Little Elk and Independence Trails
Lake City, CO
Little Elk and Independence Trails
Lush foothills terrain, wide variety of plant life, aspen groves, and a high level of solitude. The Little Elk Trail traverses the northeastern foothills of the Uncompahgre Wilderness, parallel to the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, at relatively low elevation. The terrain is mostly wooded, with plenty of water and a wide variety of plant life. This hike could instead be hiked from south to north, but in that direction it would involve considerably more elevation gain and route-finding difficulty. When I hiked this trail in the summer of 2001, some sections were obvious only because a horse party had passed through a few days earlier, refreshing the track somewhat. To avoid doing a large amount of off-trail wandering, be sure to bring (and know how to use) a map and compass, and follow this trail description as carefully as possible.
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Directions to: Little Elk and Independence Trails
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Lake City |
| Length | 12.1 mi |
| Skill Level | Difficult |
| Duration | Day hike |
| Season | Best late-May through October |
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