Colorado trails · Top of The World Trail
Top of The World Trail
A 12.5-mile out-and-back in Colorado, with 2,669 ft of climbing, topping out at 12,296 ft. Reaches Troublesome Pass and other pass/summit/viewpoint destinations. Managed by USFS Parks Ranger District.
Elevation profile
Most of the climbing sits in the first third — 62% of the ascent, between mile 0.0 and mile 4.2. It gives back about 3,049 ft along the way, so it rolls rather than climbing steadily.
3-D terrain
USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5
Reaches
- Troublesome Pass (pass)
- Parkview Mountain (summit)
- Willow Creek Pass (pass)
- Parkview Pass (viewpoint)
Getting there
Willow Creek Trailhead — parking nearby. 40.34964, -106.08991 · directions
Daylight at the trailhead
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:02 a.m., the sun rises at 6:30 a.m. and sets at 7:38 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 8:06 p.m. (MDT) — 13 h 08 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 24.9-mile round trip takes roughly 11 h 54 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 6:24 p.m. — 1 h 13 min before sunset.
Loop options
- Around The Rocks Road + Bouldering Loop + Top of The World Trail — 6.3 mi loop, 1,087 ft gain
- Top of The World Trail + Golfcourse Overlook Road + Alonzos Trail — 3.2 mi loop, 559 ft gain
- Bouldering Loop + Top of The World Trail + Golfcourse Overlook Road — 6.1 mi loop, 991 ft gain
Nearby trails
- Tonahutu Creek-Flattop Junction Trail — 14.9 mi
- North Inlet-Flattop Junction Trail — 15.9 mi
- Arapaho Pass Trail — 24.4 mi
- East Longs Peak Trail — 28.6 mi