ute creek - Trail #629

 

Beginning Elevation: 8760
High Point: 11160
End Elevation: 11160
Difficulty: Difficult
Length, One Way: 4.1 miles
Seasons: Summer, Fall
USGS Quads: Farnum Peak
Other Maps: Pike National Forest, Trails Illustrated #105
Usage Level: Medium
Access Trailheads: Ute Creek
Connecting Trails: Brookside-McCurdy

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Description

The Ute Creek trail climbs steadily through open forest to the top of Bison Pass with views of the Tarryall Valley. It is often used to access Bison Peak, the high point of the Lost Creek Wilderness at 12,431 feet (3789 meters).

From the parking area at the Ute Creek Trailhead, the trail crosses a bridge over Tarryall Creek and travels east through a low saddle into the Ute Creek drainage, where it enters the Wilderness. From there it climbs up a ridge between two branches of Ute Creek to the top of Bison Pass, where it ends at a junction with the Brookside-McCurdy trail.

TRAIL'S HISTORY

Little is known of the history of the trail, but a trail is known to have existed here since before the existence of the forest. John Jack, of the USGS, took a couple photos from along the trail in 1898 on his way to Bison Peak.