Uncompahgre National Forest

Part II

The trail traverses north around and then up onto the Blackface ridge within the Lizard Head Wilderness. A few good campsites available off sides of upper switchbacks. The ridgetop traverse is extremely exposed in poor weather conditions.

The trail contours from Lizard Head Pass on Hwy. 145 southwest under Blackface Mountain through aspen groves and wildflowers for about a mile. After crossing talus slopes it begins to climb. It overlooks the Lake Fork Valley and Trout Lake. The Lizard Head Wilderness boundary is at the base of this first set of switchbacks, which lead to a small meadow with a trail junction. Wilson Meadows Trail (#512) is a two-mile spur leading to large meadows. The Lizard Head Trail switchbacks steeply up through large conifers onto Blackface ridge and soon reaches timberline. From there the trail follows the spine of the ridge up over the summit of Blackface. Spectacular views of the Wilsons greet the hiker as the trail winds along the ridge. From this vantage point you can see great distances into the San Juan mountain range to the north and south. Looking down on smaller peaks, you can sometimes get a view of elk or sheep in Wilson Meadows below. Pikas and marmots live in the slide rock, with a few ptarmigan in the bushy areas.

From the summit, the trail continues down the ridge to a saddle between the upper reaches of Lizard Head Creek to the south and Wilson Creek to the north. It crosses the saddle and climbs, rather steeply, up the northeast face of an unnamed knob (12,078 feet) on the ridge extending down from Lizard Head Peak.

After climbing up through tundra above timberline the trail reaches the ridge, and the forest boundary. The trail then traverses directly underneath Lizard Head Peak to a junction with Cross Mountain trail. You can either follow Cross Mountain trail back down to Highway 145 or continue up a short distance to a saddle overlooking Bilk Creek basin. The Lizard Head trail continues down into the basin. See description of Part I.

Access: From Lizard Head Pass on Highway 145, turn west at south side of sign and follow road to new parking area, trailhead, and outhouses.