| About Gunnison National Forest |
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| Soap Creek Trail |
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Ending Elevation:
9,600 Feet
USGS Maps:
Anthracite Range, Big Soap Park
Usage:
Moderate
Trail Number:
443
Recommended Season:
Summer
Beginning Elevation:
8,480 Feet
High Point:
9,800 Feet
Elevation Gain:
1,320 Feet
Difficulty:
Easy to Moderate
Length:
9 Miles
Reservation:
No
From Gunnison, Travel west from Gunnison on Highway 50. Continue past Blue Mesa Reservoir toward Sapinero. Approximately 2.25 miles west of Sapinero turn north on to Highway 92. Travel about 1.5 miles on 92 and make a right turn on to Forest Road 721. Follow this along the western lake shore and passed Ponderosa and Soap Creek Campgrounds. Travel 11.5 miles north on Soap Creek Road to the trailhead.
Location Information
Soap Creek Trail, 443, leads north from Soap Creek Road, 721, into the West Elk Wilderness. It begins at the Soap Creek Trailhead, which lies at approximately 8,480 feet. The trail parallels Soap Creek for one and a half miles before it forks. East Soap Creek Trail, 535, lies to the right at this fork, following East Soap Creek. Soap Creek Trail and Soap Basin Trail, 442, follow the left fork climbing steeply for one mile before they split.At this second fork in the trail, 443 is the left side of the fork. It leads north along a ridge east of Soap Creek. After approximately one mile the trail begins to descend into the valley floor. It crosses the creek and leads along its western shore for almost two miles until the trail splits. The left side of the fork leads north as Kaufman Creek Trail, 852. The right side of the fork is Soap Creek Trail. It continues to follow Soap Creek two more miles, with little elevation gain or loss, to the trail ending at Soap Basin Trail.
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