The first six miles parallel the Middle Fork of the Cimarron River. Grades are gentle and walking easy. The trail climbs steeply to cross over to East Fork.

Food and water for horses is good along most of the trail.

The Middle Fork Trail combined with the East Fork Trail is the most popular 2-3 day loop route on the Ouray District. Glacial and water erosion has carved spectacular pinnacles and spires, shear cliffs, and unusual rock formations along the valley walls. From the 12,595 foot pass crossing over to the East Fork, a panorama of Redcliff, Coxcomb and Precipile peaks may be seen.

This trail begins at the end of the Middle Fork Road. Good camp sites are available at the trail head. No other facilities are available. A few short bogs must be crossed along the first 1/2 mile of trail. By mid July these areas are normally dry.

Two miles from the trailhead a stream must be crossed where water from Porphyry Basin joins the Middle Fork. The old foot bridge at that location is no longer useable and the trail is routed to an easily crossed location. An old mining trail to Porphery Basin takes off near the crossing.

Spruce and fir forests cover the valley bottom until the trail begins switching back and forth over the pass into the East Fork. Timberline begins around 11,600 feet elevation. Vegetation over the pass is an open alpine type.

From the top of the pass the trail is indistinct in most locations. By following the drainage downhill towards the basin below Uncompahgre Peak you will easily locate the East Fork Trail.

The trailhead is located in the timber. A meadow just beyond the trailhead provides grazing. Water is easily available from the Middle Fork of the Big Cimarron River.

The trailhead has an elevation of 10040 feet. The Big Blue Wilderness boundary is approximately 1/4 mile up the trail. The trail follows along the Middle Fork at a gentle grade. During the first 2 miles several short boggy sections are encountered. They are not difficult to cross and are usually dry by mid-July. Views across the East Fork reveal Dunsinane Mountain and Precipice Peak.

About 2 miles in, the trail crosses Porphyry Creek. An old mining trail takes off just before the crossing and leads to Porphyry Basin. On old foot bridge is visible upstream as you cross the creek.

After the crossing, the trail is steep for the next 1/4 mile. After that it resumes its gentle grade. Another boggy spot about 30 feet long is encountered. Recent trail work here should make it easy to cross.

An avalanche path beyond this bog will probably force early season users to take a short detour off the trail. About 1 1/4 miles beyond the Porphyry crossing the trail breaks out of the timber providing a good view of the alpine country at the upper end of the East Fork. Redcliff and Coxcomb Peak dominate the view to the south west.

In June a snowfield beyond here will block the trail. Riders will have to look for the alternate route that goes around the upper end of the snowfield to the left (east). By mid-July this snowfield is gone.

Good camp sites are available for the mile following the snowfield. Water is easily available. The elevation here is 11,400 feet. The trail then turns left (east) and starts to climb steeply. A few additional camp sites are available just before the trail leaves the timber. Camp sites that might get you away from other people are available if you leave the trail near its turn to the east and instead continue south along the East Fork.

The trail leaves the timber behind at an elevation of 11,800 feet. It continues to climb steeply above timberline to the 12,595 foot saddle that separates the Middle and East Forks. From this saddle there is a spectacular view of Uncompahgre, Matterhorn and Wetterhorn Peaks. Snowfields along the trail leading to the saddle will require you to leave the trail and do some route finding to get to the top. These snowfields should be gone by late July.

Travel time to the saddle is 3 to 4 hours.

This trip can be continued by crossing the saddle and going down the East Fork Trail. The trip from trailhead to trailhead can be done in one long day. Spending one or two nights would provide more time for side trips and viewing the scenery. An additional ride of about 9 mile on roads would be needed to return to the Middle Fork Trailhead. Two vehicles, one left at each trailhead could be used as a ferry back to the starting point.

Camping: Camping is permitted at the trailhead. Several short roads spur off the Middle Fork Road below the trailhead and lead to dispersed camping sites. No permit is required. Beaver Lake and Silver Jack are full service campgrounds. Trash collection, water, tables, fire rings, and toilet facilities are provided. Silver Jack has several handicapped accessible camp units and restrooms. Road and spurs in Silver Jack are paved. Horses are not permitted within the campgrounds. A nightly fee is required.

Big Cimarron is a reduced service campground. No water or trash collection are provided. There is no fee. Horses are not permitted within the campground. Several corrals are adjacent to The Big Cimarron Campground. While these corrals are intended to be used by our grazing permittee, occasional, short term use that does not interfere with the permittee's livestock operation is possible. Please-be a good neighbor.

Silver Jack is approximately 9 miles from the trailhead, Beaver Lake, 9 1/2 miles and Big Cimarron, 10 miles.

Season of Use: The trailhead becomes accessible during the month of June. It remains accessible into October. Accessibility during the last two weeks of October depends on the weather. Early snows can block access by the third week. If snows come late the trailhead can remain open into November.

Beaver Lake and Big Cimarron Campgrounds are available with reduced services a week or two before the trailhead is accessible. Silver Jack and Beaver Lake are generally available with full services from June 20 to September 15.

The trail is open from late June to October. Through travel to the East Fork requires crossing an above timberline pass and is possible from late June to early October.

Special Considerations: Rain and lightning from summer thunderstorms can be very intense making, the high saddle a dangerous place to be, especially on horseback. Thunderstorm activity decreases in late August and in September.

Access: From Montrose take US 50 east to the town of Cimarron. Two miles east of Cimarron look for the National Forest Access sign directing you to Silver Jack Reservoir and Owl Creek Pass. Turn right (south) onto this gravel road. Continue on this road into the Forest, past Beaver Lake and Silver Jack campgrounds, to the junction with the East Fork Road #863. Bear right for an additional 1/4 mile. Turn left (south) onto the Middle Fork Road #861.

The trailhead is approximately 6 4/10 miles up the Middle Fork Road at the end of the road. Two wheel drive highway type vehicles can reach the trailhead. Heavy summer rains can flood across the road making a high clearance type vehicle better.