Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around South Fork
Coller State Wildlife Area
The grassy riverbanks in the Coller State Wildlife Area attract elks, deer and moose in
winter. From South Fork, follow Hwy 149 toward Creede for about 7 miles, where there's
a sign on the left; turn there and you enter the area after a couple hundred yards. You can
see bighorn sheep throughout the year on the south-facing Palisade cliffs extending from
the Coller State Wildlife Area to Wagon Wheel Gap. At the gap, golden eagles soar above
the cliff faces and fish the Rio Grande.
Weminuche Wilderness Area
Named for a band of the Ute tribe, the Weminuche Wilderness Area is the most extensive
wilderness in Colorado, with an area of more than 700 sq miles. The Weminuche extends
west along the Continental Divide from Wolf Creek Pass to the Animas River near Silver-
ton.
From June to July 2013, the West Fork Complex fire burned over 100,000 acres, mostly
affecting the Weminuche Wilderness area. The cause of the fire was lightning strikes com-
bined with strong winds that spread the fire. Today, public access is affected mainly in the
areas west of Creede.
Along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (USFS Trail 813) you will find
many secluded hiking opportunities as the trail passes through 80 miles of the Weminuche
Wilderness between Wolf Creek Pass and Stony Pass. One trail of particular interest leads
to an undeveloped natural hot spring west of the Divide. To reach Wolf Creek Pass Hot Spring
take USFS Trail 560 west from the Divide, descending more than 6 miles through the
Beaver Creek drainage to the West Fork headwaters of the San Juan River. The spring,
with water hotter than 100°F (38°C), is to the right on USFS Trail 561, about half a mile
above the trail junction.
Visitors should have maps of both the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests.
Ranger stations for the Rio Grande National Forest are in either Del Norte or Creede; the
nearest San Juan National Forest ranger station is in Pagosa Springs.
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