Trail Update: 06/10/2024: Trail Cleared of down trees for 5 miles from TrailHead next to Coal Creek TH. 37 trees cleared by Pagosa Ranger District Trail crew
Please share trail update info in comment section below
Quartz Ridge No. 570 Map(click here)
Length: 14.3 miles end-to-end
Trailhead Facilities: None
Elevation Stats: Elevation Gain 224 (Altitude 7,946ft to 8,170ft Ascent 4,883 Descent 4,659)
Short Trail Summary: This hike description is a point-to-point hike.
The Quartz Ridge Trail is a rarely used trail with a guarantee of getting your feet wet on both ends despite seeing your vehicle in the parking lot.
This is an up and over hike with a lot of visual terrain change. There are numerous geological features, long view and thick tree stands. Amazingly, some of the scenery and trail will feel quite exposed with a pebbly foot tread.
The easternmost trailhead does pass through private property for 1.5-miles. Please be considerate to the private land owner who provides this access.
Quartz Ridge # 570 Trailhead Directions : From Pagosa District Ranger office continue east for 10.2-miles. Turn south onto East Fork Road (FS 667). Continue for 3.4-miles to the trailhead on the south side of the road. This is a shared trailhead with the Coal Creek Trail No. 581. A 4WD vehicle is recommended but the road is usually in good condition for 2WD vehicles to this trailhead.
Driving Directions Map: (click here)
Great trail, excited to go back. As of 10.23.21 – the trail has some sustained sections of heavy mud after the first mile.
On May 23rd, a local guide reported to me that the Quartz Ridge Trail from the Sand Creek/Coal Creek Trailhead has13 trees on the trail, primarily in the switchbacks area up to the “wallow” in the first meadow at about mile point 2.5.