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 Bailey. drive east on U.S. Hwy 285 to Pine Junction. Turn right (south) at Pine Junction onto Jefferson County Road # 1 26 towards Pine and Buffalo Creek. Drive on County Road #126 a distance of 21.8 miles. Turn right (south) onto Forest Service Road #211 that leads to Cheesman Lake. After 2 miles turn right again (west at the sign pointing to Goose Creek. Drive 1.1 miles in westerly direction until you reach a fork in the road. Bear left at the fork and stay on F.-S. Road #21 1. From this fork drive 5.2 miles to a road intersection just south of Molly Gulch Campground. Turn right and drive 4.7 miles to the Goose Creek Trailhead access road. About half way along this segment you will pass Goose Creek Campground. At the trailhead access sign turn right (north) and drive 1.3 miles to the trailhead parking.

Attractions and Considerations

This very popular trail provides access into the southeast portion of the Lost Creek Wilderness Area. The trail is 9.6 miles long and ends in Wigwam Park at a junction with the Wigwam Trail #609. The Goose Creek Trail offers numerous campsite areas, fishing in Goose Creek, and vistas of spectacular rock formations. At mile 3.9 there is a side trail leading to several historic buildings and the remains of a shaft house. These historic sites date back to the early 1900's when an attempt was made to build a water reservoir by creating an underground dam on the Lost Creek.

The McCurdy Park Trail #628 intersects the Goose Creek trail at mile 6.5. A popular backpack "loop" is to hike the Goose Creek Trail up to the McCurdy Park Trail. turn left and follow the McCurdy Park trail to its intersection with the Brookside Trail #607. Then head south about 1 mile to the Lake Park Trail #,639. Follow the Lake Park Trail to Hankins Pass,
then hike east on the Hankins Pass Trail #630 back Goose Creek Trail (612) to the Goose Park Trailhead. The total distance of this loop" is about 24 miles. This entire loop is shown on the 'Photo revised 1984, copy of the
McCurdy Mountain Quad Map.


The trail is easy to follow and heads in a general northerly direction. There are horse corrals near the trailhead that are available for public use.

NARRATIVE

This narrative describes the first 6.5 miles up to the McCurdy Park Trail junction. From the trailhead sign near the parking area follow a spur trail 0.2 miles down to a wooden foot bridge across a sm4ill stream. Just across the bridge is a trail junction. Hankins Pass Trail #630 heads left (west) and Goose Creek Trail #612 heads right (east). At mile 0.6 you will reach a large metal foot- bridge that crosses Goose Creek. Ten minutes past this bridge you will come to open, grassy areas suitable for camping.

There are also numerous campsites on the opposite side of Goose Creek. To reach these campsites return to the metal bridge and follow the path along the opposite side of Goose Creek. Approximately 20 minutes past the metal bridge you will reach an unmarked fork in the is a small path leading down to the trail follows the right fork up the hill. the trail begins to gain elevation. 8 minutes past the fork look to the northwest and locate a 'thumb-like, rock spire up high -on the rock formation. Just to the right of "the thumb' you will see an arch in the rocks.

At mile 3.9 a sign marks the turn off to the historic buildings and shaft house remains. At this point the trail begins to gain elevation rapidly before dropping down into Watkins Gulch. The trail then begins to head up again in a general northwest direction. reaching the McCurdy Park Trail junction at Mile 6.5. The Goose Creek Trail continues straight ahead (north) up to a saddle east of Peak 10459 before dropping down into Wigwam Park. -The distance from the junction to Wigwam Park is 3.1 miles and the elevation gain to the saddle is slightly over 700 feet above the junction. The McCurdy Park Trail #628 heads left (west) from the junction.
 

Connecting Trails  

1) Hankins Pass Trail
2) McCurdy Park Trail
3) Wigwam Trail