When you think of Colorado the most often conjured thought are peaks jutting 14,000-feet into the Colorado blue sky.  A line of rugged precipices bring “oh’s” and “ah’s” and then the gasping of breath that only climbing that elevation can bring.  And while, yes, they are beautiful those of us who live here in southwest Colorado know that our South San Juan Wilderness holds another grandeur that well competes with the scraggly crags.

Nestled in a douglas fir stand, interspersed with quaking aspen groves and tossed fashionably with grassy meadows is a hike that stays below 10,000-feet on pathway that assimilates detritus, rocky foot encounters and meadow dips.  If you want away from the crowds, a few glamorous views towards the Blanco Basin Valley and its surrounding uprising with relative quiet despite the chatter of squirrels guarding their nest of nuts and the occasional huff of a mule deer, this is a trail worth trying.

The drive is beautiful along the well know Blanco Basin Road and its gateway to various trailheads.  Auspicious ranches are home to summer cattle grazing and bounding elk.  Each season shares its own nuances that often cause a delay to the trailhead and a later start than anticipated.  A circular pull-off on the side of the road gives ample parking.  Walk up the road several yards further and the trailhead start can be found on the left.  Immediately, cross a small stream saturation and begin a gradual climb that will be your partner for the next four miles.  Willy nilly trail pokes into flush flora, some that flows into the trail, but you don’t mind because of nature’s playground with the pick up sticks that look like a child’s drawing and the precariously perched broken trunk that hangs ever so gently on the small limbs of the gamble oak.  Occasional views are found with plenty of breather stops, because, of course, you don’t feel any hurry.  A few feeder trails can be found in the first mile; ignore them and stay on the main path.  A trail marker buried in the mouth of a monster face of an aspen leads you right and a short time later the wilderness boundary is crossed.  The undulating motion of the trail leaves a sway in your step as you find your rhythm which moves in spirit of the aspen leaves that sway on the high limbs of trunks that follow your movement with their various eyes of limbs that have been long ago released from quaking aspen duty.  The tongued cones of the douglas fir litter the trail.  Did you notice the trees that are so large you can’t begin to wrap your arms around their girth?  As you stare in wonder it is hard to imagine the stories these trees can tell.

Water is prevalent in small crossings but the most reliable source is Leche Creek itself.  Tucked in the ravine of the meadow, you’ve emerged from the hushed trees into the flutter of meadow birds darting and diving for their next meal.  Another switchback.  Another meadow.  Another short jaunt on easy dirt tread and the end of the trail is reached as it T’s into a crossing for Opal Lake or V-Rock.  Both are options for shuttle hikes but alas here you stop for lunch while admiring the sky and its clouds of mysterious shapes before heading back the way you’ve come.

The Details

Trail: Leche Creek Trailhead No. 576

Distance: 4.1-miles each way/8.2-miles round trip

Directions: From the junction of Hwy 84 and 160 turn south on US 84.  Travel for 8-miles and turn left onto Blanco Basin Road.  In 9.5-miles turn right on FR 660.  Continue .4-miles to Forest Road 668 on the right.  Turn here and travel .6-mile to the trailhead for Leche Creek.

About Step Outdoors, LLC

Step Outdoors wants you to go outside and we lead individually inspired one foot in front of the other adventure pursuits to get you there.  In the summer, we will tailor a first time
overnight backpack or a more challenging multi-day hiking adventure just for you.  In the winter, we offer snowshoe hikes appropriate for beginners and for those with a tad more experience.  Perfect for mothers and daughters, couples, families, co-workers or a group of friends, we provide a 100% guarantee of fun.

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