Round Trip Distance: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
XC Skill level:
Elevation: 9147 - 9287 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: Adams Ranch Rd.
Fee: none
Attractions: groomed trail
The Wilson Loop is located in the Mountain Village Nordic and Snowshoe Trails system in Mountain Village, Colorado just west of Telluride. Wilson Loop consists of a very easy upper loop that connects to a still relatively easy lower loop via a moderately steep section of trail. The well groomed trail is laid out in an area of the Tellurides Ski & Golf Company's golf course.
To get to the trailhead turn off of Highway 145, west of Telluride, at the signs for the ski area and Mountain Village. Take the first left off of Mountain Village Boulevard onto the Adams Ranch Road.
Parking is available along the west side of the road about 100 yards from the intersection.
At times dogs might outnumber people on the Wilson Loop. Be a good steward and clean up after yours.
As the trail starts around the upper loop the route across the road to the Skunk Trails departs on the left. A few yards past that there is another trail that doesn't show up on maps that also branches off on the left and crosses the Adams Ranch Road. That trail parallels the north side of Mountain Village Blvd. over to Pennington Place where it meets up with the Skunk Trails and the Boulevard trail.
The upper loop has very little elevation change making it an ideal place for beginners. Some people spend their time just doing laps around the upper loop.
The Wilson Loop remains easy until it passes the tee box for the 8th hole.
From there the trail begins descending the hill to the lower loop. The overall elevation change is a gradual 140 feet.
The map that we were using showed 2 parallel routes down to the lower loop but the snowcat had groomed it as just one wide swath.
There is still a little downhill trend to the lower loop as you follow it eastward toward the valley.
As the trail begins looping back there is another trail that branches off that makes a steep drop down to a stream before crossing the road over to the Skunk Trails.
Heading back up the hill there are some nice views of Wilson Peak (14,016 feet) from which the trail receives its name.
