Streams on the east side of the pass are some of the headwaters for the Rio Grande River and on the west side, the San Juan River which eventually meets the Colorado. Wolf Creek Pass – From US 160 in … Directions: Wolf Creek Pass is along US 160, 19 miles west of South Fork (Rio Grande County), and 24.5 miles east of Pagosa Springs (Archuleta County). MTB from the Pass Creek Yurt INCLUDING the Continental Divide Trail My name is Jerry Duran. Of course, if you want some snow experience, this may be a … This zone gets a lot of snow which can cause high avalanche danger. Willow Creek Pass Trail . Wolf Creek Backcountry, LLC - Pass Creek Yurt. By the way, heading south on the Continental Divide Trail lets you head up the ridge to the summit of Alberta Peak, the top of Wolf Creek Ski Area. It lies at 10,856 ft (3,309 m) on the Continental Divide. Follow this high-altitude section of the Colorado Trail at your leisure to get a ta… You can start your ride in Pagosa Springs and ride 23 miles east on Hwy 160 to the summit, and return for a 46 mile outing. --Bruce Bindner, Images ATV Riding. Discover more camping areas >> 2. Wolf Creek Pass The trailhead to CDT at Wolf Creek Pass. Trails in Wolf Creek Pass - 42. It’s also on top of the Continental Divide, which is kind of cool. FS Rd 390, Rio Grande County. Near the top of the pass on the eastern side is located the Wolf Creek Ski Area, a great little ski area known for receiving the highest annual snowfall of any in Colorado. Pagosa Springs, CO 1 23.8 mi 38.3 km #2 CDT: South River Peak to Squaw Pass (CO Sec. Enjoy a one-mile walk or bike in Summer or three-mile ski in Winter, our Yurt welcomes you with simple charm. Photo by Granger Meador. Mount Hope via Wolf Creek Pass is a 23.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pagosa Springs, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Horseback Riding. When Mark and Sandy asked me to evaluate the mountain biking from the Pass Creek Yurt, I jumped on it. A large parking area marks the entrance to the hiking … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Add Your Trails. OHV Riding (>50”) Nordic Skiing. It is a gravel road and a four wheel vehicle is not required. He accomplished as much 11 years earlier. In winter, snowmobilers take this same route to the top. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail system (CDT) is a work in progress that spans 3,100 miles and crosses four states. Notice the windswept conditions of the trees living at “timberline,” and hunt for a few alpine ... dropping grandly across the face of a rough volcanic cliff. Pagosa Springs, CO Difficult. Snowmobiling. To get there, take the ski road at the end of the lower parking lot to Alberta Park. City: Pagosa Springs. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. If you want to go on foot, you can hike the road up, or hike the Continental Divide Trail which starts just west of the road and tracks just west of the overlook. The view is wonderful. 54.6 miles / 4.5 days. Plan on getting a very early start if it is snowy. Wolf Creek Pass is unique in Colorado in that the best skiing is in the trees. This was a trip to beautiful Pagosa Springs, Colorado in June of 2019. Now the road and US 160 is greatly improved here but it can still definitely be dangerous in wintry or white-out conditions. That’s great to hear you just got up there, and even went up the trail. What We Experienced: Expect long, open views. On the other side of the road from the signs and just east of the summit is the entrance to Lobo Overlook with a 3 mile dirt/gravel road leading up – Forest Road #402. As you walk around and poke your head in different directions, you’ll probably notice one thing that’s missing at the top – a fair amount of oxygen  There is also a neat geocache nearby if you’re so inclined. Get Directions. Delorme: 88 A3 Roads of Colorado: 133 D4 Dates of Access: Open all year, but best in summer Hours: Any Ownership: US Forest Service Admission: Free Any Activity. South River Peak Ivy Creek T.H.- From US Hwy 149 in Creede travel north 6 miles, turn West on Middle Creek Road travel 4 miles to Forest Road 528, at 4 miles turn East on Forest Road 526, Ivy Creek Trailhead is 2 miles ahead. 5) Difficult. Treasure Falls is located about 15 miles northeast of the town of Pagosa Springs, along highway 160 near Wolf Creek Pass. The famous overlook on the west side offers you a chance to be swarmed by panhandling Steller’s Jays, while swifts and swallows wheel in huge flocks overhead. Back on the main road, partway down the pass on the west side, there is a good overlook that allows you to look down on the scenic valley that leads toward Pagosa Springs. Fellow hiker named Latonka. 2.2 mi 3.6 km #1 Crater Lake Trail #562. Difficult. And in the Fall, the colors were spectacular. Great descriptions and directions. The stunning peaks of Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain pierce the blue Colorado sky as you journey along this 1885 cattle-drive trail. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. Snowshoeing. Apparently, there are a few hiking trails up here that I didn’t know about when I visited…not that I would have had time for them. Exhilarating is the best word to describe this ride. Or, explore sections of the Continental Divide Trail, easily accessible from Wolf Creek Pass. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. All Rights Reserved. Colorado/New Mexico Border to Wolf Creek Pass. The year round pass is very steep and is treacherous in the winter. Required fields are marked *. Depending on the time of year, you may see snow up there and in the surrounding mountains, abundant wildflowers, and wildlife such as deer. Local: 970-731-2486. There aren’t many places where you can drive to the top of a high elevation mountain on the Continental Divide! To get to Wolf Creek Pass, the driver must be wide-awake as the road can deceive you. Snow may limit access from mid-October to late June. This snaky, but paved and well-maintained, road will take you to Treasure Falls. I actually have a friend that is doing the Continental Divide Trail as well and he is passing through Summit County right now. I saw Treasure Falls in March and the waterfall was about 70% ice and 30% cascading water. The area is remarkable for those searching for rocks. Wolf Creek Ski Area’s Winter COVID-19 Operating Plan has been approved by the Silver Thread Health District. There are few places in the world that can compare to the raw, boundless beauty of Molas Pass. Top 5 Rockhounding Spots In Colorado. Wolf Creek Pass supposedly gets the most snow in all of Colorado, which makes it a really popular skiing destination in the state! It's … Wolf Creek has nearly 10 kilometers of cross country trails. This part of the trail starts at the Lobo Overlook just above Wolf Creek Pass Many of the runs can be skied down to Wolf Creek Pass is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona.The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W. McCall song. The trail includes sections with elevations of 4.000 to 14,000 feet through deserts and across alpine tundra. It lies at 10,856 ft (3,309 m) on the Continental Divide. Section 2: Wolf Creek Pass to Hunchback Pass. Five Things To Do In Pagosa Springs This Summer. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from July until October. Driving from Pagosa Springs, the parking area and trailhead for Treasure Falls are located on the right (east) side of the road. "How do you distinguish between being off-route and putting up a first ascent?" Wolf Creek Ski Area is open for 7-day a week operations for the 2020-2021 ski season! Deep within the San Juan Mountains, Wolf Creek Pass is a steep and beautiful mountain pass in Southwest Colorado. Motorcycle Riding. Thanks Patrick & Carol! The Weminuche Wilderness portion is especially popular; but the less crowded part between Spring Creek Pass and Stony Pass is delightful as well. At 10,910 ft. above sea level, Molas Pass affords uninterrupted views of the oft-snowcapped peaks that make up the Twilights, the Needles, and the Grenadiers. Always be alert of your speed. Your email address will not be published. Section 4: Spring Creek Pass (Hwy 149) to Lujan Creek (CO 114) 46 miles / 4 days. Near the parking area, there is a vault toilet, some picnic tables, and a roughly fenced overlook area. (7). https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/pass-creek-trail But at Wolf Creek Pass, in the Rio Grande National Forest, the US Forest service implemented a tree harvesting program, affectionately called the STEP program by local skiers-Selective Telemark Enhancement Program. Wolf Creek Pass: US 160, also known as Wolf Creek Pass, can be a challenging drive. Routes are generally in good condition. When travelling west, you climb out of the arid San Luis Valley, which is already fairly high elevation itself, into higher elevation forests following along the South Fork of the Rio Grande River. The pass falls right along the Great Continental Divide. Your email address will not be published. ... Moosie and I rejoin the Colorado Trail after hiking north on the CDT from Cumbres Pass and finish hiking south toward Durango on the CT. Some Coniferous Trees are Deciduous. South San Juan Segment. Wolf Creek Pass has a small variety of skiable terrain across the highway from Wolf Creek Ski Area. Cross Country Skiing at Wolf Creek. Many stretches of the trail cross wide swaths of wilderness, one of the largest being the Weminuche Wilderness in southern Colorado, where this recommended hike is located. The summit of Wolf Creek Pass is one of the snowiest places in Colorado during the winter. Article: Groups Want Florida To Purchase Big Cypress National Preserve Mineral Rights, BS Yellowstone Supervolcano News Headlines. I’ve driven across the pass several times now and it makes for a great stop along a road trip with sights including Lobo Overlook, Treasure Falls, and fantastic wilderness scenery of the San Juan Mountains. Tabs. Section 3: Beartown Trailhead to Spring Creek Pass. 40.7 miles / 4 days. View Wolf Creek Pass Image Gallery - 7 Images. 17, near Chama, New Mexico) – Ley Maps CO46. The Cumbres Pass North Trail is the southern section of the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado, which stretches 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico. Awesome. The Pass Creek Yurt provides cozy backcountry living along the Continental Divide in Southwestern Colorado year-round. About half way to the Pass, is a wonderful viewing area from which we could see all the way back down the valley towards Pagosa Springs. The overlook is perched on some interesting volcanic formations as well. John Wayne loved this country, and so will you! The elevation of Pagosa Springs is 7100 feet -- the summit of Wolf Creek Pass is 10,863 feet. The divide crosses Wolf Creek Pass in southwestern Colorado in the San Juan Mountains, marked by a line symbolizing the division. Wolf Creek Pass is a legendary route across the Rockies in southern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. A 4 kilometer loop goes around the natural meadows. Travel to the top of the Continental Divide on Wolf Creek Pass, a steep and winding road between Pagosa Springs and South Fork. At the actual pass summit there is a little parking area and some signs about “The Great Divide”, “History of a Road”, and “Continental Divide Trail”. Wolf Creek Pass out of Pagosa Springs winds up a valley until it begins to really climb. Further down the road west, there is a pullout and a parking area that gives access to the short trail to beautiful Treasure Falls. The town of Pagosa Springs lies in the mountains of southwestern Colorado at an elevation of approximately 8,000 feet. An additional 6 kilometer loop takes you down to Alberta Reservoir and back through the trees. There are picnic tables and a bathroom at the top. During the summer, it's one of the most scenic. Parking & Trailhead Information for Treasure Falls in Colorado. 76.4 miles / 7 days. I’ve driven across the pass several times now and it makes for a great stop along a road trip with sights including Lobo Overlook, Treasure Falls, and fantastic wilderness scenery of the San Juan Mountains. The falls probably have quite a spectrum of appearances throughout the seasons. Visit Website. Once you get a chance to look around, you’ll find great views of the San Juans all around. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Cumbres Pass (Hwy. Hi Liz, thanks for the reply there! It is going to be cold, dry and beautiful. Northern Access Point: Wolf Creek Pass (Hwy 160) – Ley Maps CO42. Normally, the forests in Colorado below timberline are too thick to ski through. At Lobo Overlook you can see the surrounding peaks of the San Juan Mountains and lands that lie within the San Juan National Forest (including Weminuche Wilderness) and Rio Grande National Forest. It’s an easy, slow drive (4wd not required) that winds about 1.5 miles to the very top of the 11,760 ft unnamed peak north of Wolf Creek Pass. The pass was notorious for being a difficult road for truckers and even had a country song written about it by C.W. I see I need to add that info in. Owl Creek Pass and Silver Jack Reservoir. and can be traversed via US 160 between the towns of South Fork and Pagosa Springs. Since Wolf Creek Pass gets the most snow in Colorado, the other seasons may have a TON of snow on the trail. Wolf Creek Pass is a legendary route across the Rockies in southern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Hiking. What I found was exceptional. Awesome, open ridge walks & beautiful high alpine lakes. It was awesome. Colorado/Continental Divide Trail 2017: Wolf Creek Pass to Silverton, CO (8-9-17 to 8-16-17) Knife Edge: Moosie and thunderstorm. Wolf Creek Pass gets its name from the nearby Wolf Creek, a San Juan River tributary, which begins near the summit. Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs ... the largest wilderness area in Colorado. Go on a sunny day so that you can have good visibility. I started racing mountain bikes in Colorado in 1986, and since then I have ridden many miles in many different locales. It is very windy at the top. This is excellent backcountry hiking around the head of the Rio Grande. Wolf Creek Pass & Lobo Overlook, Colorado. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. On June 19 we parked at the divide parking area and hiked up the trail leading to the Alberta peak area of Wolf Creek Ski and met a hiker who had started the divide trail at the Mexican border in May and was attempting to reach Canada by logging 22.5 miles per day. 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