Trail Update:
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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.