Montville Nature Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

This short trail branches off of Mosca Pass Trail and crosses Mosca Creek on a small wooden bridge. From here you'll climb the hillside in a series of three switchbacks through a stand of short pinon pine. Be sure to stop and look back at the sand dunes through the breaks in the trees as the views are impressive even with this small elevation gain on the hillside.

After the switchbacks, you'll parallel Mosca Pass Trail and Mosca Creek through stands of aspen and narrow-leaf cottonwood until the trail rejoins Mosca Pass Trail. Wellington Ditch Trail branches to left and the junction is well-marked. This short trail is a great loop on its own or can be combined with Mosca Pass Trail or Wellington Ditch Trail for a longer hike.

Pinon pine, aspens, narrow-leaf cottonwoods, and a variety of wildflowers in the late spring/early summer such as Indian paintbrush, pasque flowers, and candytuft. Be careful of the prickly pear cactus that grow in clusters along the trail!

Deer, elk, squirrels, rabbits, hawks, jays, and ravens.