Camp in Wheeler Geological Area
Mineral County, Colorado
Details
Distance
16 miles
Elevation Gain
1000 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Sam Rae Roy
The first National Monument in Colorado remains untouched by the crowds prone to visiting national parks while still possessing the magnificent natural beauty to be one. A true hidden gem.
Wheeler Geological Area is a unique and remote geological landscape found in the La Garita Wilderness area in the Rio Grande National Forest, just outside Creede, Colorado.
From Creede, go 7.3 miles southeast on highway 149 and take Pool Table Road #600 on your left. Travel northeast approximately 9.9 miles on Pool Table Road to reach the site of the old Hanson's Mill and the trailhead for #790 East Bellows Creek Trail. (37.813293, -106.737419) The road continues for 14 miles down a 4X4 road but it is treacherous and recommended only for extremely high clearance 4x4 vehicles and ATVs.
The hike is easy but long. The first 2.1 miles of the trail wind easily through an old lodge pine forest (recently taken up by beetle kill). The trail then crosses East Bellows Creek as you enter the La Garita Wilderness Area. Spring runoff can make this a difficult crossing. Be sure to call the local forest service in Creede for seasonal water level information. The trail then winds up a canyon to a well-worn trail across a high meadow. Around mile 6, you meet up with the 14 mile long 4WD road, and continue for one more mile to the entrance of the geological area. It is one additional mile to the formations.
At the formations there are a couple benches and a fire pit. The closest water source is back at the beginning of the Geoligical Area Trailhead (~mile 7.5). We found a suitable place to pitch camp about 20 feet from the fire pit and spent the whole afternoon and night without another soul. The next morning, a group arrived on ATVs but stayed only long enough to snap a photo for us and get back on the 4WD road.
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