Blue Creek-Tuerto Trail (014)

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Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Starting from the Tuerto Trail (011), the Blue Creek-Tuerto Trail (014) immediately begins a series of steep switchbacks. The steep grade levels off pretty quickly once hikers have made their way onto the rock shelf that sits on top of the ridgeline. From this vantage, the views extend in every direction and the distant red rock behind you contrasts nicely with the green and white that colors nearer slopes.

As the trail enters a small, sandy depression, clumps of thick, low bushes crowd the way. The trail can be difficult to follow, but it stays generally left at first, before cutting to the right toward a protrusion from the shelf. The exposure here isn't significant, but it gives a nice sense of traveling near the edge.

Near the end of the shelf, the trail is once again clearly defined. From here, it climbs to the left through an aspen grove and then descends through a lovely grassy meadow. Just past the trees on the other side, the trail briefly overlaps with the Blue Creek / Allen Canyon Trail (013) before diverging to the right past two old buildings.

Up ahead, Blue Creek makes an appearance before several steep switchbacks that ascend through a thick aspen forest. The climbing remains steady, but the scenery changes as rocky clearings and grassy meadows are passed on the way to the top. This long climb ends at the intersection with the Shay Ridge Trail (162).