unexpected
happy trails
Hikes and Solitude by Linnaea Renz Windsock Acres
Photo: Bob Seago Photography Trail Name / no. elev. elev. elev. difficulty usage length usage start end gain one-way (mi) Deep Creek Trail / 806
8900
10900
2000
Mod. - Diff.
Mod.
9
Farmers Creek Trail / 801
8800
11300
2500
Moderate
Light - Mod.
9
foot/horse
Heart Lake Trail / 823
10400
11600
1200
Moderate
Light - Mod.
1.9
foot/horse foot/horse
foot/horse
Inspiration Point / 789
8900
11200
2300
Difficult
Light
3.5
Ivy Creek Trail / 805
9200
11800
2600
Easy - Mod.
Mod.
8.1
foot/horse
Miners Creek Trail / 803
9000
11500
2500
Moderate
Mod.
7
foot/horse
Shallow Creek Trail / 897
8738
9625
887
Moderate
Light - Mod.
2.25
foot/horse
Squaw Creek Trail / 814
9400
10800
1400
Easy
Mod. - Heavy
9.9
foot/horse
Texas Creek Trail / 816
9040
11640
2600
Most Diff.
Light - Mod.
12.9
foot/horse
Ute Creek Trail / 819
9600
11800
2200
Easy
Heavy
12.1
foot/horse
Weminuche Creek Trail / 818
9400
10600
1200
Easy
Mod. - Heavy
5.5
foot/horse
West Pole Creek Trail / 918
11200
12600
1400
Moderate
Very light
Fern Creek Trail / 815 9200 9800 600 Easy - Diff. Heavy
3.5 foot 15 OHV 4.7
foot/horse motorcycle/ATV under 50”
Lost Creek Trail / 821 9750 12350 2600 Moderate Light to Mod. 11 motorcycle/ATV under 50” Bachelor Road / 504
Heavy
17 Jeep
Bear Town / 506
5.9
Jeep
10500
12100
1600
Mod. - Diff.
Heavy
Bristol Head Peak / 532
10030
12706
2676
Moderate
Mod.
15.1
Jeep
Pool Table/Wheeler / 600
10800
11040
200
Difficult
Heavy
13.7
Jeep
Regan Lake / 521
9530
10080
550
Easy
Heavy
4.8
Jeep
Stony Pass / 520
9600
12588
2988
Moderate
Extra Heavy
14.6
Jeep
Provided courtesy of Rio Grande National Forest.
Photos Courtesy of Creede Historical Society
Born in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, moving to Creede two years ago was like coming home. I grew up tromping through the woods, fly fishing for trout and experiencing the true solitude and awe of nature. Prior to my move to Creede, I lived in Denver, CO, where a hike down a trail was like a walk through the mall – navigating crowds, tuning out noise and simply unenjoyable. It was then I decided to give up the amenities of a big city for the simple life of Creede. I quickly fell in love with this place, in part because of the natural beauty that surrounds us. For me, getting outside is about re-connecting to the land quietly and through all of the senses. In minutes, I can be experiencing the wildness of where we live. I want to share with you a few of my favorite hikes, so that you too may experience the wonder of the Rocky Mountains. For this purpose, I specifically chose hikes that are for non-motorized users only – hikers, bikers and sometimes horses. cont’d >>>
creede & mineral county visitors guide / 39