The majority of the Colorado Trail (36.4 miles approximately) follows the La Garita Stock Driveway (Trail #787) from where the Colorado Trail enters onto the Creede District near the headwaters of West Mineral Creek on the Continental Divide to its junction with Trail #916, (East Fork-Middle Fork Pole Creek.) That portion of the Colorado Trail/La Garita Stock Driveway Trail #787 lying from Spring Creek Pass west and southwest to the southern portion of the old historic Carson Mining Area (located between Coney and Bent Peak), consists of a 4-wheel drive road, FS #550, and approximately the first 11.4 miles and the last 2.2 miles are open to 4-wheel drive vehicle use with approximately 6.1 miles of the old 4-wheel drive road in between these two open segments being closed to 4-wheel drive vehicles.

From the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail junction with Trail #916, the Colorado Trail follows Pole Trail #820 for a distance of approximately 3.7 miles to its junction with Beartown (4-wheel drive) Road #506. The Colorado Trail then follows the route of Beartown Road #506, which is open to 4-wheel drive and other forms of off-road vehicle use, approximately 5 miles to a point approximately 1 1/4 miles below Kite Lake (a dead lake) where the road intersects the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail #787 once again. Here the Colorado Trail again follows the La Garita Stock Driveway approximately 2 miles to the Creede Ranger District boundary on the Continental Divide where the Colorado Trail continues onto the San Juan National Forest, heading west along Elk Creek and towards Molas Pass.

TRAIL BEGINNING - 12,320 feet elevation
Trail enters the Creede Ranger District at a point near the headwaters of West Mineral Creek on the Continental Divide approximately 6.3 miles west of San Luis Pass (via Skyline Trail #465.)

TRAIL ENDING - 12,680 feet elevation
Trail leaves the Creede Ranger District at a point on the Continental Divide just northeast of Eldorado Lake on the San Juan National Forest.

ACCESS

There are six different road access points to the Colorado Trail on the Creede Ranger District. They are as follows:

San Luis Pass Trail Access
Spring Creek Pass Trailhead
Carson Saddle-Wager Gulch Road Trail Access
Carson Saddle-Hermit & Pearl Lakes Road-Heart Lake 4-wheel Drive Road Trail Access
Rio Grande Reservoir-Stony Pass Road Trail Access
Rio Grande Reservoir/Stony Pass-Beartown Road Trail Access.

SAN LUIS PASS TRAIL ACCESS
From Creede, go to the extreme north end of town, via the town's main street, and follow West Willow Creek Road #503 north for a distance of approximately 8.1 miles to where the 4-wheel drive road swings west (left) climbing steeply out of the West Willow Creek drainage towards the head of Rat Creek. From this point you will have to park and continue by foot northward on an unmaintained and sometimes obscure trail for approximately 1.5 miles to San Luis Pass and Skyline Trail #465 which is part of the Colorado Trial. This access point is popular with hikers who want to climb San Luis Peak (14,014'). From here head west for approximately 6.3 miles along the trail to the headwaters of West Mineral Creek on the Continental Divide where the Colorado Trail enters onto the Creede Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. Access to a point near the Equity Mine is suitable to standard passenger vehicles, but beyond this point 4-wheel drive vehicles or other types of off-road vehicles are required.

SPRING CREEK PASS TRAILHEAD
This trailhead access point is located where Colorado Highway 149 crosses the Continental Divide at Spring Creek Pass. Spring Creek Pass is approximately 17 miles southeast of Lake City and 33 miles northwest of Creede. A 4-wheel drive jeep road (FS-#550) continues west from within Spring Creek Pass Picnic & Campground along the Continental Divide and serves as the Colorado Trail for approximately 20 miles to just south of the old historic Carson Mining area. This trailhead is accessible by standard passenger vehicles.

CARSON SADDLE-HERMIT & PEARL LAKES ROAD-HEART LAKE 4-WHEEL DRIVE ROAD TRAIL ACCESS
This trail access can be reached both from Creede and Lake City (see above). From Creede travel west on Colorado Highway 149 approximately 25 miles to Hermit Lakes Road #515, located on the left hand side of the Highway, just across from South Clear Creek Falls Campground. Continue west-southwest along FS Road #515 for approximately 4 miles to the junction of Pearl Lakes FS Road #516. Turn right onto FS Road #516, follow it for approximately 3.8 miles to the Heart Lake 4-wheel drive FS Road #518. Access to this point is suitable to standard passenger vehicles. From this point on, access is limited to 4-wheel drive vehicles. Turn left off the road into Pearl Lakes onto the 4-wheel drive road. It is approximately 7 miles to the road junction with the Colorado Trail, approximately .8 miles east of Carson.

RIO GRANDE RESERVOIR-STONY PASS FS ROAD #520 TRAIL ACCESS
Follow Colorado Highway 149 southwest out of Creede toward Lake City for a distance of approximately 21 miles to its junction with Rio Grande Reservoir Road, FS #520, turn left at the junction (which is well signed) and continue 18.1 miles west to Lost Trail Campground, marked by a standard Forest Service campground entrance sign. The Stony Pass 4-wheel drive road continues west to Stony Pass. Standard passenger vehicles can be driven approximately another 1.5 miles beyond Lost Trail Campground, but beyond this the road is accessible only to 4-wheel drive vehicles or other types of off-road vehicles. Follow the 4-wheel drive road approximately 8.2 miles to its junction of Beartown Road, FS #506, which will be to the left (south) and Pole Creek Trail, FS #916 on the right (north), both of which serve as part of the Colorado Trail.

BEARTOWN ROAD FS #506 TRAIL ACCESS
Access is as described in number 5 above to Beartown Road, FS #506. Turn left (southwest) off the Rio Grande Reservoir-Stony Pass Road. FS #520 at its junction with the Beartown Road and follow it for approximately 5.3 miles to its intersection with La Garita Trail, FS #787, about one mile beyond the old Beartown site. The trail lies off the right (west) side of the road.

The following narrative descriptions of the Colorado Trail will be segments as follows: West Mineral Creek-Snow Mesa-Spring Creek Pass Segment (8.2 miles)
From the Continental Divide, near the head of West Mineral Creek, the Colorado Trail follows the old Skyline Trail, FS #465, west, just below the crest of the Continental Divide to the head of Miners Creek. The distinctive profile of Uncompahgre Peak is visible through a notch as you head northwest along the trail coming into the head of Miners Creek. On the opposite side of the Miners Creek drainage, to the left, is a rock formation similar in character to those found in the Wheeler Geologic Area.

The split-level headwater bowl of Miners Creek is a beautiful area and in mid-summer, it is not uncommon to see a herd of elk in this area. Camping is easily available in the upper Miners Creek area and there is an adequate supply of firewood. The trail climbs south-southwest out of the Miners Creek drainage to a high point just east of a pond at the head of Willow Creek which marks the extreme eastern part of Snow Mesa. From here the trail crosses Snow Mesa to Spring Creek Pass. The trail meanders over the rolling grassy hills on Snow Mesa for approximately 4 miles and then drops steeply off on the west end for approximately 1/4 mile, then drops again (more gradually) for another 3/4 mile through an old-growth spruce-fir stand of timber to Spring Creek Pass. Firewood is very scarce in this area when camping. Elk herds and bands of domestic sheep grazing can be seen on Snow Mesa during the summer months.

Spring Creek Pass-Jarosa Mesa-Carson Segment (18.7 miles)
The Colorado Trail follows the Jarosa Mesa 4-wheel drive road (FS #550) west out of Spring Creek Pass Picnic & Campground. The first 8.6 miles of this route is open to 4-wheel drive and other types of off-road vehicles.

The road and trail follows the Continental Divide. Uncompahgre Peak (14,286' ) can be seen from several locations along the route, along with numerous other peaks and mountain ranges. The trail and road runs through scattered spruce-fir trees which change to willow brush as the route gains elevation. Once on top of Jarosa Mesa the route traverses in open alpine parks for several miles before starting its descent just below the crest of the Continental Divide to Carson. Except for a spring near the road, about 2.5 miles from the start, water is scarce or non-existent along the route until the vicinities of the headwaters of Big Buck, Ruby, Kitty Creeks. The route is closed to vehicles approximately midway between Big Buck and Ruby Creeks and the route continues as a trail southwest and west to the Carson area. Just east of the Carson area lies the highest point on the entire Colorado Trail, just below 13,334' Coney Summit. From the top of Coney, an indistinct jeep track again begins and descends to an obvious jeep road which descends steeply into the old Carson Mining District.

Carson Saddle-Lost Trail Creek-Pole Creek-Rio Grande Reservoir/Stony Pass Road Segment (13.2 miles)
From the Carson Saddle, the Colorado Trail follows the old jeep road south, (a little over 1 mile) to the junction of Lost Trail Creek Trail, FS #821, and the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail, FS #787. Here the trail turns west-northwest on a jeep track and ascends on the north side of Lost Trail Creek. This is still a portion of the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail, FS #787. The jeep track eventually terminates some distance beyond the lowest and most westerly mining claim and turns into a trail at about 2.5 miles from where the jeep track began running west-northwest along Lost Trail Creek. Campsites abound along Lost Trail Creek and the broad grassy meadows of upper Pole Creek, where trout splash in the meandering watercourse.

Cataract Lake lies north of the Colorado Trail about 5 miles distance from where the jeep track and trail began running along Lost Trail Creek. Excellent views and good fishing are both possible along this entire trail segment. The scenery is excellent along this portion of the trail between the Continental Divide, just south of Cataract Lake, and Pole Creek Trail, FS #820. ( a distance of approximately 3.4 miles). This entire trail segment is above timberline. Domestic sheep travel along this trail in early July and early September. This trail segment serves as a link between the Lost Trail Creek and Pole Creek drainages. The next 3.7 miles of the Colorado Trail follows Pole Creek Trail, FS # 820 from its junction with the Middle Fork Pole Creek Trail, FS #916 to its junction with Rio Grande Reservoir/Stony Pass Road, FS #520.

Good fishing can be expected along this stretch of the Colorado Trail. A series of small waterfalls, natural arches, weathered rock pinnacles, and crystal clear pools can be viewed on Pole Creek, about 1/4 mile south of the junction with West Pole Creek. The falls are not visible from the trail, but the sound of falling water can be heard if you listen carefully. Turn west, off the main trail and take a short side trip from the trail to the creek to see the falls and arches. It is definitely worth taking a few minutes to see. Good camping places are available along this trail segment. The scenery is beautiful.

The Pole Creek Valley and this segment of the Colorado Trail is characterized by wide open parks. Domestic sheep graze the upper area near the Continental Divide. Cattle occasionally graze the lower three miles along Pole Creek.

Bear town Road, FS #506-Beartown-Continental Divide Between Kite & Eldorado Lakes Segment (7.3 miles)
With the exception of the last 2 miles, this segment of the Colorado Trail follows the Bear town (4-wheel drive) Road, FS #506, from its junction with the Rio Grande Reservoir/Stony Pass Road, FS #520 and the Pole Creek Trail, FS #820, approximately 8.2 miles from Lost Trail Campground. This is a scenic and remote primitive road open to 4-wheel drive and other types of off-road vehicles. It is a fairly popular side trip off the Stony Pass Road, between Creede and Silverton, Colorado. At its junction with the Stony Pass Road, the Bear town Road drops a little over 1/4 mile to the Rio Grande, where it crosses the river and begins paralleling Bear Creek up the valley. This crossing generally poses no real problems except in early to mid-June, if spring run-off is high. You will, however, get your feet wet at this crossing throughout the hiking season.

The route runs in south westerly direction for approximately 5.3 miles to the junction of the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail, FS # 787, which then heads northwest for a distance of approximately 2 miles to the divide, which is the final segment of the Colorado Trail located on the Creede Ranger District. The Bear town Road itself runs another 1 1/4 miles past this junction and dead-ends at Kite Lake (located just below the Continental Divide, Hunchback Mountain and Pass). The route generally traverses A south east exposure throughout Kite Lake and Pass. Its length and has a well defined double tread. The route is not steep until just beyond the old Beartown site, at the upper end of the meadow. Here the road begins to climb steeply for about 2/3 miles until its junction with the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail segment to the divide.

The route runs mostly through an open valley in which Bear Creek is located. The Weminuche Wilderness parallels the route on both sides. Early to mid-summer usually brings a profusion of wildflowers and breathtaking color to the mountainsides and meadows adjacent to the road, especially around and just beyond the old Bear town site. Columbines and multitudes of other species of wildflowers, their color and beauty to the surrounding landscape.

Bear town is located in the upper end of this meadow. Evidence of the old mining town is nearly gone, with only tell-tale signs of where old cabins once stood. The structures that once stood near the old mine location are now collapsed and rapidly disappearing. Potential campsites are plentiful along this segment to the junction of the final La Garita Stock Driveway segment.

Length: 47.4 miles. (76.3 km.)

Recommended season: Summer thru Fall

Use: Very Light-Mod. Heavy

Difficulty: Easy-Mod.

USGS Map(s): San Luis Peak, Baldy Cinco, Slumgullion Pass, Lake San Cristobal, Finger Mesa, Pole Creek Mountain, Rio Grande Pyramid, Storm King Peak.

Move on to Trail Finder: Rio Grande National Forest

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