Colorado

The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection legislation, passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in December, 2014, created both the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area and the adjacent 37,236-acre Hermosa Creek Wilderness.

The new Hermosa Creek Wilderness is very remote and rugged. It includes two system trails: Salt Creek and Clear Creek – which total approximately 14 miles. These trails are open only to travel by foot or horseback. No motorized or mechanized (bicycle) traffic is allowed within the Wilderness per the 1964 Wilderness Act. Stay on designated trails in the Hermosa; new routes must not be created when trails are impassable.

Mountain bike travel on the Colorado Trail is not affected by the new Hermosa Wilderness designation; however, mountain bikes will not be allowed on the trails that lead into Wilderness from the Colorado Trail, Hermosa Creek Trail, or other trails outside the Wilderness.

Within the Hermosa Wilderness boundary, Wilderness regulations are currently in effect and violators risk federal fines.

The Hermosa Creek Watershed experienced the 54,000-acre ""416 Fire"" in 2018. As a result, there are burned area hazards in the Hermosa Creek Watershed. Entry into burned areas is at your own risk. Some trails will be impassable, and hazards such as falling trees, unstable soils, and debris flows will exist. Please contact the Columbine Ranger District for current information about conditions: (970) 884-2512.

Indian Trail Ridge Hermosa Creek Wilderness
John Sowell, Indian Trail Ridge, La Plata and Montezuma counties, Colorado, USA 01, CC BY-SA 4.0
When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 37,236 acres US Forest Service:
Columbine Ranger District
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed on leash 167 7,510ft - 12,340ft

Hermosa Creek Wilderness Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Access Trail 3
2 - Big Bend Trail #519
3 - Clear Creek Trail #550
4 - Colorado Trail #1776 - Segment 27
5 - Colorado Trail #1776 - Segment 28
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Access Trail 3
2 - Big Bend Trail #519
3 - Clear Creek Trail #550
4 - Colorado Trail #1776 - Segment 27
5 - Colorado Trail #1776 - Segment 28
6 - Colorado Trail Spur Trail
7 - Corral Draw Trail #521
8 - Cross Creek Trail
9 - Dutch Creek Trail #516 - MOTORIZED
10 - Elbert Connector Trail
11 - Elbert Creek Alt Trail
12 - Elbert Creek Trail #512
13 - Goulding Creek Trail #517
14 - Grindstone Loop Trail #658
15 - Grindstone Trail #608 - MOTORIZED
16 - Hermosa Creek Trail #514 - MOTORIZED
17 - Jones Creek Trail #518 - MOTORIZED
18 - Little Elk Creek Trail #515
19 - Neglected Trail #547
20 - Pinkerton - Flagstaff Trail #522 - MOTORIZED
21 - Salt Creek Trail #559
22 - Sharkstooth Trail #620
23 - South Fork Trail #549
24 - Wagon Trail #532
Area Trailheads:
1 - Clear Creek Trail #550 - MOTORIZED
2 - Colorado Trail #1776 - Segment 27
3 - Colorado Trail Trailhead
4 - Cross Creek Trail
5 - Elbert Creek Trail #512
Area Trailheads:
1 - Clear Creek Trail #550 - MOTORIZED
2 - Colorado Trail #1776 - Segment 27
3 - Colorado Trail Trailhead
4 - Cross Creek Trail
5 - Elbert Creek Trail #512
6 - Goulding Creek Trail #517
7 - Hermosa Creek Trail #514 - MOTORIZED
8 - Hermosa Creek Trail #514 - MOTORIZED
9 - Jones Creek Trail #518 - MOTORIZED
10 - Little Elk Creek Trail #515
11 - Wagon Trail #532
12 - Wagon Trail #532
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Chris Park Group Campground
2 - Haviland Lake Campground
3 - Lower Hermosa Campground
4 - Sig Creek Campground