Cascade Creek Trail

View of Cascade Creek from the trail.

Cascade Creek is one of my favorite hikes so far in the San Juans. It is easy to get to, offers beautiful scenery but with gently rolling terrain that makes it accessible to hikers of all abilities.  While I was hiking the trail, I felt like I was in Oregon hiking the coastal range because of how lush and green the vegetation was along the trail, with a copious amount of wildflowers and towering pine trees.

Flume from the old Yeager Lumber Mill.

Directions: To get to Cascade Creek, head north out of downtown Durango on Main Ave., which then becomes Highway 550. Stay on 550 for approximately 30 miles where you will pass the entrance to Durango Mountain Resort. From here travel, about 2.3 miles. Just after passing Cascade Village, which will be on your left, 550 will make a tight, hairpin turn to the right.

About 3/4 way through this turn, the guardrail will end and there is a dirt road on your left.

Hiking through a meadow.

Turn onto this dirt road, which provides access to Cascade Creek. The road is fairly smooth smooth and easily traveled by any car.  After about a 3/4 of a mile, you will come across a parking lot on your left. It is right before a bridge, which goes over a flume from an abandoned lumber mill. Unless you have a capable 4WD or AWD vehicle, park here as the road gets very rough. If you do, you can drive another mile to the trailhead, where there is additional parking. You are at the trailhead when you reach a metal gate blocking the road.

Hiking through the pines.

The Trail: Pass through the gate and travel up the road a few hundred feet, the trail then peels off to the left through a small meadow crossing a shallow rocky stream.  In about a 1/4 of a mile, the trail splits. If you head to the right - the heavier traveled trail, you will hike along the eastern side of Cascade Creek. I recommend taking the road less traveled, and head left and then take another sharp left after a few yards. This will bring you to the banks of Cascade Creek. Change into your water shoes (or go barefoot) and ford the stream.

Cascade Creek.

When you cross over, head to the right and upstream. The trail stays mostly in eye-shot but always in earshot of Cascade Creek. You will hike through towering pine trees interspersed with high mountain meadows. The trail does have a few climbs but nothing too difficult or strenuous. You will cross a number of streams. After about 3.5 miles from the trailhead, you will cross Graysill Creek. The trail then begins to climb. About half way up this climb, look for a small trail that goes off to the right.

Beautiful waterfall on Cascade Creek.

Following this trail will take you to an overlook for a beautiful waterfall on Cascade Creek. Head back the trail and continue on a bit longer to where the trail splits again. To the left is the Graysill trail, which climbs the ridge to the west and joins the Colorado Trail. The Cascade Creek trail veers to the right and heads down to another crossing of Cascade Creek. This is where I turned around and headed back.

If you cross the creek,
the trail heads north into the headwaters of Cascade Creek passing a number of waterfalls before it ends at the Colorado Trail. My out and back hike took about 3 hours and the total distance was just under 9 miles.

Looking north towards the headwaters of Cascade Creek.

Map of hike.

Elevation profile.