The trail is not well marked at its beginning on Spring Creek Pass. No defined tread is evident along a good portion of this trail. Stock driveway signs on trees and posts mark the general area the trail follows. Start hiking by heading east from the Spring Creek Corrals. Follow the driveway signs through the trees as best as possible. The trail provides excellent panoramic views in all directions. A feeling of vastness can be experienced while traveling across the immense open space one finds on Snow Mesa. In midsummer it is not uncommon to see a herd of elk in the upper Miners Creek and Snow Mesa areas. A band of domestic sheep graze the Snow Mesa during the summer. Camping is easily available in the upper Miners Creek area. Firewood is in very short supply on Snow Mesa. The trail starts with a gradual 0.75 mile climb through an old-growth spruce/fir stand of timber. The gradual climb quickly becomes a steep 0.25 mile climb onto Snow Mesa. The trail meanders over the rolling grassy hills on Snow Mesa for about 4.0 miles. After passing a small lake on the east end of Snow Mesa, the trail heads northeast toward the head of Miners Creek. The trail drops sharply into the upper north side of Miners Creek at the end of the meadow. Miners Creek Trail (#803) crosses the creek and goes down Miners Creek. The La Garita Stock Driveway enters the trees at the east end of the meadow and follows an old ski trail for about 1.5 miles. After coming out of the timber stand, the trail drops into Oso Creek and meets the Oso Creek 4-wheel-drive road. Hiking this road is a 1.5 mile climb before dropping 0.5 mile to the Rat Creek Road (Forest Development Road # 505).
Directions from Creede: Travel west from Creede on Highway 149 for approximately 30 1/2 miles to Spring Creek Pass, between Creede and Lake City. The pass is well marked.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Open:
Mid-Summer through Fall .
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