My daughter and her Bfriend are looking to do some over-night hiking before joining us in Town Park. Anyone got some good two night/three day hikes that can recommend?
i’ve not done much hiking or camping around telluride other than town park, nor am i from colorado, but…
lalagay and i have been talking about a similar idea and have run across this state park, which looks pretty cool…
Navajo Lake http://parks.state.co.us/Parks/Navajo/Pages/NavajoHome.aspx
any more cool suggestions would be great too!
There is some goooood fishin holes at Navajo. Bring your rod. :medal
There’s also Navajo Lake in the Lizardhead Wilderness Area (NFS) … which can be accessed via a trail from Woods’ Lake (15 minutes by car to the south on the Fall Creek Rd. Turn off) or from the Lizard Head Pass side (kilpacker trail). The whole Lizardhead Wilderness Area is awesome & could easily include a multi-day backpacking trip.
You could also hike from Telluride → Ophir → camp near Trout Lake, hike up to Hope Lake and up and over the saddle to Ice Lakes & camp around there → then make your way back via Silverton somehow. Or just do a shorter version.
I route I’ve always wanted to do was to go up Jud Weibe (or start even further to the east), then essentially traverse west on various trails / jeep roads out to Hastings Mesa, then wrap back around to the east on the Dallas Trail (on the Ridgway side of the range) to either Yankee Boy Basin or Ouray → Telluride.
In any case, I’d recommend getting a REAL topo trail map (not a free tourist version) … you’ll see there are miles and miles of trails in the region.
Lizardhead Pass is breathtaking. I have never seen soooo many wildflowers . Just so beautiful. You must check out this close hike to Tride. A must! Great suggestion! :medal :medal
Hey Useless!!! How “extreme” do they want to be? There’s a trail called “Bear Creek” that heads out south of Ouray and intersects with Engineer Pass that can be a multi day backpack trip. I’ve done a few miles of it but not the whole thing. It’s pretty “uphill”. LizardHead is also a great potential area for sure. Let me know the skill level and I’ll forward you a few links via email that I’ve got saved.
Although they have done some overnight hiking, they have never done anything in the “real” mountains. Parts of the Appalachian trail is about the most advanced. Something challenging but also somewhere that if trouble occurs, they can get to someone for help if needed. They are not opposed to an area that they would see others everyonce in a while. Feel free to email us anytime. You should have our address in one of the old PM’s. :thumbsup
There’s a one way jeep trail that runs from 550 to Telluride that is amazing. Years ago I was hitchhiking from Durango north. I had all I needed for the backcountry, so while cruising the high country on 550 I decided I didn’t want to go home, so I told my ride to drop me off. I really didn’t know where I was, but I started walking a jeep trail west. It was late afternoon, and I asked a passer bye where the road headed. The guy said Telluride. I didn’t think much of it, and I was tired, so I leaned against my pack and fell asleep under a cedar. When I awoke the sun had set and a full moon was high enough to light the way. Well rested, I commenced to stroll. Unbelievable. I am sure there are many trails off what I later learned is called Bear Pass. With plenty of moonlight I just kept walking. It was first light when I came to the edge of a high basin, and below what did I see? The lights of Telluride. Down some switchback and passed Bridle Veil Falls in time for some good breakfast grub at a local diner. Epic.
To clarify…I walked from somewhere on Red Mountain pass and over Black Bear Pass. These days there might be some jeep traffic, but probably not if you’re walking in the dark. :wave
LFL: great story!
Yes, Black Bear Pass is probably one of the more dramatic “entrances” to Telluride, but I felt compelled to also mention it’s probably THE most difficult jeep road in the state (or country) … at least the section called “the stairs”. So, I would STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST taking this route in a vehicle unless you are technically able and willing !!!
Yep, Black Bear Pass is cool and awesome and scary and all that stuff. But wayyyy too high (in my opinion) for a “backpacking” trip. Above treeline. Very exposed. No firewood. I’ll send you guys an email this weekend now that I’m getting back into the groove after the holidays.
Cmon Hooch, we thought you always were in a groove!
Yo, Hooch. I see you’re into bacon. Well, I’ve got something for you. I got one for Christmas and it has made me an instant rock star every time I pull it out:
Hey there. Awesome! I actually was given one of those last year by one of my Telluride crew, but I have not used it yet. So it’s made you very popular amongst cashiers? I should really put mine into use but I’m oddly attached to my 1985 nylon velcro wallet I’ve been carrying for 26 years. It kind of grosses people out.
I understand. I had an old leather wallet that around the time of the 2008 collapse got so warn I started to duct tape it. It then became an object of humor and ridicule, but got to the point where it was all duct tape with wads of rotting leather and cloth. Time for a bacon wallet, I guess.
This post brings back fond memories, actually built some of the trails mentioned in the post as a a US Forest Service employee in 79 and 80. That was how I discovered Telluride BG Festival. Our whole crew would volunteer as “security” for a free pass to the festival. For a kid who already loved Bluegrass music, I was in heaven for the 3 days of the festival. I wish I had some of those T shirts they handed out. ( although they would be pretty tight these days)
My favorite trails in the area were Wilson Mesa, and lizard head trail. It has been along time since I have been in the area, hopefully it has not changed much. I always thought Wilson Peak was the most beautiful mountain I have ever seen. I have been told, although I have not confirmed it, that was the mountain that inspired the classic Coors can. I have a warm place in my heart for Priest Lake, if it still exsists, I caught my dinner there many nights, great brook trout!
Enjoy your hike!
It is also a mountain with much controversy over the past few years due to a Texan who apparently was seeking to leverage the NFS into a lucrative trade via blocking the main route via the purchase of a mining claim. Similar lunacy going on in upper Bear Creek now too … but just as well as far as I’m concerned, might put the brakes on the ski company’s apparent ambitions to industrialize a gem at the exclusion of all but those who can pony up $98/day for a lift ticket (or purchase a pass). But I digress, here’s the scoop on access to Wilson Pk.
http://www.14ers.org/peaks_sanjuan_wilson.php
Silver Pick Trail and Wilson Peak Access
In October of 2007, The Colorado office of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) finalized the purchase of 230 acres of properties in the Silver Pick Basin needed to help reestablish public access to Wilson Peak through this access point. While the land purchase is the first step in reopening access through Silver Pick Basin, this route will remain closed until some easements are formally established and necessary trail improvements are completed. Since TPL currently owns the two claims on the SW Ridge, the public can now access Wilson Peak via Navajo Basin or Bilk Basin.
2010 Access Update:
Public access remains closed through private lands in Silver Pick Basin awaiting reconstruction of the Elk Creek Road (#645). This road is the primary access to the new Rock of Ages Trail which will restore public access through the Basin to Wilson Peak.
Timber removal and road grading contracts on the Elk Creek Road will commence in early June and are expected to be completed by September.
Those wanting to climb Wilson Peak have several other options available to them including the Navajo Trail #635 and the Lizard Head Trail (#505). The Lizard Head Trail can be accessed from either Sunshine Mesa Road #623 or from the trailhead at Lizard Head Pass on US Highway 145.
To respect the agreements reached in this issue, please do not attempt to access the Rock of Ages Saddle via Silver Pick Basin until work in the area is complete. Updates to the status of Wilson Peak access will be posted on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, & Gunnison National Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/
Questions/Answers
- Question: Can I still hike to the summit of Wilson Peak on the standard route?
Answer: Yes. Legal access to Rock of Ages Saddle and the southwest ridge of the peak has been restored for climbers entering from either Navajo Basin or Bilk Basin.
- Question: What route could I use to skirt the private land in Silver Pick Basin?
Answer: There are no alternative routes through Silver Pick Basin at this time.
- Question: Can I still access Wilson Peak and the other two Fourteeners in this group(El Diente and Mount Wilson)? How?
Answer: Yes, there is access to Wilson Peak, El Diente and Mount Wilson from six of the other wilderness trailheads: Navajo, Kilpacker, Cross Mountain, Lizard Head Pass, Bilk Basin, and Woods Lake. The Navajo Trail is the shortest, most direct route into Navajo Basin. Please note that campfires are prohibited in the entire Navajo Basin – Navajo Lake area. This area is clearly marked on the Trails Illustrated® – TOPO Map #141.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
The above information does not replace the need to consult additional maps and Colorado Fourteener Guidebooks for more detailed route descriptions. We suggest checking multiple resources before departing on any hike. Keep in mind that not all guidebooks list this recommended route and that each guidebook’s description or route name may vary slightly.
Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces
Visitors are encouraged to climb these peaks in the early summer season so as to travel mainly on snow to reduce impacts. Travel on snow and rock instead of the tundra wherever possible.
Hooch, I’d also like to look into some hiking possibilities, and was hoping that you’d forward a few of those links this way as well. I am looking for a great day hike or a great loop to spend a night on… average skill/ability level. Thanks much in advance!