West Elk Loop

Overview

This loop shaped trail sits on Colorado’s pristine Welk Elk Mountains, offering three very different mining communities, four diverse wilderness areas, and well known mountain towns, such as Crested Butte. Settlers of this area had originally come for precious minerals, but then stayed to farm and ranch. The coke ovens, used to carbonized coal for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, in Redstone showcase the toil that built the communities of West Elk Loop today.This home to generations of Native Americans, more specifically the Utes.