Sneffels Highline is a day long hike. This hike would be appropriate for kids 10 and older. Bring snacks, a lunch, 3-4 litres of water for each person and your camera. Best time to hike Sneffels Highline is mid June through mid September. We recommend starting on Aspen Street and going up Jud Weibe Trail. You'll come to where Mill Creek Trail joins Jud Weibe. Go left on Mill Creek Trail. You'll then walk approx. 100 yards to where Butcher Creek Trail joins Mill Creek. Turn onto Butcher Creek Trail. You'll stay on this trail for the next 8 miles. From here the trail takes you through the Uncompaghre National Forest and into a high alpine meadow covered in beautiful wild flowers, right at treeline. This is a great spot to stop for a snack. Behind will be great views of the Telluride Ski Area and the Wilson Range. Ahead of you you'll see the trail zigzagging up to the summit. The summit is a great place to have lunch and take in those views.
Here's a YouTube video of the summit taken in early spring.
Descending you'll be zigzagging down into a small valley, the creek you'll hear and see running down the valley is Butcher Creek. You'll also be looking at the very colorful San Juan Mountains to the north. You can see Sneffels Peak from here. Once in the valley you're in the heart of the Sneffles Wilderness Area. This is one of my favorite parts of this hike. I've seen a heard of more than 100 elk here. The wild flowers through here are spectacular. You'll come to waterfall. You'll now be back at treeline. This is another great place to stop for a snack. From here the trail climbs gently, but enough that you feel your legs from the hiking you've been doing and you're back into the trees. You'll start descending and will go down several switch backs. You'll then come to a clear junction in the trees. Take the Deep Creek Trail to the left (East). Do not take the trail to the right (West), which goes to Last Dollar Road. You're 4 miles from where you started. Following Deep Creek Trail East for two miles you'll come out on Mill Creek Trail. Go left and up Mill Creek Trail. You'll cross Mill Creek Bridge and and follow Mill Creek Trail. After 1 mile the trail makes a sharp left and you have views of the Telluride Valley Floor, Telluride Ski Area and the Telluride box canyon. After half a mile from here you'll come to the Butcher Creek Trail head from where you started your journey. From here follow Mill Creek 100 yards and then get on to Jud Weibe and head down.
Now, go to the Sweet Life and treat yourselves to an ice cream!
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