Trail Update:
Please share any trail updates in the Comment section below
Please share any updates, or photos, in the comment section below
Fish Creek Trail # 575 Map(click here)
Length: 4.1-miles (one-way to Flattop Mountain)
Elevation Stats: Elevation Gain 2,703 ft. (8,775 ft to 11,463 ft) with Ascent 2,973 ft and Descent 285 ft
Trailhead Facilities: Parking Lot
Short Trail Summary: This trail is not a point-to-point hike. The middle section of the trail is unmarked on forest service maps as disputed public land or private land. Only the western segment of Fish Creek Trail is described.
Hiking to Flattop Mountain has an elevation gain of 2,703-feet, is secluded, occasionally steep and remarkable at the top.
To reach Fish Creek Trail begin your hike at the Opal Lake Trailhead and follow that description for the first .9-miles. Veer to the east at the marked junction on a faint trail that soon enters an aspen stand. After 1.7-miles the trail begins a more assertive climb via switchbacks to an unmarked saddle at 3.4 miles. Pick a northerly direction on an unmaintained, but sometimes easy to find, trail to the top of the ridge and the true summit of Flattop Mountain at 11,463-feet. There is a summit register.
Directions: From US 160/US 84 junction, turn south onto US 84. Travel 8-miles and turn northeast onto Blanco Basin Road (CR 326), a gravel road. After 9.5-miles turn south onto FS 600 (Castle Creek Road). Continue for 3.3-miles to FR 023 (Opal Lake Road). Turn south and continue an additional .7-mile to the trailhead.
Driving Directions Map (click here)
Hiked from Opal Lake TH to junction of Leche Creek Trail and V-Rock Trail. Snows gone, but had to manage lots of blowdown, some from previous years. All very doable.
9/4/2022. Hike to the saddle south of flat top mountain and then up to the meadow overlooking both directions. The top third of the trail upper part of switchbacks to saddle has about 8-9 downed trees, three that required taking off my pack and crawling under due to the steep slope on either side of the trail. The lower part of the trail is in good shape
Trail was completely cleared to the saddle on July 13th by the San Juan Outdoor Club.
We rode in on horseback on June 1st from the Opal Lake TH and then took the Fish Creek Trail. We managed to get around and over some of the down trees but eventually the trail was impassable due to the size and number of trees.
Hiked on 5/14/22. From Opal lake TH to Fish Ck trail towards Leche junction. Hiked in 3.5 – 4 miles total. No trees across trail to Opal junction. OnFish Ck trail 575 to Leche, 27 trees across trail to lake. After lake another 12 trees down to 3rd creek crossing (approx. half mile). Still lots of snow patches in trail. Good idea for horse users to wait another week or two. First aspen with one cut after Wilderness boundary sign is not cut wide enough. Left side cut is on trail tread edge. Please remember FS trail corridor standard is 8’ wide by 10’ high. Thank you to SJOC for volunteering to clear the trail. Appreciate your work! -RWu