Backcountry Driving & Four Wheeling

La Ventana, the Natural ArchNumerous rugged roads invite intrepid four-wheeler to explore terrain surrounding the San Luis Valley. Several favorite tours are listed below.

It's a good idea to check road conditions before exploreing. And remember to respect our back country by staying on established routes!

Old Woman's Creek and the Natural Arch. Scramble up to La Ventana (the window) and see the more than 100-year old pinon pine and view the San Luis Valley. Drive north of Del Norte on Highway 112 and turn left on the first raod past the Rio Grande bridge. Then take Forest Road 660 to Old Woman's Creek. Then turn left onto Forest Road 569 and drive 1.5 miles to the Natural Arch.

Beaver Creek Reservoir , Milliion's Reservior, and Poage Lake. Take Highway 160 west from Alamosa through the towns of Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork. Approximately one mile west of South Fork, turn left on the Beaver Creek Road. Your first stop might be Million’s Reservoir, approximately 4 miles from the turnoff and on the left about ½ mile. The lake is in a beautiful setting, and fishing is usually very good. If you continue approximately 3 miles past this turnoff on the main road, you will see Beaver Reservoir immediately on your right. Fish, boat, or just admire the scenery. Of course, below the dam and for several miles, you can fish Beaver Creek, a beautiful mountain stream. Should you wish to continue approximately 13 miles further to Poage Lake, you should make local inquiries as to road conditions, for at times four-wheel drive vehicles are required. You will need to return on the same road.

Park Creek, Summitville, Horse Thief Park, Stunner Pass, Platoror Reservoir. Take 160 southwest from South Fork about seven miles, then turn left on the Park Creek Road. Here is an area where Multiple Use Management-the wise use of the Rio Grande National Forest’s resources-can be seen. A long term contract was awarded by the Forest Service in 1954 for the harvesting of 62 million board feet of timber. The ranchers from the San Luis Valley graze their cattle and sheep in these mountain meadows. The efforts of many fisherman are rewarded in Park Creek. Then, as the Aspen leaves turn to gold in the fall, hunters take to the forest in search of elk and deer. About 15 miles after turning up this road, there will be a split. If you turn left and head 3 miles, you will be in Summitville. Here in 1870, the area’s first discovery of gold was made. The big strikes were made in 1875 and attracted amny prospectors. The community quickly grew and included a post office, school, daily newspaper, and several saloons. Miners lived here year round, enduring some terrific snowstorms. This activity continued until 1895. From here you may continue on 29 miles to Del Norte or, you may return to the Park Creek Road (the first road into the San Luis Valley from the west), Horse Thief Park, across Stunner Pass to Platoro Reservoir. You may return over the same route, or go east down the Alamosa River by Terrace Reservoir and then into the San Luis Valley.

Big Meadows Lake, Shaw Lake, and Tucker Ponds. Take US 160 southwest of South Fork 12 miles and turn right to Big Meadows Recreational Area. Here you will find a 115 acre lake, a delight to the camper, fisherman, and boater. For the four-wheel drive enthusiast, you may drive north a few miles to Shaw Lake, and try for some beautiful native cutthroat trout. (Inquire about the road before you go.) You may return to South Fork, or turn right on 160 about 2 miles. Here you may turn left up Pass Creek 3 miles and reach the two Tucker Ponds and enjoy the fishing. Or, you may continue up the main highway over Wolf Creek Pass. At the top of the pass, turn right on a gravel road and a 2 mile drive to the top of Thunder Mountain and the Continental Divide Overlook-a spectacular view of both the Atlantic and Pacific watershed. You may even continue past Wolf Creek Ski Area to Lohr Lake and enjoy fishing and boating.

Alder Creek and Alder Creek Guard Station. Follow in John Fremont's tracks! This is strictly four-wheel drive trip, but most interesting. Leave South Fork on High way 149, cross the river bridge, and 200 yards beyond turn right and travel approximately 1-1/8 miles, turn left on the Alder Creek road. You are now starting up the same canyon that John Fremont traveled in December of 1848 when he lost all of his horses and mules, and before he got back, 11 of his men. Watch for logging trucks. At the Round Park turn-off, 7 miles above the Alder Creek Guard Station, or 11 miles above the North River Road, you may either turn right and return on the Agua Ramon Road, or continue to the left 11 ½ miles to the old Hansen saw mill and another 10 miles to Highway 149. Either route has spectacular scenery.

Willow Creek Road and the Equity mine. Take Highway 149 to Creede, following the Rio Grande, the third longest river in the U.S., passing through Wagon Wheel Gap, used as the first toll gate on the old stagecoach road to Silverton and Lake City in 1874. Continue through agon Wheel Gap and on to famous Creede, where Jesse James’ killer, Bob Ford was shot and buried. “It’s day all day in the daytime and there is no night in Creede,” goes the song which typifies the activities of this early day mining town. Founded in 1889, more than 10,000 people lived here at one time. If you are in a four- wheel drive vehicle, you might want to go north from Creede and take either the east or west branch of Willow Creek Road and drive up to the old Equity mine just under Bachelor, a ghost town that at the turn of the century boasted several thousand population. This trip is about 11 miles, and offers wonderful opportunities for sightseeing, photography, and fishing.

Rio Grande Reservoir, Continental Divide, Clear Creek Falls, and Brown Lakes. Again taking off from Creede, take highway 149 continuing up river 20 miles to the fork of the Lake City and Rio Grande Reservoir roads. You have a choice.

Taking the left fork you travel by the two Road Canyon Lakes, popular for boating and fishing. Another 12 miles takes you through beautiful mountain sceneryto the large Rio Grand Reservoir, While you can boat and fish in the reservoir, it is also a take-off point for backcountry wilderness adventures. If you are really adventuresome, four-wheel drive enthusiasts can continue on up the river and across the Continental Divide at Stony Pass and into Silverton. It might be a good idea to have someone along who knows the area -- it will be a trip that you won’t forget.

Choosing the right fork towards Lake City takes you can to the small Spring Creek Lake about a mile above the forks. Three miles above, turn left to the Brown Lakes. If you stay on the main road, don’t miss Clear Creek Falls, just a few hundred yards off the road. You can smell the spray as North Clear Creek drops 75 feet through a break in the Pre-Cambrian mantle originally formed by volcanic activity. Continuing on you will come to Continental and Rito Hondo Reservoirs. Drop down to Lake City and either return the way you came or take a longer trip making a circuit through Gunnison, back across Cochetopa Pass to Saguache, and then to South Fork.

Medano Pass Primitive Road. Access to the Medano Pass Primitive Road is through Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It is a 4-wheel drive road that begins in the park and goes north to Medano Pass and the Rio Grande National Forest, offering a spectacular views of the dunes. Primitive picnic areas (no water or restrooms) are located along the road. Soft sand may require reduced tire pressure. Air is available near the campground. For more information and road conditions, stop in the visitor center at the Great Sand Dunes.