Off-Road Trails: Blue Creek and Devil Mountain
by Norm Vance
There are many short off-road trails in the Pagosa
Country area but many are too short to cover here. Most of the
old trails have either been closed to motorized use or improved
to Forest Access Road status. There are hundreds of miles of these
improved roads the off-road driver will enjoy. See the U.S. Forest
Service map for these. Below are two of the longer off-road trails.
Also see the article on the East Fork Road and Elwood Pass on
this website.
BLUE CREEK JEEP TRAIL
The Blue Creek Trail connects the Blanco Road and the Buckles
Lake Road in southeast Pagosa Country. On the map find the Blanco
Road about eight miles south on Hwy 84. The trail turns south
just 2.25 miles from the highway. There is a sign to point the
way.
Part of this trail was the original road from Chama, New Mexico
to Pagosa Springs. Few signs of this early use remain except a
couple of cabins and small barns in poor shape. It does give one
pause to consider that what we think of as a jeep trail was once
a main road.
This trail is a "roller coaster" as it rolls around
or up and over many ridges and low mountains. There is one river
crossing (Blanco River) that can be a problem in early spring
or during hard rain run-off. There is also a spring fed bog near
the south end that you should pay attention to.
In very wet conditions this is a poor trail because of muddy and
steep sections. A life was lost on this trail recently during
wet conditions near the north end.
DEVIL MOUNTAIN JEEP TRAIL and WILDLIFE AREA
These two roads provide a full day of off-road adventure. Look
for these roads west of Pagosa turning north from Hwy 160 in the
area just west of Chimney Rock. Between these two roads is the
First Fork Road that is not a Jeep trail, but is well worth the
drive for the excellent views along the Piedra River. The Devil
Mtn. Trail is no longer open to the fire lookout tower, but you
can hike the short distance. Road 620 connects the highway with
Beaver Meadows Access Road, has a nice loop and is a fun Jeep
trail with excellent views.
The Piedra River drainage system attracts a lot of wildlife so
be alert and you may see deer, elk and other animals.
Click here for off-road trail
map
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