힌스데일 카운티 최고의 러닝 경로

4x4 hc necessary to upper TH. Great hike, amazing views

Spring Creek Pass is the access point for hikers of the Colorado Trail/Continental Divide Trail to get into Lake City - unique hiker town. The hitch might not be too easy, but it is worth the wait. The trailhead has plenty of parking and a pit toilet.

Here you will encounter a confluence of different singletrack trails and gravel roads. About a mile up the gravel road to the north is Carson, an old, well-preserved ghost town. Section 22 of the Colorado Trail runs east, and section 23 heads south. The Continental Divide Trail follows the same route as the CT.

Two information boards and a medium sized parking lot are located at the American Basin Trailhead. This is a great starting point to summit Handies Peak since you are already pretty high up in elevation. To get here though, you should have a car with high-clearance and 4x4.

The American Basin is a popular spot along the Alpine Loop. There are some dispersed campsites, a reliable stream and the trailhead to summit Handies Peak that towers over the basin.

With an elevation of 14,058 feet, Handies Peak is one of the Colorado 14,000ers. You can access the summit either from the American Basin, passing beautiful Sloan Lake or via Grizzly Gulch from Cinnamon Pass Road on the other side of the mountain. The view from the top is spectacular! Keep in mind, that the weather can change quickly and expect thunderstorms especially during the summer months. So start your hike early and descent in the early afternoon at the latest.

The climb out of the American Basin up to American Pass is steep and strenuous. Your reward is a great view over Turkey Thief Lake and the surrounding San Juan Mountains including Handies Peak, one of the 14,000ers.

The Uncompahgre Peak Trail climbs steeply up the peak from here. There is a short class 2 section near the top, but this route is very doable. You can also take the Big Blue Creek Trail north of here up a short but steep set of switchbacks to another junction. From there you can take the relatively flat Ridge Stock Driveway Trail along the ridge above treeline to get fantastic views of the north Uncompahgre Wilderness or dive into the remote northern mountain valleys.