Carson Peak Roadless Area Trails

Carson Peak Roadless Area Trails

The Carson Peak Roadless Area, a 70,000-acre chunk of wild mountains, is an important piece of the puzzle in creating a continuous string of wilderness areas along the spine of the San Juan Mountains from central Colorado to New Mexico. The Rio Grande and Lake Fork of the Gunnison both rise in the high peaks of the Continental Divide here. The Lake Fork’s tributaries crash thousands of feet to the valley floor in a series of spectacular cascades and waterfalls, while the Rio Grande’s tributaries take a more leisurely course through soft volcanic sediments. The vast, sweeping expanses of upper Pole Creek bring to mind the immensity of Alaskan wilderness. Three distinct landscapes define Carson Peak: Vertical cliffs rise out of the Lake Fork valley on the north, with numerous waterfalls and grottoes; rolling tundra interspersed with rugged volcanic peaks characterizes the central portion; while the southern end contains several deep, glaciated valleys. This trail guide includes descriptions of Pole Creek, Handies Peak, Cataract Lake, Lost Trail Creek, Cuba Gulch to Cataract Gulch, and Continental Divide Trail.

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