Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands

USDA Forest Service
Pike & San Isabel
National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche
National Grasslands
2840 Kachina Drive
Pueblo, CO 81008
719-553-1400

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
719-553-1404

Access

From Highway 285, midway between Poncha Springs and Buena Vista, take County Road 270 west for 1.5 miles to a 4-way intersection. From the stop sign, continue traveling west. The road continues as County Road 272. Stay on CR 272 for approximately 2 miles. A sign at the cattle guard will indicate your entrance to National Forest lands. At the 2-mile point, watch for an intersection. At this intersection, CR 272 turns left and travels south for 1.5 miles to the Browns Creek Trailhead.

Parking is permitted across from the trailhead and toilet facilities. Camping is not permitted at the trailhead or along Little Browns Creek due to erosion of stream banks and damage to the stream. Campers are encouraged to find alternative camp sites further south on County Road 272.

Features

The Browns Creek trail offers beautiful scenery with changing vistas and vegetation. The trail follows the stream and small waterfalls can be found along the way. The lower portion of the trail begins in primarily a Ponderosa pine environment and gradually changing to lodgepole and spruce forest. The higher elevations offer pristine meadows with colorful alpine wildflowers during mid-summer months. Mt. Antero (14,269 ft.) dominates views on the hike up to Browns Lake and the Arkansas Hills to the east are spectacular, especially during the fall months. This trail is most popular with hikers and horseback riders. MOTORCYCLES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THIS TRAIL. Please be courteous and watch for other trail users. The hike is considered moderate with some steep, challenging sections.

Considerations

This is a popular trail for horseback riding groups. The best camping area for horseback groups is approximately 1.5 miles south of the the trailhead. A large open area, located on the west side of the road is ideal for horse groups.

NOTE

Groups of 75 or more persons, must contact the Salida Ranger District and apply for a "Group Use" permit.