Upper Spanish Creek  |
| Maps: |
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| USGS 7.5' Map: |
West Baldy, Sargents Mesa, Trickle Mountain, North Pass |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Easy 2 |
FR784 |
5.0 |
9,160 to 10,336 ft. |
NA |
2-3 hours |
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| County: |
Saguache |
| Adopted by: |
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| Managed by: |
Rio Grande NF, Saguache Ranger District |
46525 State Highway 114, Saguache, CO 81149 |
(719)655-2547 |
| Summary: |
Upper Spanish Creek road follows Spanish Creek to its head waters, and Peon Pass.
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| Attractions: |
Fall Colors |
Seasonal
Closure: |
Agency - Closed March 15 to May 15.
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| Best Time: |
June - May still have snow in the forested areas
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best, fall colors
October - Early snows will close the upper part of the road |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
Continental Divide Trail |
| Camping: |
There are dispersed campsites along the east end of the road and at the top at Peon Pass. |
| Base Camp: |
This would be a good area to base camp and explore the roads around North Pass. |
| Fall Colors: |
Average - There are small groves of aspen along the creek. |
| Navigation: |
From Gunnison, CO. head east on US-50 E/E Tomichi Ave toward N Iowa Street. Continue to follow US-50 E for 8.1 miles. Turn right onto CO-114 E and go 36.5 miles. Turn left toward County Road 31CC and go 0.1 miles. Continue onto County Road 31CC for 3.1 miles. Take the left at the fork to start the Upper Spanish Creek road.
From Saguache, CO head west on CO-114 W/Gunnison Ave toward 9th Street. Continue to follow CO-114 W for 25.0 miles. Turn right toward County Road 31CC and go 0.1 miles. Continue onto County Road 31CC for 3.1 miles. Take the left at the fork to start the Upper Spanish Creek road.
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| History: |
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| Description: |
Leaving Sheep Creek, FR810, the Upper Spanish Creek road follows along Spanish Creek. The road will stay wide and graded. The first intersection you come to, just after starting Upper Sheep Creek, is with FR784.1A to the left. This is a loop spur that will tie back in to FR784. Stay to the right and after about a half mile you will pass the point where FR784.1A comes back into FR784 on the left. Continue on and you will cross Spanish Creek. After crossing the creek the road will go around a curve. Going to the left, straight ahead is the continuation of FR784. The road to the right that continues around the curve is FR793, which will end after about 2.5 miles.
After the intersection the road will become a bit narrower, but will still be maintained. As you continue to follow the creek. You will be in a more forested section for a while as you follow the creek. After a while the forest will open into a long narrow meadow as the road heads along the side of the opening.
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Narrow meadow just below Peon Pass
photo by:
Adam M |
Toward the top of the meadow you will come to a T intersection. The left goes down to a gate. Take the right and continue up to another open area. At the top of this smaller meadow is Peon Pass. You will pass the trailhead for the Continental Divide Trail on your right just before comeing to a threeway intersection. This is the top of Peon Pass and the end of Upper Spanish Creek road.
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Data updated - November 18, 2019
4WD Road driven - September 1, 2019
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