Pinkham-Crawford-Franconia Notch Traverse (Westbound)

Distance: ~33.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~12,900 ft
Direction: East to West (Pinkham Notch to Franconia Notch)

The Saint Louis Ridge Traverse is a remote, high-alpine loop in Colorado's Front Range. The route circumnavigates the Fraser Experimental Forest, linking the Byers Peak Wilderness to the west with the Vasquez Peak Wilderness to the east. The route begins and ends at the Leland Creek Trailhead, 4.5 miles southwest of Fraser, CO.

The Franconian Red Wine Trail winds its way through the landscape of the Chur-Franconian Main Valley, passing beautifully situated vineyards and historic towns and villages. A hiking vacation here is a pleasure in more ways than one. After all, it goes without saying that you should also sample the fine wines that thrive along the 78-kilometer route between Großwallstadt and Bürgstadt's Centgrafenberg.