White Mountains National Recreation Area

TRAIL BEGINS: Colorado Creek Trail at trail mile 14
TRAIL ENDS: Wickersham Creek Trail at trail mile 19
LENGTH: 13 trail miles
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
ELEVATION CHANGE: 1,325 feet
RECOMMENDED SEASON: In the winter there is usually enough snow to travel this trail from November through early April. Most of this trail is not recommended for summer use due to wet and boggy trail conditions, but the ridgeline is suitable for summer hiking and ATV use.
USE: Moderate use by snowmobiles with light dog sledding and skier use.
U.S.G.S. 1:63,360 TOPO MAPS: Livengood B-2

TRAIL DESRIPTION:
The Big Bend Trail begins at trail mile 14 of the Colorado Creek Trail. The trail passes by the Colorado Creek Cabin and continues through a large open meadow for three miles, then climbs steeply for one mile to the top of the ridge. The trail follows the ridgeline south for three miles over and past its highest elevation of 2,675 feet.

Here the trail drops for 1.5 miles to a saddle between the ridgeline and the dome marked 1,930 on the U.S.G.S. topographical map. The trail continues to descend, paralleling a creek drainage for another 1.5 miles. The trail passes near the "Big Bend" on Beaver Creek and continues through open meadows and black spruce forests for three miles before connecting with the Wickersham Creek Trail about 0.5 mile south of Beaver Creek.

CABIN INFORMATION:
The Colorado Creek Cabin is located along the west side of a small lake that drains into Colorado Creek. This 12' by 16' cabin has bunk beds and a loft that can sleep four to five people comfortably.

The Borealis-LeFevre Cabin is located on a bluff on the north side of Beaver Creek. This 12' by 16' cabin has bunk beds and a loft that can sleep six people comfortably.

Each of these cabins has a wood stove for heat, a Coleman cook stove and lantern, table and benches, and an outhouse.