Trail Update: 06/21/2024 Trail Cleared of downed tress on trail for 11 miles from Trailhead by San Juan Backcountry Horseman with the Amish Crew Trail Volunteers 225 trees cleared.
Please share trail update info in comment section below
Length: 11.1 -miles (one-way)
Elevation Stats: Elevation Gain 2,050′ (9,503′ to 11,553′) with Ascent 4,220′ and Descent 1,707′
Trailhead Facilities: None
Short Trail Summary: This hike description is to the junction with the Continental Divide Trail No. 813.
Plan for a long uphill with an elevation gain of approximately 4,200-feet in the first eight miles. This hike begins in open meadow with aspen stands before transitioning to spruce-fir forest. You are near Fish Creek, crossing it and its tributaries a few times, hikers will soon be above and out of reach of the waters. After five miles, the trail begins a switchback progression before being thrust above tree line and more switchbacks that are a trail construction benefit. Views to Gunsight Pass and the Chalk Mountains give perspective to a hiker’s small size. Reaching a saddle above Fish Lake, the trail wraps around its western edge before heading to the plateau and wide-open tundra with views wide and far. The trail continues to be easy to follow passing several small ponds, crisscrossing meadows and small tree stands before ending at the CDT.
Directions: From US 160, turn south onto US 84. Travel 8-miles and turn northeast onto Blanco Basin Road (CR 326), a gravel road. After 9.7-miles turn south onto Castle Creek Road (FS 660). Continue an additional 6.7-miles to the end of FS 660 and a parking area.
Thanks to the volunteers who cleared the trail this year! We made it 7 miles up and down today. Slow going with the overgrowth, rocky tread, creek crossings and spots where the trail has washed into the creek. Cool arborgylphs in the first mile. Oldest we saw was 1920. Anyone know more info on them? Saw more bear tracks (3) than human tracks (1). Very remote and beautiful.
Hiked and camped from the trailhead to about a mile past Fish Lake on August 25-28, 2022. A fair amount of mud on the trail in both the lower meadows and switchbacks and water running down the trail just below treeline, but not too bad to get past. Many thanks to the trail crew for clearing deadfall for the first several miles. Several deadfalls at higher elevation, but easy to pass by. Amazing c&r fishing in Fish Lake. Fresh mature bear tracks about halfway up.
As of June 21st the Fish Lake Trail has been cleared to timberline, a distance of approximately eight miles, and by San Juan Back Country Horsemen and their Amish partners from San Luis Valley. San Juan BCH will take a crew of seven into the area in late July to clear the rest of the trails in the South San Juan Wilderness area that we have been working to open over the last several years, and after some of the trails had not been cleared since about 2008. The last trail to be opened (for the first time since 2008) is the Canon Rincon Trail, about 22 miles in from Fish Lake TH.
Hiked the lower part of this trail June 14, 2022. There was an unflattened log across the main creek at the trailhead which appeared to be an official bridge. This was very welcome, as it would have been difficult to cross without. We had heard horror stories of the fallen trees the previous week, but someone had just been there and cleared them for more like three miles, almost to the third smaller creek crossing, than the 1.5 claimed at the top of this page as of June 16. Thanks!! Instead of trying to continue any farther, we spent some time tossing sticks and small branches to better clear the trail.
I actually have a questions.
– Will the streams be safe to traverse for a trip planned for June 1?
– will hit deep snow (knee or more) at higher elevations that week?
– is there a place to camp between mile 4 and 5?
– are their trout in the streams or on the lakes?
thanks a bunch!!