| About Routt National Forest |
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| Nellie's Trail |
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Usage:
Moderate
USGS Maps:
Sweetwater Lake
Trail Number:
1,839
Recommended Season:
May-October
Length, One-way:
1.9 Miles
Elevation Gain, One-way:
1,520 Feet
Difficulty:
Most Difficult
Average Time:
2-3 Hours
Beginning Elevation:
8,320 Feet
Ending Elevation:
9,840 Feet
Reservation:
No
Season:
May - October
From Beaver Creek, Travel 34 miles west on I-70 to the Dotsero exit. Follow signs for Sweetwater turning north onto the Colorado River Road. Go 7 miles, turn left onto the Sweetwater Creek Road. Stay on this road for 11.2 miles. Limited parking is available near the cabins of the Sweetwater Wilderness Ranch. Another small parking lot, accessible by 4-Wheel Drive is another 1/4 mile up at the Hilltop Ranch. There are no facilities at either parking lot. At the trailhead follow signs for Turret Creek and Nellie's for 1/2 mile, then take the Turret Creek Trail for another 1/2 mile until the trail forks again. Take the right fork across the creek.
Location Information
This very steep trail, beginning off of the Turret Creek Trail, #1852, and ending on the Johnny Meyers Trail, #2067, is seldom used by hikers, but is popular for horse travelers. The trail first crosses Sweetwater Creek and passes through aspen forests, then it becomes a steep uphill climb through open meadows. The trail eroded easily and has large protruding rocks. At about the 1 mile mark, the trail goes around a small conical hill, commonly known as Nellie's Nipple. The trail then becomes a more gradual climb to the Johnny Meyers Trail.SPECIAL INTERESTS
SCENIC VIEWS - On the way up the slope, hikers are treated to incredible panoramic views of the Sweetwater Lake, Sweetwater Canyon, Shingle and Turret Peaks and the snowcapped mountain ranges beyond. There are excellent photography opportunities.
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