Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
San Juan Sports
(
888-658-0851, 719-658-2359;
www.sanjuansports.com
;
102 Main St; bike rental per day $19;
10am-5pm)
.
Visiting the dramatic stone forms of the
Wheeler Geologic Area
- resembling rows of sharp
animal teeth, and bearing names like City of Gnomes, White-Shrouded Ghosts, Dante's
Lost Souls - makes a specular and fairly strenuous full-day hike. Carved by wind and rain
into volcanic tuff framed by evergreen forest, the bizarre area was declared a national
monument in 1908. But the remote 11,000ft setting near the Continental Divide kept all
but the hardiest visitors away and by 1950 its monument status was removed. In 1993, the
Wheeler Geologic Area was again granted wilderness protection when federal lawmakers
approved the area's addition to La Garita Wilderness.
The USFS East Bellows Trail (Trail 790) is a 17-mile round-trip hike that climbs nearly
2000ft from the Hanson's Mill campground to the base of the geologic formations. To get
to the trailhead, drive southeast along Hwy 149 for slightly more than 7 miles and turn left
on USFS Rd 600 (Pool Table Rd). Continue for 9½ miles to Hanson's Mill campground.
The trail affords some great views and there are lots of places to camp along the way.
From Hanson's Mill there is also a 14-mile 4WD road that leads to the area.
Rafting
On the Rio Grande below Wagon Wheel Gap, scenic float trips with a few rapids and
quality fishing are the primary attractions of the 20-mile run to South Fork. A good place
to put in along Hwy 149 is the Goose Creek Road Bridge immediately west of the gap.
During high water, rafters should beware the closely spaced railroad bridge abutments at
Wagon Wheel Gap. Rafting tours and equipment rental are available from
Mountain Main
Rafting & Tours
(
719-658-2663;
www.mountainmantours.com
; 702 S Main St; Rio Grande half-day adult/child
$59/49)
.
Fishing
Above the Wagon Wheel Gap on the Rio Grande, anglers have two choice sections of the
river with special regulations for catch-and-release of rainbow trout using either artificial
fly or lure. There's a two-bag limit on brown trout more than 12in long. One section
between Creede's Willow Creek and Wagon Wheel Gap is mostly private and boat access
is necessary. Further upstream, however, you can fish from public lands on both sides of
the Rio Grande at USFS Marshall Park and Rio Grande campgrounds.
The fishing is good at Ruby Lakes (11,000ft), accessible by USFS Trail 815, a 4-mile
hike or horseback ride along Fern Creek. The trailhead is about 1¼ miles along USFS Rd
