South Fork

Distance: 5.5 miles round trip
Elevation: 8,954 ft - 9,365 ft
Elevation Gain: 411 ft
Bathroom at Trailhead: No but plenty nearby
Dogs: Off leash
Date Hiked: 2 October 2015
Tags: #coloradooutdoors, #hiking, #river

The peaceful South Fork of the Williams Fork River along the South Fork Trail

The South Fork Trail in the Williams Fork Valley east of Silverthorne CO is a heavily forested twenty-three mile loop that travels through two riparian valleys and across a 12,000 ft ridge overlooking Pettingell Peak.

The Williams Fork Parking/Picnic area

One of the few trail markers in the area

For day hikes, you can walk along either the South Fork of the Williams Fork River, which is the to the west, or along the Williams Fork River on the eastern side of the loop. This post describes the western route starting from the Williams Fork Trailhead, sandwiched between the South Fork and Sugarloaf Campgrounds.

The South Fork Campground group site (show coming out of the trail)

Starting out on the trail

Accessing this trail is an exercise in patience, since most of the area is unmarked and there is no forest service information about the trail. Most of this post will describe just finding it!

To get to the South Fork Campground from Silverthorne, take the Ute Pass Road (CR 15) east and then turn right onto County Road 138 in the Williams Fork Valley just past the Henderson Mill. Follow the road until it travels through two short tunnels under the Henderson Mill's conveyor belt.

Fir trees and undergrowth

First meadow off to the left

Just through the tunnel is a large brown sign pointing to the left for the campgrounds and to the right for the Upper South Fork Trailhead. The trailhead this sign refers to is actually miles down Forest Service Road 142. It does access the western side of the South Fork Trail, but since the trailhead is not listed on the Trails Illustrated Map we turned around in confusion and you may too.

Another typical trail segment

Another river view

There are two places to access the western side of the trail. The first is near the near the group campsite of the South Fork Campground. A small trail sign exists to the right of the vault toilet and the trail seems to travel through the group site and up into the valley. There does not appear to be any legal parking in this area, but since this campground is sparsely used, you may choose to park there anyway.

Slight incline

Looking down on the river from a small bluff

The official place to park is at the Williams Fork Trailhead, a small run down picnic area, located between the South Fork and Sugarloaf Campgrounds. This is actually labeled the "South Fork" Trailhead on the Trails Illustrated map, which adds to the confusion. While there is a gravel path that connects the two spots, you may not find it from the parking area itself since it is so overgrown. Instead, follow the road back up 100 yards towards the South Fork campground until you see the gravel path traverse off to the left. This path will take you right back to the group site described in option one. Walk to the back side of the group site, and you will see the distinct trail heading out along the creek.

Peak-a-boo

Area opening up

The trail itself follows the creek in a mixed Lodgepole/Spruce Forest. Even in the fall there are several places where the trail is very soggy with water draining from open meadows to the left. The river is ever present but sometimes is right next to the trail and other times hidden by the trees. The view does not change much, but the trail is soft, gradual, and suitable for folks who want quiet, solitary experience.

One of the side streams near our turn around point

Talus field

A good milestone for a day hike is the large meadow 2.5 miles in, measured from the parking area. It is located just down from a sharp rise, the only elevation gain on the route, where several streams converge. A large talus field exists off to the left.

Some things that will help. The Trails Illustrated map has a better trail, but mislabels the trailhead and does not show the Upper South Fork Trailhead. The Latitude 40 map is small, but shows the entire loop, the Upper South Fork Trailhead, and the two campgrounds. The Williams Fork Trailhead is marked with a yellow T, but is unlabeled.

Wheeler Lakes

Distance: 6 miles round trip
Elevation: 9, 700 ft - 11,095 ft
Elevation Gain: 1, 486 ft (cumulative)
Date Hiked:19 July 2015
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Dogs: Off leash until the Wilderness Boundary
Tags: #coloradooutdoors #nature #lake #summitcounty #coppermountain

Second Wheeler Lake near Copper Mountain Colorado

Wheeler Lakes, near the Copper Mountain Ski Resort, are two shallow lakes nestled in a large meadow surrounded by towering Spruce and Fir trees. In summer the route is damp, muddy, and filled with wall-to-wall wildflowers. Occasional views of Copper Mountain and the western side of the Ten Mile Range add an additional flair.  The route follows the Gore Range Trail until a turn off to Wheeler Lakes.

Parking at exit 196

Start of the Gore Range Trail

There are three places to park near Wheeler Lakes, each resulting in a slightly different round trip distance. The official trailhead is located at a scenic overlook (exit 196) 0.8 miles west of Copper Mountain. The advantage of this location is plenty of parking. The downside is an extra slog along the less than scenic I-70. The second option is right at exit 195 (north side). There is room along the side of the road for 10 or so cars. Finally, you can always park in one of Copper's parking lots and cross I-70 over the bridge. On this trip I scored a spot right on the exit. Measured from my parking spot, the turn off to Wheeler Lakes was at 2.6 miles.

Sagebrush hillside filled with wildflowers

Looking down on the Copper Mountain ski resort

The first 0.5 miles of the route follows I-70 along a Sagebrush hillside dotted with drier climate wildflowers. Once the trail reaches the wilderness boundary at 1 mile, the trail becomes more shaded and damp. Rivulets may run down the trail until late in the season creating tiny bogs. Good water proof shoes will entice you to trod through the mud and not expand the trail to avoid it.

Heading away from the highway and into the trees

Lupine grace the forest floor

At 2.0 miles, the trail skirts the edge of a very large meadow. The ridge leading to Uneva Pass is visible in the distance. Hang out until September and you might glimpse Elk congregating for the annual rut. At 2.5 miles is a shelf with expansive views of the western side of the Ten Mile Range including the craggy peaks of Mayflower Gulch, one of the best destinations in the area.

Large meadow

View of the west side of the Ten Mile Range

Shortly past the plateau is the well marked turn off to Wheeler Lakes. The first lake, at 11,085 ft, will come into view almost immediately. It is surrounded by verdant marsh grasses and towering Fir trees. On this trip the water was still as glass and the only sound was the continuous chirping of forest birds. Due to the marshy ground, there are only a few place that you can approach the water and it may be best to continue on to the second lake, at 11,065 ft, which is 0.4 miles further on and off to the left.

Trail sign for the Wheeler Lakes turn off

First Wheeler Lake

A small, drier hillside dotted with Pine and carpeted with wildflowers borders the second lake on is northern side. You can explore the lake from either the southern or northern sides, but a large marsh to the west prevents a total circumnavigation.

Rosy pink paintbrush

View of Uneva Pass

Instead, climb the hillside (11,095 ft) and wander a short distance for unexpected views of Uneva Pass and Officers Gulch/I-70. On this trip, wildflowers graced every inch of the area. There are numerous rocky outcropping suitable for a private lunch.

Wildflower collage

Wheeler Lakes is one of the wetter destinations in the area even in the heat of summer. Despite this, parking along the exit can get crowded particularly at the peak of wildflower season. Continue 1.8miles further on the Gore Range Trail to Lost Lake for a longer hike.

Once last glimpse of the first lake

Colorado Trail (Segment 8) Copper Mountain to Guller Gulch

Distance: 7 miles roundtrip (Guller Creek), 10.4 miles round trip (part way up Guller Gulch)
Elevation: 9,712 ft - 11,081 ft
Elevation Gain:1,369 (net), 1,852 (cumulative)
Dogs: Off leash
Bathroom at Trailhead: Yes
Tags: #hiking, #coloradooutdoors, #coloradotrail
Nearby hikes: Mayflower Gulch, Shrine Mountain, Shrine Mountain East, Wheeler Lakes, Wilder Gulch

Verdant ground cover dominates this portion of the Colorado Trail. 

Segment 8 of the Colorado Trail starts on the east side of Highway 91 near Copper Mountain Ski Resort, travels through the resort itself, crosses scenic Guller Creek, and travels up Guller Gulch to Janet's Cabin and Searle Pass. From there it travels down to Camp Hale and Tennessee Pass. The total distance is 24.4 miles. You don't have to be a long distance hiker though to enjoy parts of this trail.

The Colorado Trail is accessed up the hill behind the put golf course in the middle of Copper Mountain.

Look for the Colorado Trail sign

On this day hike, we started by the Eagle lift in Copper Mountain and traveled 5.2 miles one way, which took us three quarters of the way up Guller Gulch. Starting at Copper allows you to get a head start if you want to make Searle Pass and return.

First stream crossing

Part of this route crosses open ski slopes with lifts and snow making equipment while the remainder switchbacks up through a deep forest blanketed with chartreuse ground cover. The elusive Calypso Orchid can be found here, not just in a splash of solitary color, but in a whole palate covering the forest floor. Rare Red Columbine also grows between the trees and competes with the orchids for your attention.

Rare and delicate Calypso Orchid

From the Eagle lift, it is 0.6 miles before you enter the woods and 1.2 miles to the first creek crossing on a double planked bridge. You cross under the last ski lift at 2.2 miles and come across the ruins of an old cabin at 3 miles. A half a mile later you cross Jacque Creek and shortly there after Guller Creek and enter Guller Gulch.

Red Columbine

Guller Gulch is a beautiful wide open valley filled with towering Engleman Spruce, lush grasses, and beaver ponds. The red sandy slopes of Jacque Ridge dominate the left side of the gulch and provide a visual marker to progress as one hikes further and further upwards.

Crossing Guller Creek

A few years ago this segment of the Colorado Trail was rerouted and there are several places where the old trail is visible. Keep an eye on the signage and you should be ok. This segment is pleasant not only because of its soft terrain and easy access, but because you can go as little or as far as you like and dogs are welcome, which is always a bonus in an area surround by wilderness.

Heading up Guller Gulch

To get to the trailhead in Copper Mountain itself, exit I-70 at highway 91 and take the immediate left into Copper Mountain (Copper Rd). Wind past the golf course and fire station and then turn left on Ten Mile Circle. There is a large parking structure on the left (accessed via a kiosk on the west side) that is free in the summer. After leaving the parking lot, travel due west on Ten Mile Circle for about 100 yards to large open area dominated by the Eagle lift. The Colorado Trail is just up the hill and is accessed up the wide dirt path to the left of a small putt putt golf course.

Near our turn around point

Two Elks National Recreation Trail - West Entrance

Distance: 5 miles round trip
Elevation: 8,140 ft - 8,839 ft
Elevation Gain: 699 (net), 980 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Dogs: Off leash
Caveats: Trail is closed after the first two miles May 1st to July 1st for Elk calving. There is a shooting range a quarter mile from the trailhead, which can be noisy.
Date Hiked: 3 July 2014
Tags: #hiking, #coloradooutdoors
Nearby hikes: Game Creek

Mount of the Holy Cross is visible from the Two Elks National Recreation Trail.

The Two Elks National Recreation Trail (NRT) near Vail Colorado is a 12 mile "short cut" between I-70 and Vail proper and Highway 24 south of Minturn. Going the entire length requires serious stamina, a car shuttle, or a mountain bike. On this trip, we were looking for a less rocky trail with minimal elevation gain since my hiking partner had broken her arm several weeks before and falling on it would not have been good despite the new hardware screwed into her bone. Two Elks turned out to be just perfect.

The parking area

The trail starts out on shaded side of the creek.

From the west side near Minturn, this trail ascends gradually along a soft dirt trail that parallels Two Elk Creek. The vegetation was so lush that I felt half-naked without a pith helmet and machete. The gulch through which the creek travels is surprisingly deep, and the trail weaves up and down, sometimes close to the water but often as not half-way up the hillside. This turned out to be problematic because the weather was hot and we wanted to dunk our bandanas in the stream to cool off. Even in places where the trail was at the level of the creek, it would have been a "Doctor Livingston I presume..." adventure to bushwhack the 10 feet to the stream.

Two Elk Creek is ever present but not always accessible.

Now on the sunny side of the creek

Because the gulch is oriented east/west, the vegetation is quite different depending upon which side of the creek you are on. The southern/north-facing side is filled with Douglas Fir and other shade-loving plants, while the northern/south-facing side is more open, filled with Aspen, green grasses and the occasional wildflower.

The trail alternates between treeless hillsides and thick foliage.

One of the more rare steeper segments

The higher you ascend, and on this trip we did not go that far, the better the views back down the valley. The famous Mount of the Holy Cross (14,009 ft) is framed nicely by the towering trees although the angle is just slightly off and the cross itself looks crooked.

Thick carpets of Boulder Raspberry covered the trail.

The most voluminous plant in the area was the Boulder Raspberry (Oreobatus deliciosus) otherwise known as Mountain Plover. While yellow in the fall, this plant is verdant green in the summer with white, ostentatious flowers. Individual plants can grow 3-5 ft tall and 6 ft wide and I think every single one of them had, they were so thick. This trail must be bear heaven in the fall in the with all the berries.

Another picture of the creek.

I have seen pictures of the trail much further up the gulch than we made it. The trees disappear and green grasses dominate. In our case, we turned around at 2.5 miles (851 ft cumulative gain) in a very pleasant stand of Aspen.

Boulder Raspberry encroach on the trail.

The Two Elks Trail is a find that I will add to my early season hiking list. In July it was too hot, but I bet in late May or June it would be sublime. Be advised, because of its length, you are more likely to run into mountain bikers than hikers. The ones we did run into were generally courteous and were NOT racing down the narrow track like they were being chased by wolves. A novelty to be sure!

The pleasant glade of Aspens that was our turn around point. Because of the thick undergrowth, there were not many places to sit.

To get to the west entrance of the Two Elks Trail from Vail, take I-70 west to exit 171 (Hwy 24) and head south. Go approximately 2.7 miles to Minturn and Cemetery Road (marked with just a typical green street sign). Turn left and cross the bridge.  Follow Cemetery Road until it crosses the railroad tracks (you'll see the cemetery at that point).  From the cemetery, continue on the road and turn right at the first fork (a single lane dirt road...rough put passible with a low clearance 2WD) and left at the second fork. You'll be weaving up and down the hillside paralleling the railroad tracks. Just before the trailhead, you pass a series of shooting ranges. They were occupied, and we did hear gun fire for the first half mile or so of the hike despite the roaring sound of the Two Elk Creek.