Trail Conditions as of 06/27/2024: Trail cleared of downed trees 8.3 miles from Williams Creek Junction to CDT by Pagosa Ranger District Trail Crew: 121 trees cleared
Please share any trail updates in the Comment section below
Length: 8.3-miles (one-way)
Elevation Stats: Altitude gain 2,592’ (9053’ to 11,645’ at junction with CDT)
Trailhead Facilities: Campground facilities at Palisades CG
This trail is not recommended as day hike. Indian Creek Trail is a connector trail between Williams Creek Trail #587 and CDT #813 and best hiked as part of an overnight or multiday trip.
Trail Summary: This hike description is to the junction with the Continental Divide Trail No. 813.
To reach the Indian Creek Trail hikers must first reach the junction of the trail located approximately 2.6-miles up the Williams Creek Trail No. 587. Turning east, the trail has views of volcanic layers. Two miles into your hike on the trail the route switchbacks and soon levels into the Palisade Meadows. At this point you have climbed nearly 1,800-feet.
Avoiding the junction heading to the north, the trail climbs over a ridge to Pistol Park with more switchbacks and views to the Middle Fork of the Piedra. At 6.3-miles another open park and rounded mountains lead to the CDT though it will be steeper than expected to the saddle reached at 8.3-miles.
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 4.9-miles to the trailhead located at the end of the road and next to the Palisades Horse Campground.
A southwest Conservation Corps crew cleared fallen trees off Indian Creek Trail in early June up to near Palisades Park, but they hit snow at that point and stopped. On July 8th a group of riders from Palisades Horse Camp rode down Indian Creek Trail from the top (uncertain what trail they took to access the top of Indian Crk Trail) and they reportedly cut out about 25 trees in order to get down the trail with their stock, riding around some downed trees. The Forest Service hopes to have another SCC crew on the trail to finish clearing it sometime in August.
We hiked up to about a mile below Palisade Meadows on July 5th, we came across approximately 10 down trees on the trail, all were passable fairly easily with a little effort on foot, none of the trees were huge. We forded the creek easily, about 2 feet at the deepest.
We hiked down Indian Creek Trail the first week of August after coming up the Elk Creek Trail to the CDT. Indian Creek was a wonderful surprise as it was totally maintained.
Trail is open to CDT as of Sept 4th, no new trees down.
Southwest Conservation Corps crew 407 is working on the trail, will get it partially done this week, will plan to come back July 21st to finish clearing whatever they haven’t cleared through today, including Palisades Meadows Trail. Their work here in the Pagosa area is critical to getting our trail system open during these difficult times, and I would urge all interested trail users and others to get involved, help Pagosa Area Trails Council (comprised of trail user advocacy groups) and the Forest Service keep our trails open and maintained. This trail in particular is hard to keep open due to the number of trees down and the difficulty in finding room on the side of the trail to stack cut trees!
Help!!? downed trees everywhere