Palisade Mountain Summit

About

The Palisade Mountain Summit hike is a 1.3-mile route in the Roosevelt National Forest near Palisade, Colorado, gaining elevation to an 8,226-foot summit. The trail begins at a Forest Service gate off Snowtop Drive, with small parking for three to four vehicles available along the road. After an initial 0.2-mile walk through a meadow with wildflowers and deer, the path climbs steadily through forest land. The trail becomes harder to follow past 0.75 miles, requiring hikers to watch for cairns near two small rocky canyon sections. The final 0.1 mile includes a level burn area before a steep scramble over large boulders leads to the top. The summit offers panoramic views of the Continental Divide and surrounding Rockies, with a PVC tube containing a register. Wildlife includes black bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and various birds. Trail conditions vary by season, with snow and ice in winter and dry, rocky terrain in warmer months. The hike is considered moderate to challenging due to the steep climb and scrambling, typically taking about one hour.