Hiking And Camping In The Colorado’s Lizard Head Wilderness Area
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I migrated to southwestern Colorado to stay practically ten years ago. Once I arrived I was neither a camper nor a hiker, however dwelling so near the good Rocky Mountains, virtually forces one to study to commune with nature. Since I have lived on this stunning area, I’ve had the opportunity to explore a number of the back-nation of the southern Rockies in a territory known as the Lizard Head Wilderness Space in the San Juan Mountain range.
The area is so named in reference to the awesome rock formation that purportedly resembles the top of a lizard, although you have to sort of squint to see that shape. It is a big vertical spire that juts 300′ upward from a conical base to an elevation of 13,113 feet. The Lizard Head is visible to motorists traveling alongside Colorado hwy.a hundred forty five between the towns of Dolores and Telluride. I had seen the landmark many instances on my journeys to Telluride to ski with my household, but I by no means dreamed I would truly climb Blackface Mountain and stand throughout the shadow of the nice Lizard Head.
Lizard Head Trail
Then, just a few summers in the past my good pal and I acquired on a mountaineering kick to get in shape. She was an skilled hiker and I used to be not. I used to be curious about the Lizard Head space, so I did some web research on the paths in the region and located a few I believed we may handle on our own. Our first expedition was a hike on the Lizard Head Trail. It’s a part of a system of trails that crisscross the region. All of them appear to intersect one another in some unspecified time in the future, so it seems conceivable that an individual might spend a summer season questioning around the backcountry of the San Juan Nationwide Forest. We solely had one day, however, so we deliberate a visit up the path and back alongside the same route.
The trailhead (U.S. Forest Service Street 409) is just off hwy. a hundred forty five about forty miles northeast of Cortez and 10 miles south of Telluride at an elevation of 10,000 feet. There’s a large parking area and restrooms at the base of the trailhead. The trail begins with slight slopes by way of mountain meadows, filled with summer wildflowers. Then it begins to climb into the aspens. After some climbing through the timber, the path opens as much as some spectacular views of nearby Trout Lake, Sheep Mountain and Yellow Mountain.
Subsequent, the trail actually begins to climb through the primary set of switchbacks. On the high of this climb lies a junction the place the path meets the Wilson Meadows Trail, which is a a method, two mile spur resulting in extra mountain meadows. Persevering with on the Lizard Head Path, there is a small meadow, then extra switchbacks via dense pine and aspen bushes up to Blackface ridge and an elevation of about 11,seven-hundred feet. Quickly, the path is at timberline because the traverse of the ridge continues. The path turns into fairly rugged as it’s lined within the black shale of Blackface Mountain. Lastly, simply as I can’t consider I am climbing over the jagged stuff, I look out and realize we’re on the summit and it seems like we are on top of the world, or as near it as I’ve ever been.
The views are spectacular from the 12,147-foot elevation. We’re within about two miles from the precise Lizard Head and all around us are the large Rocky Mountains. To the north is Sunshine Mountain, to the northwest is Cross Mountain and one of Colorado’s “fourteeners,” Wilson Peak is seen just past it. To the northwest is San Bernardo Mountain and we predict we will see manner into the space to the sting of Telluride.
When we started our hike, I had no concept that we might end up so high. As we took in the superb panoramic views, I realized that I used to be standing atop the black confronted rock formations on the high of the peaks that I had seen so usually from the highway below. I used to be shocked that we had been way up there. The ache of climbing those switchbacks was undoubtedly worth it.
From the summit, there are several choices for continued hiking. Lizard Head Path continues on a number of extra miles between Sunshine Mountain and Wilson Peak before it useless ends into the Wilson Mesa Path, which ultimately leads out of the Wilderness Area. It also junctions with the Bilk Creek Trail which runs north by way of the Silver Decide Basin or with the Cross Mountain Path which treks south till it meets up with hwy.145 a couple of mile south of the principle Lizard Head trailhead.
On our hike, we opted to return the same means we got here in so as to avoid the mile long highway walk, however theoretically, we could have just finished the loop back to our beginning point. All whole, we hiked about 10 or 12 miles, depending on which trail guide you learn and it took us about six hours total. The loop or the up and back version is about the same in distance and time.
Navajo Lake Trail
On one other day, we selected to hike the Navajo Lake Trail (Forest Service Trail 635). Navajo Lake is a hidden mountain lake that sits at an elevation of eleven,154 and is the headwaters for the Dolores River. It’s also a part of the Lizard Head Wilderness Space, however is a methods to the northwest of Lizard Head itself. We accessed the path by turning off of hwy. a hundred forty five at Forest Service Street 535, in any other case generally known as the West Fork or Dunton Highway, 13 miles north of Dolores. This road is a nicely-maintained gravel and filth highway that parallels the West Dolores River.
About twenty two miles down the road lies an old ghost city known as Dunton, that is now a privately owned community. A couple of mile previous Dunton is the Burro Bridge campground and one mile past that’s the trailhead for the Navajo Lake Trail. There’s ample parking on the base.
The hike is pretty straightforward to start at an elevation of 9,350 feet. The trail crosses the river shortly after the hike begins, then leads by means of huge-open meadows in a valley between the mountains. Quickly, the climb begins. There are some steep stretches of switchbacks, but all along the best way, the views are awesome.
At one level, we might see a waterfall often called the West Falls over a ridge. About halfway to the lake, there is a junction where the Kilpacker Trail meets up with the Navajo Lake Trail. The Kilpacker Trail circles back south and winds up at Morgan Camp. We continued on our route to the lake. Not removed from the lake, the Woods Lake Trail, which leads to one other excessive altitude lake, junctions with the trail.
The final half before arriving at the lake was fairly steep and winding, but alas, we made it to the lake. The altitude is so excessive that the panorama at ground degree around the lake is inexperienced with conifers, however the basin walls that encompass the lake are bare rock. The lake itself is pretty small, however fairly and clean, and though I do not fish, I assume the fishing would be good.
Navajo Lake Trail really continues on to the east and north of the lake where it intersects with the Bilk Creek path mentioned above. Again, we deliberate a turn around trip, so we retraced our steps and returned to our beginning point. Round trip, the hike was about six miles total.
Tenting
If you’d like the full mountaineering and tenting expertise in the Lizard Head Wilderness Space, there are lots of nice options. Alongside hwy.one hundred forty five north of Dolores are several nicely maintained and equipped campgrounds.
Cayton Campground is closest to the Lizard Head Trail and it sits on the sting of the Dolores River. It’s about three miles south of the trailhead. The payment is $8.00 and it has 27 websites and includes water, pit bogs and a dump station. Cellphone: 970-882-7296.
Matterhorn Campground is about eight miles north of Cayton on hwy.145. The charges are $12.00 to $16.00 and it features 28 websites, together with some stroll-in sites and RV sites. It additionally has water, showers and toilets. Cellphone: 970-327-4261.
Alta Lakes Campground is a little off the crushed path, but is my favorite within the area. If you want to get off the freeway and really feel like you’re really camping within the woods, this is your spot. The flip off to the Alta Lakes is about three miles previous the Matterhorn Campground. The road is a bit rugged and slim, so no trailers or RV’s are recommended. Comply with the highway and indicators and soon you may end up in Alta, an abandoned mining town. Comply with the signal to Alta Lakes for a nice campground. It isn’t a forest service campsite, so there aren’t any charges, nevertheless it fills rapidly, so go early. It does have pit bogs however no water or electricity.
Priest Gulch RV Park, Cabins and Lodge is the place to go should you favor resort sort camping. It is south of Lizard Head Go on hwy.145. Priest Gulch is a big, standard RV and camp space that features a playground, laundry amenities, TV, a retailer, dump station and hearth rings. The charges vary from $18.00 - $23.00. Reservations are recommended. Cellphone: 970-562-3810.
On the Dunton Street that runs alongside the west fork of the Dolores River there are a number of nice campgrounds also.
The West Dolores Campground is just a little additional up the road. It is very much like Mavreeso. The fees are $12.00 and all eighteen campsites are near the river. There are several spaces for large RV’s on the campground. There are some sites which have electricity and there may be entry to water and compost toilets. No cellphone available.
Mavreeso Campground is about four miles up the Dunton highway and most of its fourteen sites are close to the river. The fees are $12.00 and there are tent spaces as well as RV spaces. A few of the campsites even have electricity and there is water and bogs on site. Cellphone: 970-882-2294. Burro Bridge Campground, as talked about earlier than, is a couple of mile past the town of Dunton. It’s a nicely secluded space that features fifteen shady campsites close to the river. There are not any RV sites, however there’s water obtainable and compost toilets. This is a nice, quiet place that is off the trail and is near the Lizard Head Wilderness Area trails. No cellphone available.
Be Prepared
In the event you decide to travel to southwestern Colorado to do some mountaineering and tenting in the Lizard Head space, make sure you come prepared. Colorado climate will be harsh at any time of the year. Climbing is greatest early in the day during summer months as afternoon thunderstorms are widespread and are very harmful to outdoor recreation enthusiasts. You should definitely carry fundamental first support supplies, a map and food and water for an emergency. Put on snug clothes and footwear, however bring a jacket just in case. For those who hike alone, be sure you let someone know your planned route should you turn out to be misplaced or injured.
Above all else, you’ll want to preserve this stunning country for the longer term generations. At all times observe Forest Service rules for climbing and camping. Be sure to abide by the ‘depart no trace’ motto when you’re having fun with your stay within the mountains.
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