Trail Update: 05/31/2024 Trail Cleared 100% of down trees from Trailhead to Shaw Creek Junction by Pagosa Ranger Trail and Fire Crew . Cleared 258 trees in 4.5 miles.
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Little Sand Creek North #591 Trail Map
Length: 4.5 miles one way 9.0 miles roundtrip
Elevation Stats: Elevation Gain 1,207′ (9,243′ to 10,450′) with Ascent of 1,467′ and Descent 260′.
Trailhead Facilities: Small parking lot.
Short Trail Summary: This trail starts on north side of FS 631 (Mosca Road). The trail is in excellent shape and slowly ascends north through trees and a few meadows. Their are a few good peekaboo views of the north mountains. It is a nice hike with a gradual ascent until it connects with Shaw Creek Trail # 584 at the 4.0 mile mark. This is a good place for lunch and turn around for a 8. 0 mile day hike.
Directions to Trail Head: From Forest Service Office on highway 160 drive east 2.4 miles, turn right (north) onto Piedra Road. At 6.3 miles you will cross a cattle guard and the road becomes a well maintained dirt road. Piedra Rd will become County Road 600 and then FS 631. At 21.9 miles from Hwy 160 you will reach the intersection of FS 640 that leads to Williams Reservoir, continue strait here staying on FS 631 Mosca Road. Continue another 2.2 miles and bear left continuing on FS 631 Mosca Road. Go another 4.5 miles and the trailhead sign #591 will be on the right side of the road.
We hiked this on July 20, 2024. Got started late at 11 AM. The drive up to the trailhead is magnificent. The trail was very buggy with a lot of flies just due to the wetness of recent rains. We got as far as about one and a half miles in before a Storm blew in raining and hailing on us. We chose to turn back. There were beautiful wildflowers and so many butterflies. There was one more recently downed tree crossing the trail just about mile 1.5. we would’ve loved to have gone further.
Upper portion of Little Sand Creek is completely cleared to intersection with Shaw Creek Trail, apart from one downed tree at mile 1.6. Kudos to the crew that recently cleared this! Much appreciated.
As of June 2, 2022, lots of trees down on the trail. I quit on high point a couple of miles in.
As of 6/20/21 the trail is clear from the Mosca Road north to Shaw Creek
As of 6/13/21, the trail is clear from Mosca Road north to Bear Creek. Lots of trees across the trail south of Mosca Road.
Thanks!
The entire Little Sand Trail has now been cleared this year (although new trees may have fallen on the portions that were cleared earlier in the year). Cleared north of Mosca Road to Shaw Creek Trail on 6/18/20 and 6/21/20. Cleared 3 miles north of Lower Weminuche Trail on 7/5/20. Cleared 3.5 miles south of Mosca Road on 7/12/20 and 8/9/20. 307 trees.
Thanks for you guys’ work. Way to go!
Rode horse from Lower Wenimuche to Little Sand and back to road. 8 hours. Many trees down along several miles of trail on Little Sand. Almost turned back but found our way through. Not recommended travel by horse until that is cleared. 8/8/20.
As of 6/21/20 the Little Sand Creek Trail north of the Mosca Road to the Shaw Creek Trail is clear of trees.
thanks, Josh.
Ran the little sand creek trail SOUTH to the lower weminuche trail and then to the Piedra river trailhead. There were 94 trees on the little sand creek trail (60 in the first 2 miles).