| About Routt National Forest |
|
|
| Papoose Trail |
Content provided by |
|
|
|
Length:
4.5 Miles
Usage:
Moderate
Trail Number:
2,248
Elevation Gain:
1,840 Feet
Beginning Elevation:
7,960 Feet
Difficulty:
Moderate
Ending Elevation:
9,800 Feet
Reservation:
No
Season:
May - November
From Meeker, Papoose Trial is located 31 miles east of Meeker. Take State Highway 13 east out of Meeker for one mile; turn right on County Road 8 for 28 miles; turn right, cross the bridge and turn right on the Marvine Creek Road (County Road 12) for 1 mile to the Ute Creek Road (County Road 119). Follow this road 1 mile taking the right fork to the Papoose Trailhead parking area. From the parking area, you travel 1/4 mile on the Ute Lodge road to where the trail starts to the left of the entrance to Ute Lodge.
Location Information
This trail, which begins at the end of Forest Road 238, follows Papoose Creek for 2 miles through lodgepole and aspen forest. Shortly before you break out into Papoose Basin, you climb a rocky point where Papoose Creek cascades down several short waterfalls 100 feet below the trail. Entering Papoose Basin, aspen becomes the dominant tree species with large grassy meadows between stands. The trail turns gradually to the west, climbing a series of switchbacks out of Papoose Basin onto Nimerick Point, the western most promissory of the Flat Tops plateau. From the switchback onto the top, a view of the upper White River valley is gradually revealed as you gain altitude. Once onto the plateau, the trail follows a long, narrow park for 3/4 mile to its junction with the Oyster Lake Trial, 4.5 miles from the trailhead.
|
|
More Resources at Wildernet |
|
|
