Uncompahgre National Forest

The East Fork is one route used for sheep-grazing in the alpine country. Herders drive bands of sheep along the trail beginning in July.

The trailhead has an elevation of 9,275 feet. The Big Blue Wilderness boundary comes down to the trailhead so as you travel south on the trail you immediately enter the wilderness. The trail follows on old mining road at a gentle grade. For the first two miles the trail is in and out of meadows. The trail then enters the timber. About 1/2 mile into the timber the trail becomes narrow and crosses a steep side hill for several hundred feet. This stretch of trail can be tricky when it is wet from snowmelt or thunderstorms.

The trail stays mostly in the timber for 4 miles. Water is available in the side drainages that cross the trail. Several of the side drainages are also avalanche paths that may prove to be obstacles for early-season users.

The trail then breaks into the open with views of the 14,309-foot Uncompahgre Peak to the south. Another mile brings you to the old buildings of the Silver Jack Mine. The elevation here is 10,880. Travel time to this point is 3 to 4 hours. Water, campsites, and feed are readily available.

Beyond the Silver Jack Mine the spruce and fir timber give way to more open alpine country, providing spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Two miles beyond the mine an unmarked fork in the trail leads either west an additional 2 1/2 miles to a 12,595-foot saddle and then into the Middle Fork or south an additional 2 miles to a 12,380-foot saddle between Uncompahgre and Matterhorn Peaks. The routes become much steeper as they climb to these saddles.

Trailhead Facilities: There is enough room to park and turn horse trailers at the trailhead. A loading ramp is also available. Several undeveloped camping sites are at the trailhead as is a vault type toilet.

The trailhead is located in the timber so there is no horse feed available. The meadows along the road to the north provide the only grazing. Water is easily available from the East Fork of the Big Cimarron River.

Camping: Camping is permitted at the trailhead and along the East Fork Road. No permit is required. Beaver Lake and Silver Jack are full service campgrounds along the trail. 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 charged.

Big Cimarron is a reduced service campground also along the trail. No water or trash collection is 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 current grazing permit holders, some occasional short-term use by horses passing through is possible.

Silver Jack is approximately 4 1/2 miles from the trailhead, Beaver Lake, 5 miles, and Big Cimarron, 5 1/2 miles.

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 left onto the East Fork Road.

The trailhead is approximately 2 miles down the East Fork Road at the end of the road. Two-wheel drive highway-type vehicles can reach the trailhead. The road, however, becomes steeper and narrower the closer you get to the trailhead. People with larger trailers may want to park by any of the large meadows that are along the East Fork Road.