Squaw Creek-FDT 1897

Difficulty:                  Moderate

Trail Use:                  Low

Length:                     4.26 miles

Elevation:                 Starts at 8127 ft, ends at 8832 ft, highest point 9629 ft

Elevation Gain:        +705 feet

Open To:                  Hiking, horseback riding

Access :   Travel 9.8 miles east of Eagle on I-70 to the Wolcott exit, and turn left, and then right onto Hwy. 6, heading east again.   Travel for 3.3 miles to Squaw Creek Rd. and turn right and follow the road for 3.2 miles and at the hairpin turn to the right follow the road straight where it becomes a dirt road.   Follow the dirt road for 1.2 miles to the trailhead and parking.                                                                  

Trail Highlights :   The trail starts with a steep climb through wildflowers and aspen, becoming more gradual as you pass ranch property below and to the left of the trail.  Cross Squaw Creek and the trail follows an old road up the drainage to a large open meadow called Elk Park. Travel past the meadow, cross the creek, and look for the trail leaving the road to the right.   The trail will then intersect with FDR-421 before descending through a grassy area with flowers, aspen and spruce/fir.   The trail crosses a rocky drainage and then becomes difficult to find, follow the drainage down until you come to an open meadow called Elbow Park, where the trail ends at the junction with Salt Creek-FDT 1878. The trail does continue on the west side of the convergence with

Salt Creek-FDT 1878, although it is difficult to find and follow, it leads in a southwesterly direction ending at Granite Springs.   Elk Park is a wonderful spot for looking at a variety of wildflowers including scarlet gilia, lupine, geranium, and Indian and sulphur paintbrush.