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 passes through several life zones, from aspen and Douglas-fir stands, up into spruce and fir stands and finally into alpine meadows.

Access:

From Del Notre, travel west 9 miles (14.5 km) to the Embargo (Granger) Bridge, turn east after crossing the bridge, then north on the Embargo Road and follow the signs to Cathedral Campground.

Attractions & Considerations:

In 1848, General John c. Fremont made a disastrous attempt to cross the San Juan Mountain in the dead of winter in an attempt to locate a route for the railroad. Their route would be nearly empossible in a normal winter, and the winter of 1848 was particularly harsh, with 6 and 7 foot drifts in the mountains. Eleven of the 27 men and all of the 120 mules died on the trip. For several weeks all the men had to eat was mule.

The first two miles of the hike are on a 4-wheel drive road #640.

The trail passes through several life zones, from aspen and Douglas-fir stands, up into spruce and fir stands and finally into alpine meadows. From the lower parts of the trail the high cliffs for which Cathedral Campground is named can be seen. Plans are made to by-pass private property in 1990. Please check with the Del Norte District for completion dates and other information.