Trail Update – 05/18 /24 – Cleared 1.5 miles by Pagosa Ranger Distrcit Trail Crew: 20 trees cleared.
Please share any trail updates in the Comment section below
Length: 4.8-miles (one-way)
Elevation Stats: Altitude gain 4177’
Trailhead facilities : Vault toilet and horse trailer parking lot
Trail summary: This hike description is to Hossick Lake which is a short distance off of the Hossick Creek Trail. A point to point hike can be made connecting the Cimarrona Creek Trail and walking the gravel road back to the Poison Park trailhead. To reach the trail, hikers must first reach the junction of the trail located approximately 2.3-miles up the Weminuche Trail at the corner of fenced private land.
Turning east at this junction the trail begins a switchbacked ascent with grades up to 15% to the wilderness boundary and the crossing of Hossick Creek. A difficult crossing in early season, use caution. At 3.5-miles the trail levels into a large basin at the head of Hossick Creek with views to Cimarrona Peak (12,577′). Hossick Lake is behind the steep cliffs to the west. The creek is nearby for most of the ascent to the junction.
Climbing out of the basin, ascend the headwall and meets the Hossick Lake Trail at 4.1-miles. Turn west at the junction with the Hossick Lake Trail No. 602. Continue less than a mile to the lake proper ascending an additional 280′ over precipitous cliffs that are in front of the cirque basin in which the lake is located.
Returning to the junction, Hossick Lake Trail continues another 1.4-miles to the junction with the Cimarrona Creek Trail No. 586. This route passes a jagged, volcanic knife edge pass before descending to a small basin.
The amount of vertical ascent (over 4,000′) and descent on the Hossick Creek Trail make it one of the more challenging hikes in the Weminuche Wilderness.
Driving directions: Drive North on Piedra Road (CR 600/FS 631) 22-miles to the intersection with the FS 640 (Williams Creek Road). Turn north and drive an additional 3.5-miles to FS 644 (Poison Park Road), turning west and then another 3.0-miles to the trailhead located at the end of the road.
Made it to Hossick lake 7/14/24 from Poison Park. Trail is clear, muddy in some spots. No snow. Beautiful!
We made it to Hossick Lake yesterday (July 4, 2023) with horses. We had to go over and around about a dozen fallen trees, but it was doable. The last 1/4 mile was on foot as there was a large snowbank on a steep hillside
As of 8/1/2020 the trail had been cleared all the way to the lake. Only one deadfall between the start and the lake.
Thanks for the info, Brian
A San Juan Back Country trail crew rode the trail on July 2nd about 1 mile up from the Weminuche Trail, intending to cut downed trees out, but found the trail had been cleared sometime in the last several weeks. Not sure how far it’s been cleared.