Nate Creek Trail Singletrack Open to Dirt Bikes

I stopped this evening at Owl Creek Pass to chat with a motorcyclist (dirt bike) from Telluride. He was looking for Nate Creek Trail and was worried that the trail had been closed. I was on the trail two years ago and followed it for about three miles—parts are easy but there are several intermediate-to-hard parts. I’m told it connects with a technically-challenging (expert-level) single-track that goes up over Lou Creek Pass and connects with a double-track trail that comes out at Silverjack Reservoir’s middle fork.

Well, the trail is still there. I snapped the picture at the left this evening. The trail is open year-round to hikers, horses, and bicycles. The trail is open from July 4th to Labor Day to motorcycles.

So, just where is this place? Here are the answers:

• N38° 10.5593′ by W108° 35.5376′
• Traveling east, from the Forest Service boundary up to the trailhead is 2.8 miles
• Traveling west, from Owl Creek Pass (the actual pass, as marked by the sign) down to the trailhead is 4.9 miles
• If you’re getting there from Ridgway, the distance from the intersection of Ouray CR 8 and Ouray CR 10 to the trailhead is 6.7 miles

I don’t recommend this trail if you’re alone. Most certainly, do not attempt Lou Creek Pass alone!