Beaver Creek #464

Forest Trail #434 (Beaver Creek Trail) is 11.1 miles long and is in the West Elk Wilderness. The lower 2.75 miles is no longer maintained. The maintained trail segment begins at Forest Trail #601 and ends at Forest Trail #449. Forest Trail #464 is open for the following uses: hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Trail and Map.

WEST BEAVER CREEK TRAIL #447
From the south, the trail gradually climbs along the Beaver Creek valley. The trail meanders through aspen and pine forests giving a sense of isolation and solitude. Beaver Creek is unique due to the reintroduction of native cutthroat trout. A fish barrier has been constructed near the Gunnison National Forest boundary to
protect the upper stretches of both Beaver Creek and West Beaver Creek from non-native fish encroachment.

From the south (Access #1), the trail begins on Colorado Division of Wildlife lands, passes through BLM lands, finally crossing onto
National Forest lands approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead. If you continue north another 4.4 miles, you will enter into the West Elk Wilderness Area. Another mile north, the trail intersects with the Beaver Creek Trail #464 near the old cabin; this intersection is not very well defined. The West Beaver Creek Trail then heads west up West Beaver Creek. Expect very primitive trail conditions as
you travel toward timberline and the intersection with the Sun Park trail #444.

BEAVER CREEK TRAIL #464
From the south, the trail begins at the West Beaver Creek Trail intersection near the old cabin. Expect primitive trail conditions from this intersection. Continue to travel north on the trail; crossing Beaver Creek numerous times before reaching the Zig-Zag Trail intersection. The trail continues to follow Beaver Creek to above
timberline. The trail then flanks the east side of the Middle Baldy Mountains to the intersection with the Sun Park Trail #444.

Getting There

Elevation

8,865 feet

Directions

ACCESS #1: Travel 6 miles west on US Hwy 50 from Gunnison to the Gunnison
State Wildlife Area and turn right on the Beaver Creek Road #726.
A.) Travel north 2.5 miles through Colorado Division of Wildlife lands to Harris
Hereford Ranch. Once past the ranch, the road degrades from a gravel-surfaced
road to an un-surfaced primitive road requiring 4-wheel drive, even when road
conditions are dry. Park and hike or drive another 2 miles to the trailhead (at the
end of road #3113).
B.) Travel north 2 miles through Colorado Division of Wildlife lands and turn
right on Steers Gulch Road #726 before reaching the Harris Hereford Ranch.
Travel north to the trailhead (at the end of the road). When wet, 4-wheel drive is
required to safely travel on Forest Road #726. At the trailhead, park and hike
west into the West Elk Wilderness area on the Zig-Zag Trail #601. The Zig-Zag
Trail has a series of switchbacks that descend steeply to the Beaver Creek Trail
#464; approximately 4.5 miles north of the junction with the West Beaver Creek
Trail #447.

ACCESS #2: Travel about 3.5 miles north of Gunnison on US HWY 135. Take a
left on County Road 730 and travel northwest up Ohio Creek Road for
approximately 9 miles. Turn left onto Mill Creek Road, also known as BLM Road
3118, and follow it to the Little Mill Creek Trailhead #455. This trail intersects
with the Zig-Zag Trail, which then connects with Beaver Creek Trail within th~
West Elk Wilderness.