Trip
Backpack – Zirkel Circle via Slavonia Trailhead
BKPS, Group 6, 3-day 2-night final trip. We plan to hike the Zirkel Circle beginning at the Slavonia Trailhead which is near the confluence of the Gold and Gilpin Creeks, where it turns into the middle fork of the Elk River. Plan is to go counterclockwise around this loop and camp somewhere just past Gold Creek Lake on Friday night. Saturday we will then hike up and over the saddle and down to Gilpin Lake area to find a place for our second night's camp. Sunday we plan to hike out relatively early so we can make it back to Steamboat at about lunch-time for a burger and a beer. Side hikes to maybe explore the area near the Slavonia mine site or even to find a nice little trout stream for some fishing are all in the plan as well.
Contacts
- Fri, Jul 25, 2025 — Sun, Jul 27, 2025
- Denver
- Backpacking
- Adults
- Moderate
- Mileage: 11.9 mi
- Elevation Gain: 2,400 ft
- High Point Elevation: 10,800 ft
- Pace: 1.5 mph
- 1 (9 capacity)
- 1 (3 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Group to meet at 6:00 AM on Friday July 25 at the Woolly Mammoth Park-n-Ride near I-70 and HWY 93 (Hogback Road). Meet-up coordinates are 39.697405942042124, -105.2077311073522. We will meet at Section BB or CC of the parking lot, across from the Exxon station. Anticipated travel time to the trailhead is 4 hours.
Day 1: Drive to Slavonia Trailhead (approx. 4 hrs from Golden). Pit toilets at the TH. Start hike on the Gilpin Trail #1161 and after about ¼ mile you will reach a fork. Turn right on the Gold Creek Trail (#1150). We will be hiking the loop in a counter clockwise direction. We will hike about 4.2 miles (+1,350ft vert.) to Gold Creek Lake and find camping about 1/3 mile to the east-northeast of the lake, between Gold Creek and Wyoming trails. Note that camping must be at least 1/4mile from the lake. We may take a side-hike up to the beaver ponds and meadow about 1 mile to the east of Gold Creek Lake.
Day 2: Continue hiking the steady ascent up to Gilpin Lake Trail. After about 1.5 miles you will come to a fork with the Gilpin Lake Trail #570. Turn left on this trail and continue another 1.5 miles to reach gorgeous Gilpin Lake (Total 3 miles and +1,200 ft vert.). Find camping about 1/3 mile from the lake and to the north-northeast of the lake.
Day 3: Complete the Zirkel Circle by continuing on the Gilpin Lake Trail back to the TH. This final 4.5 miles is virtually all downhill along Gilpin Creek. (4.6 miles, virtually all downhill).
Required Equipment
Required are the 10-Essentials!!!
Bring all gear and food to spend two nights and three days completing the Zirkel Circle.