Meridian Peak is a

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...

summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...

in the

Gore Range The Gore Range (elevation approximately 12,000 ft) is a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of north central Colorado in the United States. The native Ute name was the Shining Mountains. Geography The range runs for approximately 60 mile ...

of the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in great-circle distance, straight-line distance from the northernmost part of Western Can ...

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

. The peak is located in the

Eagles Nest Wilderness The Eagles Nest Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the Gore Range near Vail, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Heeney, in Summit and Eagle Counties, Colorado. Eagles Nest Wilderness falls within the jurisdiction of Dil ...

, north by west ( bearing 353°) of the Town of Vail,

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, on the

drainage divide A drainage divide, water divide, ridgeline, watershed, water parting or height of land is elevated terrain that separates neighboring drainage basins. On rugged land, the divide lies along topographical ridges, and may be in the form of a single ...

separating

White River National Forest White River National Forest is a National Forest in northwest Colorado. It is named after the White River that passes through its northern section. It is the most visited National Forest in the United States, primarily from users of the twel ...

and

Eagle County Eagle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 55,731. The county seat is the Town of Eagle and the most populous community is Edwards. The county is named for the Eagle River. Eag ...

from

Arapaho National Forest Arapaho National Forest is a National Forest located in north-central Colorado, United States. The region is managed jointly with the Roosevelt National Forest and the Pawnee National Grassland from the United States Forest Service office in ...

and Summit County.

Hiking

Meridian Peak can be found at the southern end of Elliot Ridge Trail. It can be reached by ascending several hiking trails into the

. Surprise Lake Trail goes south for 2.6 miles to Surprise Lake, then the Gore Range Trail continues west for 1.9 miles to a junction with the Upper Cataract Lake and Mirror Lake Trail. Mirror Lake is 6.5 miles beyond the junction, at an elevation of 10,560 feet. The Elliot Ridge Trail is 3.2 miles from Mirror Lake. The summit of Meridian Peak is another 1.2 south from the junction with the Elliot Ridge Trail.

References

;Notes ;Sources *
Elliot Ridge one of a kindTwo of three snowmobilers found

External links

Mountains of Eagle County, Colorado Mountains of Summit County, Colorado Arapaho National Forest White River National Forest Three-thousanders of the United States Eagles Nest Wilderness {{Colorado-stub

Hiking

See also

References

External links