Shrine Ridge Trail – A Wildflower Paradise in Colorado
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Shrine Ridge Trail is a 4.6-mile hike that is the single greatest wildflower hike in Colorado.
I’ve seriously never seen so many wildflowers on one hike. There are hundreds of shades of pink, yellow, purple, and orange everywhere you look. And a million shades of green in all directions.
Combine that with insane mountain views and plentiful mushrooms, and you have a day you’ll never forget.
Ready to have your mind blown? Because these pictures will make you want to hike Shrine Ridge ASAP.
The Hike
View this hike on AllTrails
– Distance: 4.6 miles
– Elevation Gain: 1,043 feet
– Difficulty: moderate
– Bathroom? Yes
– Phone Service? No
Shrine Ridge Trail is rated as moderate and has about 1,000 feet in elevation gain. It’s called “Shrine” Ridge because it offers an excellent view of the Mount of the Holy Cross.
It’s located between Copper Mountain and Vail in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, making it an easy day trip from places like Breckenridge, Keystone, and Summit County.
The best time of year for wildflower viewing is usually the third week of July. There’s some flexibility in that date range depending on snowpack conditions from the previous winter.
But generally you’re going to want to visit mid-July through the end of July.
This wildflower spectable brings in people from all over the state so make sure you get there early to find parking.
Looking for more wildflowers? Check out the Best Wildflower Hikes near Breckenridge.
Note: Every time I hike Shrine Ridge Trail, I always see people sitting in the flowers for pictures. Don’t do this! It ruins the flowers and damages the fragile alpine environment, which can sometimes take years to recover to full strength. Follow the 7 principles of Leave no Trace and STAY ON THE TRAIL. Please. Let’s preserve this area for generations to come.
What to Pack for Hiking in Colorado
Colorado weather loves surprises—sunny one minute, hail the next. Here are the must-have items we never hit the trail without:
- A rain jacket – Afternoon thunderstorms are basically a guarantee. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is lightweight, packable, and actually waterproof.
- Actual hiking boots or trail runners – Hiking boots are awesome for support and waterproofing, but we love the lightweight breathability of trail runners on long hikes. Whatever you do, just PLEASE don’t wear regular sneakers—your feet will hate you.
- Hiking pants (NOT jeans) – Colorado trails are full of scree, mud, and surprise rain. Hiking pants are durable, quick‑drying, and far better than denim (looking at you, Texans).
- Layers, layers, layers – Temps swing fast at high elevation. Pair a breathable Capilene® Cool Daily Shirt with a warm Nano Puff Jacket and you’ll have everything you need.
- Trekking poles – Save your knees on steep climbs and give yourself extra balance on rocky sections. These ones from REI are super durable, lightweight, and WAY better than that crap on Amazon.
- Plenty of water – Dehydration sneaks up quickly at high altitude. We love our Osprey Daylite Pack. It’s perfect size to fit a couple layers, and everything you need for a day on trail
- Snacks with actual calories – Trail mix, jerky, or bars—don’t underestimate how much energy hiking at 10,000 ft burns.
- Sun protection – A hat + sunglasses + high‑SPF sunscreen will keep you protected.
- Navigation tools – Download offline maps with AllTrails or carry a GPS device like the Garmin inReach Mini 2.
- First aid kit – Even a small one saves the day for blisters, scrapes, or altitude headaches.
Colorado hikes are incredible—but only if you’re prepared. Trust us, a good rain jacket (and pants that aren’t denim) have saved us more times than we can count!
Directions to Shrine Ridge Trailhead
This trailhead can be accessed from either westbound or eastbound traffic on Hwy I-70, meaning you can come from either the Vail side or the Copper Mountain side (unlike nearby Wheeler Lakes which can only be accessed by westbound traffic). Take exit 190 towards the Vail Pass Summit and Rest Area.
From there, follow signs for Shrine Pass Road / Redcliff – this portion starts out as paved but quickly turns to red dirt, so if you’re still on a paved road after 50 yards, you’ve gone the wrong way. The pass was originally a Ute Indian trail and later serviced miners and settlers travelling in search of gold.
From the start of the dirt road, it’s about 2.3 miles to the trailhead, which is an obvious parking area on the left that has a vault toilet. Park in this lot, or if it’s full you can park along the road.
Visit in the early morning or later in the day and avoid weekends – this is the best way to find a parking spot even during peak season.
See Shrine Ridge Trail on AllTrails for More Info
Shrine Ridge Trail Hiking Guide
Access the trail near the vault toilet by continuing down the dirt road that leads into the trees towards Shrine Mountain Inn. Just before the gate, take a left – this is where the trail begins.
The very first section of the trail is relatively flat and easy, and offers great views looking east over a meadow towards the back of the 10 Mile mountain range and Copper Mountain. Pretty soon, the trail will start heading uphill. This is where the elevation gain begins.
The trail will continue steadily upwards as it passes through a pine forest and some smaller wildflower meadows.
You will encounter a split in the trail with a unmarked post – continue straight uphill and do not turn right. This uphill section of the trail will continue for about 1.2 miles from the trailhead, at which point the trail will make a pretty decent U-shaped turn to the right.
It will open up into a meadow with a rocky cliff on the left. Continue through this flatter section, which pretty soon turns into the most difficult portion of the hike.
Between approximately 1.3 and 1.6 miles, you’ll start the most difficult elevation gain.
It’s very doable. It’s just more difficult than the other elevation gain on the hike.
Once you summit the saddle (you’ll see uphill on both your right and left), you’ll take the trail to the right and continue uphill just a little bit more. You’re almost there! This is when you start to see the bulk of the wildflowers.
Somewhere around 1.8 miles, there will be another fork in the trail. Once you’re up on this ridge, you’ve summited Shrine Mountain, and it’s up to you where you explore.
Take a right to see the best view on the hike, which includes a massive rock formation that looks like a red rock Titanic (see this post’s featured image at the top of the page) and stunning views of the Gore Range.
Go left at the fork to find the best wildflower meadows, which is my favorite spot to photograph the beautiful flowers.
See Shrine Ridge Trail on AllTrails for More Info
I highly recommend taking your time up here and exploring the many social trails that venture in many directions. Just please stay on trail and don’t walk in the flowers.
Keep your eye out for marmot and lots of birds and hummingbirds zooming by you.
Note that this area is quite exposed, so you shouldn’t be up there in the afternoon when there’s a possibility of pop-up thunderstorms.
The first time I hiked Shrine Ridge Trail, I got stuck in a lightning storm and had to hunker under a large boulder. It was scary!
The second time I hiked this trail, I started super early and was heading down as thunderstorms were heading in.
Despite my warnings, there was still tons of people heading uphill while storms were in the area. Don’t be that person!
The Verdict
We highly recommend Shrine Ridge trail not only as a casual hike, but also as one of the best wildflower viewing areas during peak season, which is typically the end of July.
While some portions of this hike are more difficult than others, it’s very doable, especially if you just take your time on the harder parts.
Bring your camera, pack lots of water, and enjoy the wildflowers while exploring a beautiful ridge with great mountain views.
P.S. – check out these other nearby hikes: Mayflower Gulch and Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir
See Shrine Ridge Trail on AllTrails for More Info
