Discrete Peak Series – Berthoud Pass

Description: Stop #3 of the Discrete Peak Series will be set on the high-alpine terrane of the beautiful, Colorado continental divide. The course gains the highest elevation in the series and will start at Jones Pass, just outside Empire Colorado, and end at the top of Berthoud Pass. This course begins at Jones Pass and ends at Berthoud Pass. We encourage runners to carpool and park at Berthoud Pass where we will be offering a FREE shuttle to the starting line at Jones pass until. This 7.7 mile course with 2,672 ft of elevation gain starts at the bottom of Jones Pass Road. The first 0.75 mile is a large dirt road where runners will have the opportunity to naturally disperse before encountering the single-track trail through the Vasquez Peak Wilderness. Runners will follow the same single track the entire course. The initial assent snakes its way through heavy evergreen forests, mountain meadows, and over timberline. Once runners reach the basin of Vasquez Peak, they will begin a steep ascent along the Continental Divide Trail. Once Stanley Mountain peak is achieved, there will be an aid station. Runners will continue along the rocky continental divide trail for 2.5 miles, where they can enjoy stunning views of the Gore Range and the Vasquez Peak Wilderness. Finally, runners will descend through soft evergreen forests along the Current Creek basin to the to the finish line just west of the Berthoud Pass parking lot.