Deep Creek #806

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

For an all downhill hike shuttle a vehicle to the southernmost end of Deep Creek trail. To get there from Creede, take CO HWY 149 west to and take a left on Middle Creek road just before crossing the Rio Grande river for a second time. Follow Middle Creek road until you get to a "Y" in the road and take a left heading towards Spar City on USFS road 528. Stay on USFS road 528 through a few turns until it dead-ends at a clearing and the trailhead. The felled trees you see on your way up the valley are remnants of a 1997 magnitude F2 tornado.

The top of Deep Creek is little used so some good trail finding skills or the Hiking Project mobile app will come in handy here. The trail meanders through a couple open meadows serving as cow pastures where you're bound to run into some fresh droppings of the bovine variety if not the depositors themselves. Take in the stunning views of the San Juan and La Garita mountains before you drop into the dense pine forest.

After about 1 mile, the trail will tilt downward starting your gravity fueled journey towards Creede. The trail is non-technical, smooth, and narrow, but is only lightly maintained so there may be branches or trees crossing the trail. From here on, the trail is easily distinguishable with no intersections to take you off course.

About 8 miles, several small creek crossings, and thousands of alpine wildflowers later, you'll arrive at the end of the trail just off Deep Creek road. Heading west, take the sharp first right turn onto Airport road eventually taking you north to CO HWY 149 and back to Creede.