Forest Service unit 0209 · Colorado

Trails in Rio Grande National Forest

Rio Grande National Forest publishes 213 named trails totalling 1,218 miles in the Forest Service trail layer. Pages here cover 100 of them, every trail with a national designation or an accessible segment and every trail of at least 4.5 miles. The forest marks one with a national designation. Trails here enter 4 wilderness areas.

Rio Grande National Forest official page ↗ · Rio Grande National Forest on Wilderness Atlas ↗

By use

Hiking 213Horse and pack stock 213Mountain biking 146Motorcycle 56ATV 30Accessible 2

Wilderness areas these trails enter

All 213 trails, longest first

TrailMiles
Continental Divide NSTNational Scenic or Historic TrailSouth San Juan Wilderness139.7
La Garita SDLa Garita Wilderness57.1
ArchuletaWeminuche Wilderness19.7
Elk CreekSouth San Juan Wilderness19.7
Dry Creek16
Deep Creek15.8
Lake ForkWeminuche Wilderness15.8
Ute CreekWeminuche Wilderness13.9
Fern CreekWeminuche Wilderness13.7
CottonSangre de Cristo Wilderness13.1
Goose CreekWeminuche Wilderness12.9
Inspiration/WasonLa Garita Wilderness12.5
Silver Mtn12.2
Ivy CreekWeminuche Wilderness12.1
Valle VictoriaSouth San Juan Wilderness11.6
Shady11.4
La Garita Creek11.2
Bennett11
South ForkSouth San Juan Wilderness10.9
Trout10.5
WheelerLa Garita Wilderness10.1
Roaring GulchSouth San Juan Wilderness9.9
Willow Mountain9.8
Grizzly CreekWeminuche Wilderness9.7
Miner'S Creek9.6
HighlineWeminuche Wilderness9.5
Bear Creek9.2
Machin BasinLa Garita Wilderness9.2
Black CanyonSangre de Cristo Wilderness8.8
Saguache Creek8.7
Wolf Creek8.7
Middle ForkLa Garita Wilderness8.4
RaspberrySangre de Cristo Wilderness8.4
Canon RinconSouth San Juan Wilderness8.3
Middle CreekWeminuche Wilderness8.3
North Fork CrestoneSangre de Cristo Wilderness8.2
Perry Creek8.2
Rito AltoSangre de Cristo Wilderness8.1
Burro8
Decker7.9
West Frisco7.6
Fisher MountainWeminuche Wilderness7.4
Hot Creek7.3
Farmers CreekLa Garita Wilderness7.2
MajorSangre de Cristo Wilderness7
McKenzie7
West Lost7
Halfmoon PassLa Garita Wilderness6.9
Adams ForkSouth San Juan Wilderness6.6
North Rock6.6
Alder Bench6.5
East TroutWeminuche Wilderness6.5
Lost Trail6.5
East Fk. Middle Pole6.4
South Fork SaguacheLa Garita Wilderness6.4
Willow Creek6.4
Empedrado Lake6.3
Groundhog6.3
Middle Frisco6.3
Hope CreekWeminuche Wilderness6.1
Tewskberry6.1
West Alder6
Embargo5.9
Blanca PeakSangre de Cristo Wilderness5.8
Tie Hill5.8
Trout CreekWeminuche Wilderness5.8
GarnerSangre de Cristo Wilderness5.7
North Carnero5.7
North CrestoneSangre de Cristo Wilderness5.7
Texas CreekWeminuche Wilderness5.7
Tobacco LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness5.7
Wild CherrySangre de Cristo Wilderness5.7
Simmons PeakSangre de Cristo Wilderness5.6
Canon VerdeSouth San Juan Wilderness5.5
Alamosa Rock5.4
Whale CreekLa Garita Wilderness5.4
BeartownWeminuche Wilderness5.3
East Middle5.3
La Garita Creek Cut-Off5.3
West BellowsLa Garita Wilderness5.3
Benino5.2
San IsabelSangre de Cristo Wilderness5.2
Little Bennett5.1
RuybalidSouth San Juan Wilderness5.1
WeminucheWeminuche Wilderness5.1
Middle Alder5
West UteWeminuche Wilderness5
Chama River4.9
Saddle Creek4.9
S. ZapataSangre de Cristo Wilderness4.8
Willow LakeSangre de Cristo Wilderness4.8
Cross Creek4.7
Kitty CreekWeminuche Wilderness4.7
Shrader4.7
Wannamaker4.7
Deadman Loop4.6
Horsethief BasinSangre de Cristo Wilderness4.6
South CrestoneSangre de Cristo Wilderness4.5
ComancheSangre de Cristo Wilderness4.4
Indian Creek4.4
Sheep Creek4.4
Fourmile4.3
Middle Fork ConejosSouth San Juan Wilderness4.3
West Pole Trail4.3
West TroutWeminuche Wilderness4.3
El Rito AzulSouth San Juan Wilderness4.2
Kelly Creek4.2
Pierce4.2
West Bear4.2
Los PinosSouth San Juan Wilderness4
Cottonwood CreekSangre de Cristo Wilderness3.9
East Sheep Creek3.8
Grizzly LakeWeminuche Wilderness3.8
Red LakesWeminuche Wilderness3.8
Twin PeaksLa Garita Wilderness3.8
Cathedral3.7
Duck LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness3.7
Upper Deep Creek3.7
Glacier LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness3.6
North ForkSouth San Juan Wilderness3.6
Elk Horn3.5
Flagstaff3.5
Luder'S Creek3.5
NotchSouth San Juan Wilderness3.5
South Fork ArchuletaWeminuche Wilderness3.5
California Gulch3.4
Dry Gulch Trail3.4
East UteWeminuche Wilderness3.4
Victoria LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness3.4
Bear LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness3.3
Hughes Trail3.3
Roaring ForkWeminuche Wilderness3.3
Treasure CreekSouth San Juan Wilderness3.2
Brewery Creek3.1
CoyoteLa Garita Wilderness3.1
Frisco-Fitton3.1
Pole Creek3.1
Red LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness3.1
Bower'S Peak3
Ute LakeWeminuche Wilderness3
Fremont2.9
Red Lake CutoffSouth San Juan Wilderness2.9
SawtoothWeminuche Wilderness2.8
No Name LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness2.7
Unknown CreekLa Garita Wilderness2.7
Cottonwood2.6
Red Lake Cut-Off2.6
Antora Meadows2.5
Church Creek2.4
Round HillSangre de Cristo Wilderness2.4
Middle Pole2.3
Munger Canyon2.3
Shallow Creek2.3
Wagon Cutoff2.3
Bear Lake CutoffSouth San Juan Wilderness2.2
Benito CreekLa Garita Wilderness2.2
Shallow Creek Cut-Off2.2
Trough Gulch2.2
Old Highway Bridge2.1
Steel CanyonSangre de Cristo Wilderness2.1
Lower Sheep Creek2
Palisade2
Sawmill Gulch2
Timber LakeSouth San Juan Wilderness2
Valdez2
Conejos RiverSouth San Juan Wilderness1.9
Phantom TerraceSangre de Cristo Wilderness1.9
South Rock1.9
Heart Lake1.8
ElaineSangre de Cristo Wilderness1.7
Indian Creek Cut-Off1.7
Roaring Gulch East1.7
Big Lake (Shawcroft)1.6
FlatSouth San Juan Wilderness1.6
Hidden Lake1.6
Antora Creek1.5
Big Meadows Loop1.5
Castle Rock1.5
Halfmoon CreekLa Garita Wilderness1.5
Tank Seven1.5
Acascosa1.4
San Luis Pass1.4
West Fork Rio Chama1.4
McKenzie Cut-Off1.3
North Fork Cut-OffSouth San Juan Wilderness1.3
Venable LakeSangre de Cristo Wilderness1.3
Broken Hand PassSangre de Cristo Wilderness1.2
Hot SpringsSangre de Cristo Wilderness1.2
La Garita SD Cut-Off1.2
Middle Fork CutoffLa Garita Wilderness1.2
Wason Park Cut-OffLa Garita Wilderness1.2
Wheeler LoopLa Garita Wilderness1.2
AlverjonesSouth San Juan Wilderness1.1
Hunters LakeWeminuche Wilderness1.1
Shaw Lake Loop1.1
Beaver Mountain1
N. Fork ZapataSangre de Cristo Wilderness1
Crater Lake0.8
San Isabel LakeSangre de Cristo Wilderness0.8
Alverjones CutoffSouth San Juan Wilderness0.7
Middle Frisco Cut-OffAccessible0.7
30 Mile Horse Trail0.5
Bonito Pass0.5
Spruce LakeWeminuche Wilderness0.5
Big Tree0.4
LoboWeminuche Wilderness0.4
South Rock Cut-Off0.4
Big Meadows H.C. Access0.3
Frisco Fitton Cut-Off0.3
Bristol Head OverlookAccessible0.2
So CL Cr Falls Nature0.2
So. Clear Creek0.2
Creede Cliffs0.1

Trails in plain text are shorter than 4.5 miles and are listed here only. Length, class and uses come from the same Forest Service record. Data refreshed November 1, 2026.

Guidebooks for Colorado

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  • Hiking Colorado's Western Slope
    Bill Haggerty, 2025
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Dog Hikes Colorado
    Emma Walker, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Easy Day Hikes Colorado Springs
    Stewart M. Green, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best wildflower hikes Colorado
    Chris Kassar, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best hikes Colorado's Indian Peaks Wilderness
    Kent Dannen, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.