Curecanti Hiking

Trail Chart Legend:

E - Easy Good for families with small children, elderly or those with a short time frame.

M - Moderate Good for longer hikes and those looking for a more strenuous
experience. Best for people with good physical conditioning.

D - Difficult Good for more serious hikers with appropriate equipment
and excellent physical conditioning. May involve technical skills. Generally
not recommended for those under 14 years old.

West Beaver Creek Trail Moderate - 7 miles
Access: From Gunnison, travel west on Highway 50 for 6 miles to the Cooper Ranch site. Turn right on the Beaver Creek Road. Travel north 2.5 miles to the D.O.W. House. Park at the house. The trailhead is another 2 miles and can be accessed by hiking.
The trail gradually climbs along the Beaver Creek Valley, meandering through aspen and pine forests. In about 7 miles, you will intersect with the Beaver Creek Trail near the old cabin.

Coal Mesa Trail Difficult - 9 miles
Access: From Gunnison, travel west on Highway 50 for about 25 miles to Highway 92. Travel west on Highway 92 for 1 mile. Once across the Blue Mesa Dam, turn right onto the Soap Creek Road #721 and travel 9 miles to Soap Creek Campground. (The trailhead is adjacent to the south end of the Soap Creek Campground) The trail crosses Soap Creek (via a bridge) and enters the West Elk Wilderness Area in 1/2 mile. The trail follows the ridge for a distance and has excellent views. The trail climbs steeply to Bonfisk Peak. For a looped trail, return to Soap Creek Campground on the Cow Creek Trail.

Dillon Pinnacles Easy - 2 miles
Access: From Gunnison, travel west on Highway 50, 6 miles past the Elk Creek Visitor Center. The trailhead is clearly marked on the right just before the bridge crossing the reservoir.
Ascending through sagebrush, conifers and riparian vegetation, this trail offers spectacular views of the weather sculpted Dillon Pinnacles and Blue Mesa Reservoir. There are interpretive signs along the trail that describe how these spectacular spires were formed. Horses are permitted.

Pine Creek Moderate - 1 mile
Access: West on Highway 50, one mile west of junction with Highway 92. The exit is clearly marked and a short, unpaved road leads to the trailhead. Trailers must be parked before decending to the trailhead.
This trail descends along Pine Creek on the south side of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. 232 Stair steps take you down to the Morrow Point Reservoir below Blue Mesa Dam. The lower portion of the trail follows the historic bed of the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad. It also accesses the Morrow Point Lake Boat Tours.

Curecanti Creek Difficult - 2 miles
Access: West on Highway 50 to the junction of Highway 92. Turn right onto Highway 92 and travel 5.7 miles to the trailhead.
This trail descends steeply from the rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. It follows Curecanti Creek down to Morrow Point Reservoir. The Curecanti Needle, a 700 foot geologic spire, is within view at the trails end.

Hermits Rest Difficult - 3 miles
Access: West on Highway 50 to the junction of Highway 92. Turn right onto Highway 92 and travel 17 miles to the trailhead.
This trail zigzags through oak, pine, juniper and fir. You will descend steeply to the wooded campsite and picnic area on the shores of Morrow Point Reservoir.