Many Trails Begin in Colorado Mountain Town

The silver is gone from the hills surrounding Creede, Colo., but not the scenery. Located near the headwaters of the Rio Grande, with the magnificent San Juan Mountains all around, Creede boasts a truly spectacular setting.

For hikers, a visit to the Rio Grande National Forest office in Creede is an absolute must. Rangers have the latest trail information, good maps and some excellent handouts that describe the area’s day-hiking and backpacking opportunities.

During the silver boom days of the 1890s, Creede’s population swelled to 10,000. Quite a boom town it was, indeed. Some 80 million tons of silver ore were mined and millions of dollars were made. And it was a wild and lawless place, with a marshal named Bat Masterson and such colorful characters as Calamity Jane, her sidekick Poker Alice, and Bob Ford (the man who killed Jesse James).

These days, Creede is a considerably calmer place. The entire Mineral County, of which Creede is the only town, has a population of 500.

Yet Creede is a great place to spend a few days: Visitors will enjoy the historic town and the huge wilderness surrounding it. More than 90% of the county is part of Rio Grande National Forest--an uncrowded paradise for the angler, camper or hiker.

Two scenic drives help you get the lay of the land. The Silver Thread Scenic Byway (Colorado 149) ties Creede to Lake City over a 50-mile route that has been in use since the 1870s. The winding road crosses the Continental Divide and offers many scenic turnouts, as well as opportunities to take walks through historic areas and hikes into the back country.

Creede’s Bachelor Historic Tour is a 17-mile drive through the old mining district that includes stops at the ghost town of Bachelor and several mining operations.

In Creede, visitors can take a walking tour of town. Inquire at the Creede Museum.

Summer visitors should do their best to obtain tickets for the acclaimed Creede Repertory Theater, which offers nightly performances from mid-June through Labor Day.

Wason-Wheeler Trail begins in Creede. A rigorous 2 1/2-mile climb brings you to Inspiration Point for a fine overview of the town and the old mining operations that are so precariously perched on the ultra-steep slopes.

The 10.7-mile-long trail continues climbing through large open alpine meadows and scattered stands of spruce and fir to the Wheeler Geologic Area, noted for its bizarre rock formations.

Miners Creek Trail (eight miles long) begins about six miles outside of town. The path crosses Miners Creek several times during its first two-mile segment and offers good fishing. The trail climbs through dense stands of aspen and old-growth spruce-fir forest.

Farmers Creek Trail, which begins just 1 1/2 miles out of town, leaves behind the Rio Grande and climbs through rolling grassy hills, then ascends into aspen-spruce-fir forest. This 7 1/4-mile trail continues to the Wheeler Geologic Area and connects with other paths leading deep into the La Garita Mountains.

A little farther out of town is Weminuche Trail, a 5 1/2-mile-long path that provides quick access to the Continental Divide. From 30-Mile Campground, the trail brings fishermen to Weminuche Creek, then climbs to Weminuche Pass on the Divide.

One of the most popular of Creede’s trails is the 12-mile Ute Trail, which begins at Rio Grande Reservoir and gives anglers access to four major fishable lakes nestled below the Continental Divide. This excellent trail links up with the Continental Divide Trail, and could be a great start to a long backpacking trip through the Weminuche Wilderness.

If you want to get out of town in a big way but don’t want to carry a big pack, you can join one of the mellow treks offered by La Garita Llamas. Owner and llama master Kate Booth leads trips into wilderness areas of the Rio Grande National Forest. Llamas carry your gear and tour leaders cook your grub; all you have to do is hike along with a day pack and admire the scenery. Contact: Kate Booth, La Garita Llamas, 32995 County Road 41-G, Del Norte, Colo. 81132; (719) 754-3345.

For general information, contact the Creede-Mineral County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 580, Creede, Colo. 81130; (719) 658-2374.

Take a hike with John McKinney’s “Day Hiker’s Guide to Southern California” ($16.95). Send check or money order to Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Dept. 1, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.

San Juan Mountains / Colorado / Wason-Wheeler Trail

Where: Rio Grande National Forest near Creedo, Colo. Distance: 4-16 mile day hikes; longer backpack possibilities. Terrain: Alpine valleys surrounded by rugged mountain peaks ranging to 14,000 feet. Highlights: Historic silver-mining area. Degree of difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. Precautions: High-altitude hiking; most trail heads are at 9,000 feet or higher. Lightning storms can be intense during the summer rainy season. For more information: Contact the Creede-Mineral County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 580, Creedo, Colo. 81130, (800) 327-2102 or the U.S. Forest Service, Creedo Ranger District, P.O. Box 270, Creede, Colo. 81130