The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking, Horseback Riding This trail is nearly all above the treeline and you have 360 degree views of mountains all around you. Steady incline the first 3 miles or so, nothing too strenuous until right before the keyhole. See chapter "38 Summit Peak via Quartz Creek" in Falcon Guides book Hiking Colorado's Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas. Amazing scenic views. Ha. First 2 miles are steep with switchbacks. The Quartz Lake trail is 0.9 miles long. It was a great hike but it does appear that the Forrest service is letting nature reclaim the trail. I felt fortunate we were in our lifted truck, as the ruts were significant. We have a Jeep, but any standard sedan could make it. Hiking HIDE. In einer familienfreundlichen Gegend von Pagosa Springs, die für ihr wunderschönes Bergpanorama und ihre Thermalquellen bekannt ist, befindet sich folgendes Highlight: Crater Lake Trail. Telephone for the Hearing Impaired 711 . That was from 8:20am-2pm. First 2 miles are steep with switchbacks. The last 2 is flat or descending down to the lake. The trail will switchback with occasional views to Nipple Mountain and Blackhead Peak. It will take you to a natural spring that feeds the lake. The Little Blanco Trails is one of Pagosa’s most popular hikes, a long switchback-laden route to Quartz Lake. The first 4 miles are up. I don’t recommend the hike in sandals. views are fabulous. West Fork / Rainbow Trail Hike; Hiking At Quartz Lake; Just Listed! Forms for guests or short term renters use of Amenities ; About the Lakes; Fishing. Attempted this hike May 25, 2020 but, after about an hour, had to turn around due to snow obscuring the trail. Employment. 19.QUARTZ LAKE VIA LITTLE BLANCO TRAIL (#572) & QUARTZ LAKE TRAIL (#568) Sweeping Panoramic views of the west. The first half is hard and rather non-descript (lots of shrubbery) but once you get to the three-mile point it gets easy. It is a still a beautiful hike and has amazing views. Access from Pagosa Springs is by US Highway 160 northeast for 15 miles, left on Forest Service Road 648, then past the West Fork Campground, crossing the West Fork of the San Juan … It has not been cleared for a long time. I have a lot of FOMO! Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. The drive to the trailhead is pretty treacherous. The Quartz Creek Trail continues to the left for 1 mile north to Quartz Lake, at 11,600 feet. Activities Camping & Cabins SHOW. don't be in a hurry on this one. North America. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, bird watching, and horses and is best used from May until … Quartz Lake Trail; Piedra Ice Fissures Trail; Pagosa Peak via San Juan National Forest ; Blue Lake Trail; Continental Divide Trail; Cimarrona Creek Trail Distance Click here for a full list of trails! Also... if anyone could be an eco hero... please please bring up an empty garbage bag and stop by the meadow before ascent ... and look in the bush. A few of the hiking trails in Pagosa Springs include Quartz Lake Trail, Middle Fork Trail, Williams Creek Trail, and a short trail to Treasure Falls. Blanco Basin (40 miles round trip) This is one of the most scenic drives in the state of Colorado, especially when fall colors are bright. Ugh. There's an adequate drainage area to support a healthy brook trout population. Try. I remember as a child watching shows about hikers stuck in the mountains with no hope at all. The Quartz Lake trail is 0.9 miles long. This is a wonderful dog hike, with plenty of tiny water crossings for refreshment, and a variety of sights and smells for puppies and humans alike. But it's the same trail. Hike up the hill. May 15, 2018 - The Quartz Lake Trail is a 9.4-mile out and back hiking trail located near Pagosa Springs, Colorado in the South San Juan Wilderness. Coal Creek Trail is 4.4 miles up Fawn Gulch Road which is at mile marker 148 on Hwy 160 near Pagosa Springs. Features Fullscreen sharing Embed Statistics Article stories Visual Stories SEO. Little Blanco Trail continues northeast four miles to the Divide. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. At mile 4, the Quartz Lake Trail (568) goes about one mile north to the lake. The hike itself is awesome. The Quartz Lake Trail is a 9.4-mile out and back hiking trail located near Pagosa Springs, Colorado in the South San Juan Wilderness. 0.9 + approach : Quartz Ridge Trail #570. Maybe it’s just not being from CO, and maybe more experienced mountain folk would find the road easy to drive. I underestimated the reviews and highly recommend a truck or 4 wheel drive vehicle. The trailhead is near the end of Mill Creek Road. so gear will be needed, but if you love slip and slides of snow into a pool of jagged rocks then go with no gear(you a beast). Definitely DO NOT stop at the keyhole or you will be missing out on a lot of other beautiful views. crossing snow fields were a challenge. USFS webpage. However, the views were simply stellar and probably some of the best hiking ever. Specializing in Pagosa Springs real estate and Durango ranches for sale, Juli is passionate about knowing the current market. Mountain Travel Guide webpage. definitely challenged me in a good way. One of the first things I will say is the road is okay up until the last 2 miles. Select a hike below to get a more detailed trail description, including driving directions to the trailhead, photos, and notable trail information. Mountain Travel Guide webpage. USFS webpage. Definitely push for it and don't stop at the key hole. As mentioned, the first 3 miles of this hike will tear your calves out. This was one of my favorite hikes! The views don’t disappoint, and the altitude makes for a strenuous and interesting challenge. also not sure who to even call about it. Contact Us : Day Hiking. At mile 4, the Quartz Lake Trail (568) goes about one mile north to the lake. Pagosa Lakes POA; Community Services; Parks and Trails. The destination was Quartz Lake, a pristine crater-type lake tucked into a broad grassy basin. Dogs are allowed on the Quartz Lake Trail. There is no trailhead signage for Quartz Lake Trail. In the Area Localities. 15.7 : San Juan River West Fork Trail #561. Quartz Lake Lake, 3700 feet southeast; Nipple Mountain Mountain, 2½ miles south; Blackhead Peak Mountain, 3 miles south; Summit Peak Summit, 4½ miles east; Other Places. Otherwise, it was looking to be a great hike. Little Blanco Trail continues northeast four miles to the Divide. Hikes are listed by name, overall distance, and difficulty. area at 2.5 miles. The trail drops about 200 feet in elevation as it follows a scenic meadow that parallels Fish Creek for about 1.3 miles. The list is sorted alphabetically by Colorado city/town and then by trail name. Home / Backpacking / Quartz Lake Overnighter. Read user reviews of over 590,000 properties worldwide and book your hotel on Expedia today! I saw other SUVs with similar clearance make it, and having walked the road, I am now sure we could have driven it, but parts of it really don't look good. The Quartz Creek Trail continues to the left for 1 mile north to Quartz Lake, at 11,600 feet. Day Hiking. About Juli Morelock . Plan a day for it, the hike is amazing! Spectacular views even if you don’t make to lake. Scenic Drives in the Pagosa Springs Area Pagosa Springs has some of the best scenic drives in Colorado, surrounded by 3 million acres of wilderness and national forest areas. … 572. We stopped at the three mile mark due to an avalanche zone that left quite a lot of timber strewn about. Locals Tip: Follow the small trail that starts near the inlet stream. Colorado. Whether you’re fly fishing or otherwise your chances of getting a bite here are good. Dogs are also able to use this trail. USFS webpage. I live locally, hike almost every weekend, and am in decent shape and there were definitely a few spots I was having to catch my breath. The trail continues to the left for another mile to Quartz Lake. That included chill out time at top and picnic lunch on tree in meadow before last ascent. I hiked this trail when I was 11 with my outdoor club, but not since. Enjoy! I will be doing it again when the snow melts. and ends at Quartz Lake. Follow @harris_hikers on IG. The highlight of the day was getting caught in a rain and hail storm around 1PM on the way back and right after “the window”. At least 10 miles. In the last 2-3 miles it gets quite bumpy and has some challenging areas but we were able to drive my Toyota Camry to the trail head. Mountain Travel Guide webpage. It stared chilly, got warm and sunny, then rained/hailed/snowed on us on the way down. A Forest Elevation gain of 2500ft. The road really wasn't too bad if you've got 4WD, just go slow. Quartz Creek Trail is a 11.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pagosa Springs, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. This trail is eight miles in length from trailhead to the Continental Divide Trail at its junction with Quartz Creek Trail (571). The Clamshell Area, 4 miles north; Treasure 11 miles west; Platoro Hamlet, 13 miles east; Pagosa Springs; Landmarks. We hiked this trail 8/5 and there weren’t any snow patches left. There are a few camping spots up there as well, but only a few. Amazing scenery, rewarding hike. High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are required past Quartz Lake trail head. Length: 7.1-miles (one-way) Trailhead Facilities: None. Download the free Summit Peak topo map. As others have reported, the road to the trailhead is really beat up. Go prepared! This trail is eight miles in length from trailhead to the Continental Divide Trail at its junction with Quartz Creek Trail (571). The road in was easy. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from July until September. The lake itself is relatively small, but pristine. Box 310 Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 (970) 264-2268. This place will forever be known as “Hoe Mountain” because it absolutely was a major hoe. The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking, Horseback Riding This trail is nearly all above the treeline and you have 360 degree views of mountains all around you. The views were lovely but the trail was horrible. The hike was beautiful but during this time of the year (May-June) there becomes a point where the trail is covered with nothing but snow and makes it impossible to make it to the lake unless proper equipment is used. Quartz Lake Trail #568. Follow the trail ½ mile to the junction of the Quartz Lake Trail. I went with my younger sisters (17 & 19) and my dad (48) and we managed it pretty well, although the last mile or so before the lake was pretty difficult. The San Juan National Forest has hundreds of trails, many within a short drive of Durango, Dolores, Mancos, Bayfield, Silverton, and Pagosa Springs. At mile 4, the Quartz Lake Trail (568) goes about one mile north to the lake. Very steep up to pass at 12000 ft and than you cross into high meadows descending to lake. took us 7 hours to do the hike. As a flat lander thought we had acclimated after being here for a week. "We hike this trail every time we viist Pagosa it is beautiful hike along the river, the huge rock cliffs hanging over you & lots of huge trees." Not recommended for day hikers. the elevation gain was incredible. Quartz Lake Trail is a 9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Pagosa Springs, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Map Information. Opal Lake Trail, Pagosa Springs: See 14 reviews, articles, and 7 photos of Opal Lake Trail, ranked No.18 on Tripadvisor among 39 attractions in Pagosa Springs. It is open between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM from Wednesday to Sunday until mid-September. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Box 310 Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 (970) 264-2268. This was not an easy hike for me at all. The trail is well defined to the keyhole, then can get a bit lost down to the lake. Pagosa Springs, CO Difficult. The saddlebacks were freaky. It’s not too steep, but there are spots you may find you need to take a breather. USFS webpage. We did not quite finish the hike (I hiked to the beginning of the descent to the lake but then had to turn around and return to pick up struggling family members ) but I really liked what I saw. It ended up taking us 7.5 hours and my feet were super over this hike by the last mile. Big storms can sneak up on you. After that, nothing is too intense. USFS webpage. Distance was 9-10 miles, depending on which tracking device we looked at. Road Status: Castle Creek to Fish Creek TH (FR660) Trail: Fish Lake . When you reach the "keyhole", you are rewarded with great views. USFS webpage. I’d probably hike this trail more if it weren’t for the drive. USFS webpage. I have a love hate relationship with this trail. Resources to Help you Plan your Adventure. Difficult #15 Anderson See Fourmile Falls Trail for directions. Make sure you have 4 wheel drive (I do, and still hated this drive), and make sure you leave early enough to be in daylight. Close. I am more of a beginner hiker but so glad I had my poles and we stopped a lot so I could catch my breath. Wooded hillsides and a sheer mountain face border the lake. I puffed the entire way and did I mention I hate heights? This was an AWESOME hike. Steep sections winded this flatland Okie. This is a complete list of all of the best Colorado hiking trails currently on Nomad Colorado. Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail … Productive fishing begins when you get to Quartz valley and can access quartz creek trail as well as several other trails to get more of the san juan wilderness. Absolutely gorgeous trail. Once you're up in the mountains, it's a great trip. I promise you’ll find it, though. The next two miles are easy, all the way to the lake! Telephone for the Hearing Impaired 711 . Once on top you have to worry about your footing in certain places but as long as you're careful, it shouldn't be a concern. 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