North Rock Creek Trail #46

This trail would benefit greatly from going maybe another mile farther into the drainage. The trail stops just as you get out of the trees and have a clear view of the mountains. Mar 13, 2016

I did North Rock Creek trail starting at the trailhead and continued onto the "Primitive Route" to make a longer out-and-back. I kept my blue dot on the primitive route, despite enormous obstacles and lack of evidence that more than a handful of hikers had ever tread there. After eating lunch, I consulted my phone satellite map, and guessed that a better way back would be higher on the hill above the "primitive route." I WAS REWARDED BY FINDING A REAL TRAIL, paralleling the primitive route about 100-yds higher on the hillside. How to find it: From the Boss Mine at the west end of North Rock Creek Trail, DON'T start descending on the primitive. Instead CLIMB in a westerly direction on an abandoned road graded into the mining debris. When that road makes its first right-hand switchback, turn left at the small cairn onto the trail. The trail is a narrow, but moderate. It traverses through widely scattered Aspens and over large expanses of glacier polished granite, where you can enjoy unobstructed views of the high peaks. I will post a few photos showing how to access the trail that should replace what is now called the "primitive route." Oct 28, 2018