Hiking and Camping Southwest Colorado: Vallecito Creek Trail

The Vallecito Creek Trail is a popular hiking trail to access the Weminuche Wilderness Area, which is the largest wilderness area in all of Colorado, encompassing some 499,771 acres in the San Juan Mountains north of Durango and Pagosa Springs, CO. The trailhead is located north of Vallecito Reservoir and is an easy, scenic drive from downtown Durango.

Vallecito Creek

Directions: From Historic Downtown Durango, head north on Main Ave. to the traffic light at 32nd Street and turn right (east). You'll drive about a mile and a half and then take a right (south) onto County Road (CR) 250. Drive just 0.2 miles to a traffic light and turn left (east) onto Florida Road (CR 240). Drive about 12 miles to Helen's Corner and follow CR 240 to the right over the bridge over the Florida River. Once you cross the bridge, CR 240 comes to a "T" at CR 501 after a few miles, where you will turn left (north). Drive about 10 miles on CR 501, which will take you along the west side of the Vallecito Reservoir and into the residential area north of the lake. As soon as CR 501 curves to the right and begins heading east instead of north, CR 500 peels of to the left heading north. Travel about another 2.5 miles on CR 500 and the trailhead parking lot will be on your left just before the entrance to Vallecito Campground. The parking lot is quite large and can accommodate horse trailers.

Vallecito Creek Trailhead

The Trail: The Vallecito Creek Trail starts out nice and level as it meanders around the borders of the Vallecito Campground, with lots of rock formations for the kiddos to climb on, which my kids took full advantage of on multiple occasions. Once it gets around the campground, the trail approaches Vallecito Creek, which you can easily see and access from the east side of the campground.

The trail then heads north, first crossing Falls Creek over a nice bridge, and enters into the Weminuche Wilderness Area. Prior to crossing the Falls Creek bridge, there is a place to register. While it is currently optional to register, if you are heading for a long hike into the Weminuche, you should definitely register as it aids in rescue efforts. In 2014, the Forest Service will make registering to enter the Weminuche mandatory.

Rock formations along the trail by the campground.

The trail begins to climb up the Vallecito Creek valley with the creek on your right. At points, you will be high above the creek, and others right along it. There are three bridge crossings over Vallecito Creek as the trail heads north. The first is about 3.2 miles from the trailhead and makes a good day hike. The second bridge at 5.6 miles, making for a rigorous day hike for those so inclined but there are campsites between the first and second bridges that make for good overnight hikes. The third bridge is at 7.1 miles and is a hanging bridge over Vallecito Creek . . . or I should say was a hanging bridge as it was washed out in 2004/2005 by an avalanche. The Forest does not plan on replacing the bridge. As a result, you'll have to ford the creek to regain access to the trail, which is quite difficult during spring run-off but easier into the summer months but still not for the faint of heart.

Trail climbing up the Vallecito Creek valley.

The trail continues all the way to the top of Hunchback Pass, a total of 19.5 miles, and intersects with a number of other trails that continue deeper into the Weminuche, including the Johnson Creek and Rock Creek trails. The trailhead elevation starts at 7900' and climbs to 12,500' at Hunchback Pass. I was with my family and so only hiked the first 2 miles or so, but as you can see (or read), you can make the Vallecito Creek Trail a day hike or a multi-day trip.