Logger's Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Mostly smooth-packed dirt. Some sections of embedded rocks and a few extended sections of eroded ruts.

This well-established trail is not on many maps and does not see much traffic. It climbs from its junction with the Corral Creek Trail, traverses the hillside within the Eagles Nest Wilderness, and eventually reaches a peaceful saddle at the boundary between Eagle and Summit Counties.

The initially unpromising-looking trail begins with a moderate climb up through a mini-valley that has seen extensive logging in the past. Some of the remaining tree stumps are cut low to the ground (as you would expect) but others are cut much higher, leaving 15 foot high stumps. Either loggers were much taller then, or they did this logging with a lot of snow on the ground! Leave this tree graveyard behind and begin the lengthy traverse across open hillsides. The trail is clear and easy to follow.

Scattered rocky patches, tree copses, and curious troughs keep this trail interesting. Keep looking about as the great views of the Gore Range, Seven Mile Range and Holy Cross appear and change beguilingly along this route. The trail ends at a quiet but windy saddle where you can peer over into the next beautiful drainage. A bowl with a couple tiny ponds lies below and impressive mountains loom in the distance. This saddle is formed by a ridgeline descending from Uneva Peak's flank.

Note: It is a good idea to wear bright orange in the fall to be seen by hunters.