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Adopted Country LbNA #9254 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:DrewFamily Supporter Verified
Plant date:Apr 27, 2003
Location:
City:Pagosa Springs
County:Archuleta
State:Colorado
Boxes:1
Found by: DrewFamily
Last found:Aug 29, 2015
Status:Or
Last edited:Apr 27, 2003
Colorado has some of the most magnificent hiking in the world! And, for us sea-level folk, some of the hardest. A few tips:

Allow a day or two to adjust to the altitude before hiking.

Bring sunscreen, dark glasses, lip balm, and water.

Remember that hydration best begins the day before your hike.

Lightning is a real threat in the Rockies: leave the mountains by noon.

These are all summer-fall hikes.

We learned a lot about Colorado hiking from:

Hiking Colorado (1991, Caryn & Peter Boddie)

100 Hikes in Colorado (1995, Scott S. Warren)

http://www.parks.state.co.us

These hikes aren't necessarily the "best" of Colorado, although they were certainly a treat for us. They are based, instead, on the family we visited in Keystone, Pagosa Springs, and Carbondale in the summer of 2000. Enjoy!
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Adopted Country

Last visited September 7, 2003

Distance: 6 miles roundtrip, about 4 hours hiking.

Elevation: 9,050 to 9,800 feet.

Difficulty: Easy for locals, moderate for newly-acclimated hikers.

Map from Topozone.com



Fourmile Falls is a spectacular double waterfall in the Weminuche Wilderness Area north of Pagosa Springs, in the rugged San Juan Mountains. The hike itself is fairly level across lovely upland meadows with spectacular views of Eagle Peak. The trail is steep but brief at the far end before the single letterbox.

Directions: On Rte. 160 in downtown Pagosa Springs, turn north onto the town road at the Subway Sandwich shop, and then bear left behind the shop onto County Road 400. After a scenic 8.4 miles on improved gravel (our little rental car did just fine), bear right onto Fourmile Road. In 4.7 miles find the road's end at the trailhead.

On foot: At the trailhead, take the right hand fork for an out and back hike. Follow this trail heading generally north above Fourmile Creek for about three miles. You'll pass through stands of evergreen and aspen, with clouds of butterflies in the wildflowers. The views of the mountains grow enchantingly as you progress. Enjoy the first waterfall for a rest, then cross over the stream on the trail and climb steeply up to the second falls. Just at a viewpoint of this waterfall, find a big stump on the left side of the trail, perfect for sitting and enjoying. Scramble up the talus slope about 20 feet to a big hunk of conglomerate rock at bearing 240 degrees to find your reward cached in the northwest face. To return, simply retrace your steps back down the trail.

Dedicated to Stephen & Christian, who have truly made this land their own.