rolling creek - trail #663

Description

This popular trail provides access into the northeast side of the Lost Creek Wilderness. The first third of the trail south from the trailhead is an easy, pleasant hike following gently rolling terrain. However, the next part of the trail is quite steep and the trail up the tight canyon on the north side is often blocked by downed trees. The trail passes around to the west of the Castle and offers some very dramatic views of this prominent pinnacle. The gentle first section of the trail, up to the Wilderness boundary, is popular with mountain bikers, but the rest of the trail is entirely in designated wilderness, where mountain bikes are prohibited.

From the trailhead at the end of the road, the Colorado Trail bears right (west) and the Rolling Creek Trail heads left (east). The first part of this trail is very easy to hike, with only minor "ups and downs" and small stream crossings. Just after crossing the much larger Rolling Creek, the Wilderness boundary is reached. Soon thereafter, a tight canyon is entered and the trail becomes very steep. The high point of the trail is a saddle between the Rolling Creek and Wigwam Creek drainages. From the saddle the trail continues south down into Wigwam Park, where it meets the Wigwam Trail.

TRAIL'S HISTORY

The trail up Rolling Creek originally began about 1 ½ miles southeast of the present trailhead on the Bancroft Ranch, as shown on the 1954 Windy Peak topographic map. It isn’t until the 2001 edition that the trail shows as it currently exists. In all likelihood, the trail was rerouted about the time of the establishment of the Colorado Trail through the area in 1976. As far as the southern section of the trail goes, little is known of its history.