Cimarron

East Fork | Middle Fork/Waterfall | West Fork

Cribbing on the East Fork

Another view of the cribbing

Ouray Scouts Camping Near Treeline

A View of Uncompahgre

A View to the Southeast

The East Fork of the Cimarron - #228

TRAILHEAD:
The trail begins at the end of the East Fork of the Cimarron road, which can be accessed from the east side of Owl Creek Pass. Parking is available at that location.

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
This trail takes you into the Uncompahgre Wilderness area. It is a gently rising trail that at 8.4 miles joins with the Middle Fork of the Cimarron trail. The altitude gain to that point is 1,845 feet. The trail follows the beautiful East Fork valley, with wonderful views of the mountains on each side. At the upper end, Uncompahgre Peak at 14,308 feet is dominant on the skyline.

Just below timberline, the trail crosses the East Fork from east to west before reaching the Middle Fork junction. Finding a good place to cross can be difficult in the Spring and early Summer with heavy snowmelt runoff. Return from this point can be by going back on the East Fork trail or by continuing on the MiddleFork trail "loop." The Middle Fork trailhead is another 8.3 miles and you must cross a pass at 12,595 feet. A snowfield will be found on the north side of the pass until mid July. Consider having a vehicle waiting at the Middle Fork tailhead if this "loop" trip is to be made in just one day.

The East Fork trail continues 2.6 miles past the Middle Fork trail junction and ends at its junction with the Ridge Stock Driveway trail in the American Flats--a total distance of 11 miles. Another crossing of the East Fork must be made from west to east just above the Middle Fork junction, and Matterhorn Peak can be seen to the southwest. The Upper East Fork Trail, #142, branches off to the left a little less than a mile above the creek crossing, and ends a mile or so later in the upper East Fork Basin.

East Fork/Middle Fork Junction
Matterhorn in the Background

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Click on these pictures to enlarge

Looking up the Middle Fork
from the trailhead

A closer view of the mountains
down the Middle Fork

Dunsinane

Distant Water Falls

Closer View of Falls

The Middle Fork of the Cimarron - #227/Waterfall
TRAILHEAD:
The trail begins at the end of the Middle Fork of the Cimarron road, which is also accessed from the east side of Owl Creek Pass. Parking is available at that location. Note that three miles up the road there is a painted sign on a rock pointing to the Waterfall Trail. This trail is only 0.1 mile and takes you to a pretty waterfall, which can't be seen from the road. It's worth the short trip.

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
The Uncompahgre Wilderness area is entered 0.3 miles from the trailhead. The Middle Fork trail to the Middle Fork Pass is 5.6 miles with an altitude gain of 2,555 feet. Dunsinane Mountain and Precipice Peak can be seen to the west in the early part of the trail, and Redcliff and Coxcomb peaks can be seen to the southwest as the trail rises up the valley. At 2.3 miles from the trailhead, the Porphyry Basin Trail, #243, branches off to the left up into Porphyry Basin and an old mining area. Two miles further up the Middle Fork trail the Coxcomb Peak Trail, #132, branches off to the right and eventually ties in with the Wetterhorn Basin Trail to the west. From there it is 1.3 miles to the Middle Fork Pass. Note that a snowfield may be found on the north side of the 12,595 foot pass until mid July. From the pass, it is another 2.7 miles to the East Fork trail junction, and then 8.4 miles to the East Fork trailhead if a "loop" trip is planned.

The Waterfall Trailhead The Waterfall

A "Peak" Through the Trees Middle Fork Reflections

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Dunsinane and Precipice

Redcliff and Coxcomb

Wetterhorn Trail at the
South End of the West Fork

The West Fork of the Cimarron Road
The West Fork road departs from the Owl Creek Pass road (County Road 10) at about 0.3 mile east of Owl Creek Pass. Turn right on this road for 1.6 miles and the Courthouse and Courthouse Mountain trailhead is on your right. The Stealey Mountain Trail can be accessed from the Courthouse trail, and it can take you left to a trailhead on Cow Creek or right to a trailhead on the Owl Creek Pass road, about two miles below the pass on the west side.

The Wetterhorn Basin trailhead is reached by continuing on the West Fork road for another 1.8 miles. However, at about 0.5 mile the road becomes 4WD, only, and you will cross the West Fork at about 1.1 miles.

Go to the Trail Index to access details of the trails off this road.

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Corbett-Dallas Loop - #200/209/Shortcut

On the Corbett portion
of the Corbett/Dallas Loop.
Whitehouse in the background

Locally Know as Corbett or
Sulton Peak from Dallas/Corbett Loop
Photo by Anthony Gegauff

TRAILHEAD:
The Corbett trailhead and the Dallas east trailhead share a single location. Drive 2.1 miles north of Ouray Hot Springs Pool on Hwy 550, then left across the Uncompahgre River. Immediately after the bridge, turn sharp right along the river. After 1.4 miles, the trailhead is on the left just after crossing Corbett Creek. Parking: Along the road at the trailhead.

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
Combining the first part of the Dallas Trail and the Corbett Trail provides a six-mile round trip hike with varied scenery and a 2,000 foot altitude gain. The trails start off on switchbacks along red cliff ledges, with views across the valley. Use caution on these sections. Farther on, there are glimpses down into the gorge of Corbett Creek.

The trails divide at 0.9 mile; the Dallas branches right (north) and the Corbett goes straight ahead. Making the loop by going up Corbett and back on Dallas gives the best viewpoints, and you will be going up on the steeper sections of the route, which is generally easier. The Corbett Trail begins climbing very steeply but soon provides rewarding views of the impressive east face of Whitehouse Mountain. Farther along may be views of several waterfalls in the Corbett Creek gorge, especially in the Spring. These panoramas are unobstructed after you have come 0.5 mile from the Dallas junction. There, the trail levels out as the Sequin Mine is reached, which is a good spot for lunch or camping.

Above the mine, the trail winds through scrub oak and up a ravine to the junction with the Corbett Canyon Trail (1.6 miles), climbs a ridge at 9,600' and descends through forest. Stay right when you reach the Shortcut Trail junction. (The Shortcut Trail branches left, and intersects the Dallas Trail further to the west.) You will meet the Dallas Trail again along a small stream at 2.7 miles. After passing mine ruins, the slope is steeper again until the loop is completed at Corbett Creek (4.3 miles).

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Corbett Canyon - #256

On the Trail

Dunsinane from Corbet Canyon

Whitehouse - 1

Whitehouse - 2

TRAILHEAD:
The Corbett Canyon Trail can be accessed from either the Silvershield trailhead or Dallas trailhead.

From the Silvershield trailhead, take the Oak Creek trail at its junction (1.1 mile). Follow the Oak Creek trail up numerous switchbacks 1.5 miles to the Corbett Canyon trailhead. The Corbett Canyon Trail branches off to the right.

From the Dallas trailhead, climb 0.9 mile to the Corbett Trail and follow it for 1.6 miles to the Corbett Canyon trailhead. The Corbett Canyon Trail branches off to the left.

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
From the Silvershield to Dallas trailheads is a distance of 7.5 miles with an altitude gain of 2,170 feet. Starting at the Oak Creek/Corbett Canyon junction, turn right and look for new blazes 100 feet up the trail while crossing a small boulder field. At 0.7 mile, there are great views of Whitehouse and "No Name" mountain to the west. At 0.9 mile, the trail crosses Omaha Creek and ascends a small ridge. Some route finding is required at this point. From the ridge, where there are two gray diamond markers on a large stump, the trail turns left and heads down to an open meadow with red logs near a large boulder. Follow the trail to the right (look for small rock cairns) and uphill to a single large aspen tree with a diamond marker.

Beautiful Lake Lenore and the top of Courthouse Mountain are visible to the east. At 1.4 miles, the trail passes a small hunting camp and a small spring flowing out of a PVC pipe on the left side of the trail. Caution: treat the water before drinking. The rugged canyon of Corbett Creek is below the trail to the right.

At Corbett Creek, the trail follows the south side of the creek for 450 feet before entering the creek at 1.6 miles. Stay in the creek bed for about 175 feet and look for gray diamond markers on the left to mark the trail exit from the creek. After another 0.5 mile the trail crosses Pryor Creek and then continues through a large hunting camp at 2.2 miles. The trail ends at the junction with the Corbett Trail in a large aspen grove at 2.3 miles. Take the Corbett Trail to the right for the shortest route to the Dallas trailhead on the River Road (County Road 17). A mile longer route can be taken by turning left on the Corbett Trail to its junction with the Dallas Trail, and then turning right to the Dallas and its trailhead on the River Road.

SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
This trip is not advised early in the spring due to the three stream crossings and the distance the trail travels down the middle of Corbett Creek.

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Courthouse/Courthouse Mountain - #218

Click on Pictures Below to Enlarge

Chimney Rock and Courthouse
from Owl Creek Pass Road

Chimney Rock and Courthouse
from West Fork of the Cimarron

Dunsinane and Prescipice
from the ridge south of Courthouse

Prescipice from the
ridge south of Courthouse

Roger Smith South of Courthouse
on the West Fork of the Cimarron

TRAILHEAD (OWL CREEK PASS):
The Courthouse trailhead is 1.6 miles south on the West Fork (Cimarron) Road, which turns left off the Owl Creek Pass road (County Road 10) 0.3 mile east of the pass. The trailhead is to the right, and parking is available to the left of the road.

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
To climb the mountain, follow the well defined trail, which crosses a bridge and climbs 0.8 mile to a ridge. There is a massive boulder and a Wilderness Boundary sign at the junction with the Courthouse Trail. For Courthouse Mountain (12,152 feet) and its superb views turn right; the route goes around the base of a ridge to the left and climbs, then turns right for a view of Courthouse. At that point, go left, climbing a grassy meadow to a ridge with views to the north; head up this to impressive rock formations and turn right. Once at the base of Courthouse's rock steps, scramble to the top. Total distance from the junction is a mile, but this mile is more of a scramble than a hike.

For the Courthouse Trail, veer left at the junction and continue to the end at a trailhead on the Cow Creek road. The trail description, from Cow Creek, is given below.

TRAILHEAD (COW CREEK):
The Courthouse trailhead on Cow Creek is accessed from County Road 12 out of Ridgway. Drive 7.6 miles to the Cow Creek crossing (no bridge). A 4WD vehicle is needed beyond this point. Cross the creek and drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead. Limited parking is available near the trailhead.

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
The trail rises steadily along Courthouse creek to gigantic boulders (1.5 miles) along the stream; at 2.1 miles, Stealey Mountain Trail joins from the left. Go uphill. Courthouse turns left to Courthouse Mountain and the West Fork (Cimarron) Road. The trail is usually well defined, though some route finding is required through two meadows. In 1 mile, the trail crosses the first meadow and a fork of Red Creek in a deep ravine. (The Stealey Mountain Trail leaves the Courrthouse Trail to the right 1.3 miles above its previous junction.) The second meadow (0.5 mile) has three posts; at the third post, turn right for the main trail. The ridge, the Wilderness Boundary and the connection (featuring a huge boulder) to the Courthouse Mountain Trail are another 0.4 mile. Turn left here to climb the mountain. Continue ahead for 0.8 mile to reach the West Fork Road.

Mountain Goat on
Courthouse Mountain

Another View. Chimney
Rock in Background

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