Telluride Area Trails Jud Wiebe (A Forest Service Recreation Manager)
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JUD WIEBE: Built together by the town of Tellu- Forest Road 638 (Last Dollar Road). Turn right on Telluride drive west about 8 miles. Turn left on the 1.5 miles. Look for the trail sign on your right. ride and the Forest Service in 1987, this short but Last Dollar Road and follow the road for about 3 Fall Creek Road (County Road 57P). Follow this Trail length: 8.5 miles from Bear Creek Trail to steep trail was designed and named after the late miles. Turn right to enter the trailhead parking road for about 9 miles. The trailhead is on the left Bridal Veil Powerhouse. Telluride Area Trails Jud Wiebe (a Forest Service Recreation Manager). lot. This trail receives heavy bike use. Hikers use before Woods Lake Campground. Open to: hikers, horses, mountain bikers. He passed away in 1986 before the trail’s comple- caution. Bikers please yield to hikers and horses. Trail length: 10.5 miles. Uncompahgre National Forest PROSPECT: This is one of the most challenging tion. This trail begins in Telluride at the top of Trail length: 12 miles. Open to: hikers, horses and seasonal motorcycle Norwood Ranger District Aspen Street and ends at the Tomboy Road. The Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. use July 1 through Labor Day. single-track trails in the area. It traverses through trail climbs on either end then contours through spruce and fir as it contours along steep mountain an aspen forest. Most views from this trail are EIDER CREEK: This short spur trail connects to slopes and scree fields. From the San Sofia Nature of Telluride and the ski area. This is a family the Deep Creek Trail. The trail climbs steeply for Center, follow the Village Trail for about ¼ mile. friendly trail and a favorite among local people. 2 miles, and then intersects the Deep Creek Trail. The Prospect Trail veers left off the Village. Trail length: 2.7 miles. From Telluride drive 1 mile west on Highway 145. Trail length: 9.1 miles. Open to: hikers, horses (to the Deep Creek Trail inter- Turn right on Forest Road 637 (Mill Creek Road) Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. section from the trailhead) and mountain bikers. near the Shell gas station. This dirt road is high clearance and not recommended for passenger cars. VILLAGE: This trail descends through aspen, Drive about .5 mile to the first hairpin turn. This is spruce and fir as it traverses across ski runs and the trailhead. slopes. It offers expansive western views. Look for Trail length: 1.6 miles. the trailhead sign across from the San Sofia Nature Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. Center in Mountain Village. Trail length: 3 miles. GALLOPING GOOSE: Most of this trail follows the Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers old Rio Grande Southern Railroad from Lizard Head Pass to Society Turn near Telluride. This route once had over 140 bridges and trestles, of which only one remains today. Incredible views of mountain Hope Lake peaks, old historic structures and scenic lakes and streams await those who venture out on this trail. Lupine and Paintbrush HOPE LAKE: Hope Lake is a man-made lake, Portions of this trail share forest and county roads. which stores water for the Ames Power Plant. SNEFFELS HIGH LINE: This trail is one of the most Other sections have steep grades and get light Snow generally melts late in the lake basin, often challenging and rewarding day hikes in the area. use. The trail is marked by the Galloping Goose in July. This trail climbs through a spruce and It climbs up into the high country of the Mount logo beginning at Lizard Head Pass. This popular fir forest with abundant wildflowers. There are Sneffels Wilderness above timberline. It passes by mountain biking trail can be done in sections or several stream crossings to navigate. It tops out old cabin ruins, mines and streams. When plan- in its entirety. It offers a challenge without being above timberline to Hope Lake. This trail is very ning this hike, get any early start to avoid afternoon overly technical. To get to the trailhead at Lizard popular because of the scenic beauty. From Tel- thunderstorms in the summer. The eastern access Head Pass from Telluride drive about 3 miles to The scenic Telluride Valley is a gateway luride, travel west out of town about 3 miles to for this trail is from the Jud Wiebe trailhead at the Highway 145 (Society Turn). Turn left heading Society Turn. Turn left on Highway 145. Stay on to the Uncompahgre National Forest. top of Aspen Street. The western access for this trail south for about 11 miles to Lizard Head Pass. There the highway for about 10 miles. Turn left at the is from the Mill Creek Road. From Telluride drive 1 is a rest area and interpretive site on the right Village Trail The panoramic mountain views of the Trout Lake sign on to Forest Service Road 626. mile west on Highway 145 to Forest Service Road side of the highway. The trailhead is on the left Follow the road around the northeast shore of the area are captivating. There are vast op- 637 (Mill Creek Road) near the Shell gas station. side of the highway on Forest Service Road 626. lake for one mile to Forest Service Road 627. Turn LIZARD HEAD: Initially this trail climbs steeply Turn right on Mill Creek Road and follow it approxi- Trail length: 16.5 miles. portunities for the recreation enthusiast. left. This road is recommended for high clearance in to the Lizard Head Wilderness through spruce mately 1.5 miles to the Telluride Town reservoir. Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. vehicles only. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles and fir and up to Blackface Ridge. Far reaching Telluride sits at 8,750 feet so aerobic This is a high clearance road not recommended for views of the San Juan Mountains can be seen from WILSON MESA: This is a good trail for early to the Hope Lake trailhead. activity can be challenging. When recre- passenger cars. There is parking near the reservoir. this vantage. A good portion of this trail is above season access and late fall color. It is primarily in Trail length: 2.5 miles to Hope Lake, 3 miles to Trail length: 8.5 miles. timberline and exposed to lightning during thunder- ating, give your body time to acclimate spruce and fir with some aspen and a few small the pass. Open to: hikers and horses. storms. Eventually the trail contours directly under open parks. There are several small stream cross- Open to: hikers, horses and mountain bikers. to the area, stay hydrated, take extra Lizard Head Peak, which is a prominent rock feature DEEP CREEK: This is a good trail for early and late ings and wetlands to navigate. The trail borders WASATCH TO BRIDAL VEIL: This is a steep trail standing by itself at 13,113 feet. At this point there food and clothing, carry a map, prac- season hiking due to its southern exposure and lower the Lizard Head Wilderness area for almost the that leads into the backcountry just outside of is a trail junction with the Cross Mountain trail and elevation. There are some steep sections on either entire length. This trail receives a lot of motor- tice good trail ethics, be safe and enjoy Telluride. It was originally constructed for mule the Bilk Basin section of the Lizard Head trail. This end of the trail. It is located almost entirely in aspen cycle use during the summer since it is the only trains to haul ore from the Nellie Mine. Much of is a strenuous hike rewarded by incredible scenic yourself. Summer time thunderstorms timber with a few scattered spruce and fir stands. motorized trail in the Telluride area. There are the trail is above timberline and should be avoided beauty. From Telluride drive about 3 miles to High- The trail has panoramic views of the ski area and the several access points for this trail. Sunshine Mesa are common in the high country. Plan during thunderstorms. From the trailhead the way 145 (Society Turn). Turn left heading south for San Juan Mountains. Waterfalls can be seen along access: From Telluride drive west about 5 miles. trail climbs about 3 miles to 13,000 feet reach- about 11 miles to Lizard Head Pass. There is a rest to hike early to avoid afternoon storms the east end of the trail in the Mill Creek Basin. To Turn south off Highway 145 on to the South Fork ing the divide between Bear Creek and Bridal Veil area and interpretive site on the right side of the get to the eastern trail access from Telluride drive Road (County Road 63L). Go 2.5 miles to the Ilium and lightning. If caught in lightning seek Creek. It continues on in to Bridal Veil Basin and highway. Turn in to the rest area. The trailhead is west 1 mile on Highway 145 to Forest Service Road Church Camp. Turn right on to Forest Service Road ends at Forest Service Road 648 (Black Bear Pass above the main parking area on the right. shelter and stay away from ridge tops, 637 (Mill Creek Road) near the Shell gas station. 623. Travel about 4.5 miles on this road to get to Road) near the Bridal Veil Powerhouse. The road Trail length: Lizard Head to Cross Mountain 9 Turn right on Mill Creek Road and follow it approxi- the trailhead.