Fourmile Creek Trail

Fourmile Creek Trail

The highlights of this hike are two gorgeous waterfalls that are located 3.0 miles from the trailhead. The falls are an easy walk from the road with an elevation gain of only 750 feet, and upon reaching them most people go no further. There are several more waterfalls along Fourmile Creek, however, and the additional 2.3-mile walk to the head of the fast-flowing mountain stream will yield additional rewards. The trail finally ends at Fourmile Lake, a 600-foot diameter tarn hidden in the back of a basin on the northeast side of Pagosa Peak. If you want to experience Fourmile Creek Creek at its very best try to begin this hike no more than a half-hour after sunrise. The trail passes through a succession of pristine mountain meadows along the stream that are a delight to experience in the early morning hours. The show begins at dawn, when clouds of mist begin rising from the due-covered grass that surrounds the creek. The soft light flickering through the mist onto the wildflowers and the clean, white trunks of the bordering quaking aspen make an enchanting prolog to the day. Birds of all kinds flock to the meadows at daybreak, and their songs combine with the sounds of the running water to fill the parks with nature’s music. Morning is also the best time to see Fourmile Falls.

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