Alpine #225

The Alpine Trail #225 begins at Forest Service Road #858, Owl Creek Pass/Cimarron Road and ends at Forest Service road #868, the Alpine Plateau Access Road on the Gunnison Ranger District. This trail provides access to High Mesa and Big Park. This area provides excellent Elk Habitat because of its long flat meadows surrounded by Engelmann spruce and sub Alpine fir forests. It is a very popular area during hunting season. Approximately 0.6 miles from the access point on FSR #858, the trail switchbacks several times climbing to the flat top ridges of High Mesa and Big Park. After crossing the east fork of the Little Cimarron the trail follows FSR #883, Coyote Park Road, for approximately 0.3 miles. In approximately another 0.6 miles the trail crosses into the Gunnison Ranger District and it drops down into the Big Blue drainage. It parallels the Big Blue Creek before coming to an end at the Alpine Trailhead on FSR #868.

General Information

June

Open to Hiking, Horseback, Mountain Bike, and OHV less than 50 inches in width.

Getting There

Elevation

11,000

Directions

Forest Service Road #858 Access:

From Montrose, travel east on Highway 50 for approximately 21 miles to the intersection with County Road 858. Turn south on CR 858, Big Cimarron Road, and continue for approximately 18.6 miles to the Silver Jack Reservoir, CR 858 becomes Forest Service Road #858 at the forest boundary. Access to the Alpine Trail is 0.25 miles south of the reservoir. Parking is minimal so trucks with horse trailers should park at the pull out 0.25 miles further south.

Alpine/Little Cimarron Trailhead:

From Montrose, travel approximately 21 miles to the intersection with County Road 864, Little Cimarron Road. Turn south on CR 864 and continue for approximately 12.5 miles to the Trailhead, CR 864 becomes FSR 864 at the forest boundary.

Alpine Trailhead, Gunnison RD:

From Lake City, travel north on Highway 149 for approximately 10 miles to the intersection with the Alpine Plateau Access Road, FSR #868. Turn left and follow the signs to the Big Blue Campground. The trailhead is on a curve approximately half a mile north of the campground.