July 17 - 23rd, 2011

Backpack Trip

More than a half million acres in size, the Weminuche Wilderness is Colorado's largest, more than twice the size of Flat Tops, the second largest. As might be expected, the area contains the headwaters of dozens of major streams and rivers, feeding both the Rio Grande and San Juan rivers, two of the Southwest's most ecologically and culturally significant waterways. Weminuche's great size encompasses broad and diverse environments: cascading rivers swollen with snowmelt; immense glacial valleys; windswept ridges of the Continental Divide; and the seemingly unreachable summits of skyscraping granite, crags that cast magical reflections in alpine pools at dawn's soft light.

The Ute Creek trail is 13.2 miles long. It begins at Ute Trailhead and ends at CDT 813/twin Lakes. FDT#819 (Ute Creek Trail) is the major access route into the vast Ute Basin Area. Four major fishable lakes sit below the Continental Divide in the beautiful basin. The Ute Creek Trail is a popular route with Weminuche Wilderness visitors. Many trail travel options are available once the hiker reaches the open basin area above Black Lake. Fishing is rated good to excellent in the creeks and lakes of the Ute Drainage.The trail is open for the following uses: Foot Travel and Horseback Riding. This trail is entirely within the Weminuche Wilderness.

The project is improving switchbacks on the trail that have eroded and are in need of tread work, water bars and brushing. This is high country with spectacular views, beautiful lakes and world class fishing.

This trip is suitable for beginners in good shape who want to learn about backpacking, camping and trail work, and seasoned campers will enjoy spending a week in this large remote wilderness.