The Colorado Trail: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle

The Colorado Trail: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle

The CT departs west at Spring Creek Pass from the picnic ground on a jeep track, coming to a nice spring in 2.5 miles. Here the CT leaves the jeep track to the right and follows a series of cairns with sign posts, up and over Jarosa Mesa, rejoining the jeep track on the other side for a couple more miles through the tundra. Again, the CT bears right off the jeep track onto a non-motorized section and into the woods. From here to the south side of Coney Summit, the CT is designated by the Forest Service as “only open to non-motorized uses.” After 0.8 mile, the trail crosses a marshy meadow which is one of the tributaries of Big Buck Creek. Water is usually available a short distance to the east. This is the last, reasonably-flat area with water along the CT for camping until reaching Carson Saddle. If you are willing to exit the CT for about 0.3 mile or so, the upper end of Ruby Creek (the next valley) has a flat camping area down by a pond. Some small, hidden springs may also be found nearby.

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