can be faint, but you can’t get lost.

At 11,422 feet, the trail plateaus at treeline, and from here, you only have 3.25 miles left to Guanella Pass.

The trail gets faint on and off through these final three miles to Guanella Pass. Descending 100 feet to Scott Gomer Creek, a log and a cairn mark the trail. Fight your way through the willows to the creek, and cross on the rocks.

The trail gains ground on the opposite side of the creek in a forest and a thicker undergrowth.

With about 2 miles left, the trail eases up in the willows and stunted trees. An easy incline across the next mile levels in the tundra above treeline with far reaching views of the surrounding valleys.