Rio Grande National Forest

USDA Forest Service
Rio Grande
National Forest
1803 W. Highway 160
Monte Vista, CO 81144
719-852-5941

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
719-852-6271

The trail basically parallels Goose Creek, which is well-known locally as one of the best small stream fisheries in the Upper Rio Grande Drainage.

Access:

Travel southwest from Creede on Colorado Highway 149 for 7 miles to the intersection of Highway 149 and Forest Road #523 (Middle Creek Road). Follow the road signs giving directions and distances to the North Lime Creek Traihead. The trailhead is approximately 12.5 miles from the Highway 149 turn off From the trailhead proceed easterly on the Roaring Fork Trail #807 for approximately 2-1/2 mile. Goose Creek Trail #827 junction with Roaring Fork Trail #807 is signed.

Attractions & Considerations:

The trail basically parallels Goose Creek, which is well-known locally as one of the best small stream fisheries in the Upper Rio Grande Drainage. User of the Goose Creek Drainage should be aware that public access to the Lake Humphrey and Lower Goose Creek Area is prohibited by private landowners.

Good camping areas abound along the Goose Creek Trail. Opportunities to see elk are excellent in the upper reaches of the drainage.

Cattle graze in various areas along the trail for most of the summer.

The trail is entirely within the Weminuche Wilderness. It is easy to follow, but has four creek crossing that can be difficulty in the early summer.

Narrative:

The Goose Creek Trail #827 immediately makes a shallow crossing of Roaring Fork Creek and then drops sharply through thick aspen stands to the Goose Creek bottom. The trail will shortly cross the mouth of Fisher Creek and then proceed up the scattered finger-like parks and patches of timber common to the Goose Creek bottom. The trail grade is fairly steep 1-mile long climb out of the upper treeless slopes of Goose Creek to the divide between Goose Creek and Little Goose Creek Lake. After a short steep descent toward Little Goose Lake, the trail ends at the junction with the Fisher Creek Trail #826. For its entire length, the trail is easy to follow, with a well-defined tread.