Willow Creek Road, Forest Road 882, provides access to the southern Fossil Ridge Wilderness. It leads north from County Road 76, eight and a half miles east of Parlin. The beginning elevation for Willow Creek Road is 8,499 feet. It climbs slowly through the Willow Creek drainage. At one and a quarter miles Forest Road 882.1B stems to the left (west). A short distance north a road branches to the right and ends quickly at the Willow Creek Mine. Continue driving north. At mile 1.75 the road forks. The right side of the fork follows East Willow Creek a short distance then dead ends. The left side of the fork is Willow Creek Road. The road continues to climb gradually. Two and a quarter miles passed the fork the Willow Creek Road reaches and elevation of 10,000 feet and a trail stems to the left. Follow Forest Road 882 to the right. It leads approximately one and a half miles north to Willow Creek Trail, 479. The trail begins at 11,080 feet and leads into the Fossil Ridge Wilderness area. Willow Creek Road is adequate for two wheel drive vehicles for the first four miles. A high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is appropriate for the remaining one and a half miles. Campsites are located en route and are heavily used during hunting season.
Directions from Gunnison: Take Highway 50 to Parlin and turn left on County Road 76 towards Ohio City and Pitkin. Travel approximately eight and a half miles northeast to Willow Creek Road.
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