Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado by John Peel

Author:John Peel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: West Margin Press
Published: 2020-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

Be careful of falling trees in the burn areas. This warning sign was posted at the beginning of the Jones Creek Trail.

The trail is fairly popular with mountain bikers and motorbikers. You’ll hear the motors, but the engine-less bikes can pop around sharp corners suddenly. Most bikers are very courteous and slow down immediately. Generally, if you’re friendly, they’ll be friendly.

With nearly 9 miles in the round-trip route, many hikers will be satisfied by just going out and back, but several other options are available for those who want a longer hike.

OPTIONS: At the top you’ll meet the Pinkerton-Flagstaff Trail, which goes along the top of the ridge in basically a north-south direction. This is the spine of the main high ridge east of Hermosa Creek. The trail runs along much of the top west above the Hermosa Cliffs with the Animas River to the east. On the ridge, the trail spends most of its length higher than 9,400 feet, going up to 9,661 feet at one point.

Turning left on the Pinkerston-Flagstaff Trail takes you in several miles up to the Dutch Creek Trail. The right fork is more practical: For 2.6 miles, it tends south and parallels Jones Creek at a higher level and at a gradually widening distance. There are several good, long-distance viewpoints along this ridge, either west toward the high peaks of the La Plata Mountains or east toward the top of Missionary Ridge and beyond. Any of these spots is a good place to take a well-earned rest from the climb and drink in the splendor.

At 2.6 miles the trail dives off the ridge toward the east, heading down toward Mitchell Lakes. Keep going and in 4.4 miles you can reach US 550.

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