| Sand Creek Trail begins adjacent to Sheriff Reservoir on the east end of the dam. Access may be gained by using the spillway bridge. Heading southeast, the trail crosses Sand Creek, ascends some 200 feet in elevation, and arrives at a series of lakes at mile 0.8. Here guests will cross the creek a second time. Take care in crossing as the water can run high.The trail then continues through a forest of spruce/fir and at mile 3.0 crosses a gully and emerges into an alpine meadow. This is a boggy area, characterized by bunch grass and waist high willows. At mile 4.4, guests can access trail 1165 which will take you into the Flat Tops Wilderness and the Trout Creek drainage.The main trail, which is basically an old jeep road at this point, turns due east until mile 5.2, when it descends southward into the coal creek drainage. Guests will cross Coal Creek near the end of the trail.This 9.7 mile trail is located within the Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest. The beginning elevation is 9,250 feet and the ending elevation is 10,480 feet. |
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