Hiking Guide 04

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Continental Divide Trail at Squaw Pass. Squaw at Trail Divide Continental back to the trailhead, very steep in some areas. some in steep very trailhead, the to back

- the dividing line for the eastern and western watersheds. western and eastern the for line dividing the -

Choose your destination - the trail continues on to the to on continues trail the - destination your Choose with the old Fourmile Trail. The Fourmile Trail is six miles six is Trail Fourmile The Trail. Fourmile old the with

world. You are standing on the “backbone” of the country the of “backbone” the on standing are You world.

groves. From here many switchbacks start a steep ascent. steep a start switchbacks many here From groves. Lake another four miles. Here the Anderson Trail junctions Trail Anderson the Here miles. four another Lake

here. You will feel as though you are truly on top of the of top on truly are you though as feel will You here.

moderately easy, wandering through conifers and aspen and conifers through wandering easy, moderately peak is 12,460’. The trail continues on to Fourmile to on continues trail The 12,460’. is peak

behind the microwave tower. Choose your own destination own your Choose tower. microwave the behind

Cimarrona Campground. The first two miles of trail are trail of miles two first The Campground. Cimarrona side of Pagosa Peak (11,200’). The summit of the of summit The (11,200’). Peak Pagosa of side

parking area and microwave tower site. The trail begins trail The site. tower microwave and area parking

left side of Williams Lake Road just beyond the entrance of entrance the beyond just Road Lake Williams of side left climbs steadily for about 4 miles to skirt the east the skirt to miles 4 about for steadily climbs

Wolf Creek Pass. Drive 1.5 miles to the Lobo Overlook Lobo the to miles 1.5 Drive Pass. Creek Wolf

Piedra Road to Williams Lake Road. The trail begins on the on begins trail The Road. Lake Williams to Road Piedra

Trailhead, to the left of the Fourmile Trail. This trail This Trail. Fourmile the of left the to Trailhead,

on the dirt road just past the Continental Divide summit on summit Divide Continental the past just road dirt the on

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Trail for directions. This trail begins at the Fourmile the at begins trail This directions. for Trail

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Turn left Turn

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See Fourmile Falls Fourmile See

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Easy Easy Easy Easy Easy day hikes. The trail continues on to the Continental Divide. Continental the to on continues trail The hikes. day

Fork, and ¼ mile further to Beaver Creek. Either are pleasant are Either Creek. Beaver to further mile ¼ and Fork, the First Fork Bridge for the longer hike. longer the for Bridge Fork First the

Beaver Creek. Hiking three miles will take you to the West the to you take will miles three Hiking Creek. Beaver on the First Fork of the Piedra Road. Shuttle a vehicle to vehicle a Shuttle Road. Piedra the of Fork First the on

trail crosses both the West Fork of the San Juan River and River Juan San the of Fork West the both crosses trail trail passes several cool box canyons to end at the bridge the at end to canyons box cool several passes trail

portion of this trail passes through private property. The property. private through passes trail this of portion For a longer hike, follow the river for another 8.5 miles. The miles. 8.5 another for river the follow hike, longer a For

crossing the West Fork of the San Juan River. The first The River. Juan San the of Fork West the crossing only go the 3.5 miles to the foot bridge across the Piedra. the across bridge foot the to miles 3.5 the go only

Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult Difficult

Campground and Campground Fork West passing after yards. This is an easy trail for young and old alike if you if alike old and young for trail easy an is This yards.

the lake area. It is another four miles to the lake. the to miles four another is It area. lake the

the trailhead, the to miles 3 Travel (#648). Sheer cliffs rise on both sides for over several hundred several over for sides both on rise cliffs Sheer

relatively small, but pristine. Expect winds at the top and in and top the at winds Expect pristine. but small, relatively

ie,te unlf nteWs Fr Road Fork West the on left turn then miles, starts on the canyon rim and then descends to the river. the to descends then and rim canyon the on starts

left for another mile to Quartz Lake. The lake itself is itself lake The Lake. Quartz to mile another for left

northeast for 15 for northeast Drive 160. Highway on trailhead parking lot ahead of you on the left. The trail The left. the on you of ahead lot parking trailhead

junction of the Quartz Lake Trail. The trail continues to the to continues trail The Trail. Lake Quartz the of junction

from Pagosa Springs Pagosa from trailhead this to Travel Springs. After crossing the Piedra River you will notice the notice will you River Piedra the crossing After Springs.

with a sweeping view to the west. Follow the trail to the to trail the Follow west. the to view sweeping a with

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through aspen groves and pine forest to a narrow ridge narrow a to forest pine and groves aspen through

River River Piedra Piedra #7 #7 River Piedra #7

River River Piedra Piedra #7 #7 The upper terminus of the trail the of terminus upper The

Little Blanco Trail are steep and winding. You will travel will You winding. and steep are Trail Blanco Little

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Mountain Road (#665). Follow it nearly to the end. You will You end. the to nearly it Follow (#665). Road Mountain the ridge above timberline. above ridge the

5 mile hike will take you to the first creek crossing. creek first the to you take will hike mile 5

Drive for approximately 15 miles and bear left on the Nipple the on left bear and miles 15 approximately for Drive the peak (11,870’). There are many beautiful vistas along vistas beautiful many are There (11,870’). peak the

Continental Divide. Choose your own destination here. A here. destination own your Choose Divide. Continental

approximately ¼ mile and turn left on Mill Creek Road (#662). Road Creek Mill on left turn and mile ¼ approximately

side of Alberta Peak. No marked trail leads to the top of top the to leads trail marked No Peak. Alberta of side

from the trailhead through breathtaking scenery to the to scenery breathtaking through trailhead the from

#14 Quartz Lake Lake Quartz Quartz #14 #14 #14 Quartz Lake Quartz #14 #14 Quartz Lake Lake Quartz Quartz #14 #14 Travel south on Highway 84 for 84 Highway on south Travel Creek Ski Area. It then leads to rocky ridges on the west the on ridges rocky to leads then It Area. Ski Creek

in this section of the Weminuche Wilderness. It is 20 miles 20 is It Wilderness. Weminuche the of section this in

marked trail travels south and climbs to the west of Wolf of west the to climbs and south travels trail marked

for 4 miles to the end of the road. This trail is the longest the is trail This road. the of end the to miles 4 for

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Begin this trail at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass. A well A Pass. Creek Wolf of summit the at trail this Begin

Jackson Mountain access road on the left. Follow it Follow left. the on road access Mountain Jackson

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northeast of Pagosa Springs on Highway 160 to 160 Highway on Springs Pagosa of northeast

top of Windy Pass from Highway 160 but it just isn’t as isn’t just it but 160 Highway from Pass Windy of top

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Drive 7.3 miles 7.3 Drive

Easy Easy Easy Easy Easy 160 (if you left a car there). Obviously you could go to the to go could you Obviously there). car a left you (if 160 the ice fissures. ice the

return the way you came up, or go on down to Highway to down on go or up, came you way the return Piedra Valley and other ridges. Use caution when viewing when caution Use ridges. other and Valley Piedra

is about ¾ miles to the west from this junction. You can You junction. this from west the to miles ¾ about is From the ridge at the top you have a good view of the of view good a have you top the at ridge the From

Easy Easy Easy Easy Easy

frozen sculpture. frozen east intersects this trail in a large scenic park. Windy Pass Windy park. scenic large a in trail this intersects east the ice remains in the fissures as late as the end of June. of end the as late as fissures the in remains ice the

you. In winter these falls create an ice-blue an create falls these winter In you. three miles the Treasure Mountain Trail from the north- the from Trail Mountain Treasure the miles three protected from the sun. After melting and compressing, and melting After sun. the from protected

falls rush hundreds of feet down the cliff toward cliff the down feet of hundreds rush falls small sign on the left side of the road. After approximately After road. the of side left the on sign small of the ridge contain snow deposited through the winter, the through deposited snow contain ridge the of

falls. Standing in the refreshing spray on the bridge, the bridge, the on spray refreshing the in Standing falls. seven miles to the trailhead. The trailhead is marked by a by marked is trailhead The trailhead. the to miles seven easy, short trail up Ice Cave Ridge. The fissures on the side the on fissures The Ridge. Cave Ice up trail short easy,

quarter mile interpretive trail to the bridge at the base of the of base the at bridge the to trail interpretive mile quarter right on the East Fork Road, and travel approximately travel and Road, Fork East the on right yards, then follow the old road bed to the right. This is an is This right. the to bed road old the follow then yards,

parking lot on your right. From the parking lot follow a follow lot parking the From right. your on lot parking (#667). Drive eight miles northeast on Highway 160, turn 160, Highway on northeast miles eight Drive (#667). area start on the Piedra River Trail for several hundred several for Trail River Piedra the on start area

Highway 160 to the base of Wolf Creek Pass. You will see a see will You Pass. Creek Wolf of base the to 160 Highway to Windy Pass is the one starting from the East Fork Road Fork East the from starting one the is Pass Windy to to the Piedra River Trail to access this trail. From the parking the From trail. this access to Trail River Piedra the to

alls alls F F e e easur easur r r T T #5 #5 ail ail r r T T ass ass P P Windy Windy #13 #13 alls F e easur r T #5 ail r T ass P Windy #13 alls alls F F e e easur easur r r T T #5 #5 ail ail r r T T ass ass P P Windy Windy #13 #13 ail ail r r T T Ridge Ridge e e Cav Cav Ice Ice #9 #9 ail r T Ridge e Cav Ice #9 ail ail r r T T Ridge Ridge e e Cav Cav Ice Ice #9 #9 Travel 14 miles northeast on northeast miles 14 Travel The more spectacular trail spectacular more The Follow the directions the Follow

• Set easy-to-achieve objectives. Unless backpacking, plan to return well before dark. Enjoy your hike. Most of the visitors to the Pagosa Springs area are drawn by the awesome natural beauty. Unfortunately, many do • Stay on the trail. Short-cutting causes erosion and is not take the opportunity to hike “back-in” and enjoy the hazardous to your safety as well as those hikers below beauty in a more intimate way. Experience the unique sights, you. sounds and smells of the San Juan National Forest by leaving your car behind and walking up a trail that winds • Think safety. Take wet weather gear, map, water, and beneath the towering pines and along a clear mountain snacks. Always travel with a friend and let someone stream. The following hikes cover a variety of terrain and know where you are going. are geared to differing ability levels. We hope you will stay awhile in Pagosa and return home with some unforgettable • Pack out your trash. Help keep the forest clean and pack memories that any of these hikes will provide. out trash someone else left!

• A Pagosa Country area map is available to direct you to Remember: the various trail heads. However, it is a good idea to pick up a National Forest map; it more clearly shows all access Take wet weather gear... roads and trails. Both maps may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Take a map and water... • All of the hikes described herein begin at altitudes above 8000 feet. Several reach to 12,000 feet at their summit. Travel with a buddy(s). • Each hike is labeled “easy” to “difficult”. Only persons Pagosa Springs Area in good physical condition should attempt the difficult Let someone know hikes. Remember, that when you go downhill, you will where you are going. Hiking have to climb back up when you return. Guide Easy - means the hike will not be hard for hikers of all Take only pictures,,, ages. An easy hike may become difficult if you go too far. leave only footprints... Moderate - will also fit most hikers, but could be difficult for the very young and older hikers. There are usually some steep parts to a moderate hike. This brochure produced through the cooperation of the Difficult - are steeper, go to higher altitudes, and are Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, the Pagosa usually longer. It is recommended that you hike easy to Chapter of the San Juan National Forest Association and moderate trails before trying a difficult one. the Pagosa District of the San Juan National Forest. 970-264-2360 • 1-800-252-2204 Fax (970) 264-4625 • www.pagosaspringschamber.com P.O. Box 787 • Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 #1 Fourmile Falls From Hwy 160, turn north onto #2 Opal Lake Drive south on Highway 84 from East Toner Road (#637), and follow it to the end. Do not Lewis St. and an immediate left onto 5th St. Stay right onto Pagosa Springs approximately eight miles to Blanco Basin attempt to travel this road in wet weather. Walk up the river Four Mile Road (CR400 - this becomes FS #645) driving Road (#657). After driving 10 miles, turn right across the to a headgate where the trail begins. The falls are impressive, north seven miles from Pagosa Springs. Turn right at the Blanco River Bridge. Follow the Castle Creek Road (#660) thundering off a cliff into a V-shaped canyon of huge junction for four more miles to the trailhead. The trail to the signed junction for the Opal Lake Trailhead. Turn boulders. The hike takes about 15 to 30 minutes each way. follows Fourmile Creek right here and drive a short distance to the trailhead on the Easy with Eagle Mountain to the right. The trail to Opal Lake is 1.2 miles and takes about 45 east. The trail is bordered by minutes to hike. A portion of the trail is steep before it dense stands of aspen and spruce-fir. traverses an open meadow to the lake. Groves of large #4 Williams Creek Drive north on Piedra Road At mile three you will reach the waterfall aspen line the trail and several beaver dams can be seen in (#631) about 22 miles. Turn right on Williams Creek Road which drops 300’ from the cliff above. the area. The lake is bordered by wooded hillsides and a (#640) past Williams Creek Reservoir and Cimarrona Moderate sheer mountain face. Minerals deposited at the inlet of the Campground, continuing on to the trailhead at the end of lake give it its milky color. the road. The trail follows Williams Creek northward into Easy To Moderate the Weminuche Wilderness. The old Spanish name for Williams Creek was Huerto: garden-like. The first few miles of Williams Creek do give the impression of a gigantic, walled garden. Across the creek to the right is a group of #3 Piedra Falls Drive north on Piedra Road (#631) peaks eroded from volcanic rock. Set your own destination about 17 miles to the junction at Sportsman’s Supply. Leave - it continues on 14 miles to the Continental Divide. the Piedra Road and continue on the Middle Fork Road Easy to Moderate (#636) for two miles. Take the first road to the right, the

Pagosa Country Hiking Map

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