Conejos Falls Loop, South San Juan Wilderness, CO

HOW TO USE: This is a rough guideline for your trip. Be sure to fill in the blanks and send to your loved ones. Remember, the wilderness is wild, plan accordingly. ITINERARY Bear! Conejos Falls Loop, South San Juan Wilderness, CO TBD (_) Trailmaster

On ______, ______is hiking the Conejos Falls Loop, in the South San Juan Wilderness, 58 miles west of Alamosa, CO. This is an easier to moderate level trip and excellent for young backpackers. Good fitness will make this trip more enjoyable, duh. Curious is that this area was the last confirmed grizzly bear sighting in Colorado (1979). The three day two night trip total mileage is approximately 14 miles (4/6/4). The high low elevations are 10,200' and 12,000'.

Water is expected at camps but it never to be considered certain, especially in a dry year. Each person will be responsible for their own food, tent and equipment. This is a full backpack trip in the South San Juan Wilderness and follows North Fork and Middle Fork of the Conejos River with a short jont along the Continental Divide Trail. The 80' tall Conejos Falls is a highlight of this trip.

Trailhead Directions (37.30252,-106.605111) - From Alamosa, CO, take 285 south for 2.8 miles to CO 370. Turn west on CO 370 (Co Rd 10S) and continue 14.1 miles to CO 15 and turn left (south). Continue south for 2 miles to W Co Rd 12 S (Twelvemile Rd S) and turn right (west). You will follow this road past Platoro Reservoir for approximately 38.3 miles. At Platoro Reservoir you follow FS Rds 247 and 250. It's best to follow the Google directions which are as follows: SCHEDULE Friday Day 1 - 4.0 miles up Conejos River Drainage (up) 1:00 pm arrive Trailhead and begin hike 4:00 Arrive camp in time for High tea 5:00 Dinner cook in camp, check in for the night (evening fishing?) 10:00 Lights out wilderness - Hang your bear bags high!

Saturday Day 2 - 6.0 miles up and over CDT 8:30 am up and about, breakfast, break camp 9:30 Leave camp and head out 12:00 pm lunch on trail 1:00 pm Arrive in upper Middle Fork Conejos River, Make Camp, check out falls 4:00 High tea 5:00 Dinner cook in camp, check in for the night 10:00 Lights out wilderness Sunday Day 3 - 4.2 miles down Conejos and out (down) 7:00 am Up and about, breakfast, pack up and make ready to move out. 8:00 am begin hike to cars. 11:00 pm arrive cars and congratulate ourselves on how cool we are.

WEATHER (expected) Likely to be dry and in the 80 degrees. But, it isn’t sure; be prepared for 20 degrees and rain or snow. This is Colorado and it's never summer in the mountains.

WHAT TO TAKE, see site check list on website.

REMEMBER,  backpacking teaches you to take care of yourself in a wilderness setting and to enjoy it.  If your mother packed your pack, you have too much stuff.  The Boy Scout Outdoor Code, the 4 c’s; CLEAN IN YOUR OUTDOOR MANNERS, CAREFUL WITH FIRE, CONSIDERATE IN THE OUTDOORS, CONSERVATION MINDED.

COSTS Gas Food

WHO's Going Fill this in with names and cell phone.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest 15571 CR T.5 La Jara, CO 81140 719-274-8971

ATTACHED 81/2 x 11 copy of map