Colorado · Hiking

Fish Creek

Fish CreekPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6.7 mi
loop
2,603 ft
climb
10,120 ft
high point
Loop
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Fish Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. It doesn't name Fish Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Fish Creek is a hard loop of about 6.7 miles on the Forest Service trail network in the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District of Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in Colorado. The route climbs from a low point of 7,412 feet to a high of 10,120 feet, with a total gain of 2,603 feet, and the trail surface is natural. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station at about 9,000 feet records typical July highs around 73°F and lows near 40°F, while winter brings highs around 30°F. That station sits roughly 1,100 feet below the route's high point, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Fish Creek Falls Trailhead is the parking for the trip, which takes about 3.5 hours. The trail is open year-round. The Fish Creek Barrier FR and the Recreation Trail, both about a tenth of a mile away, are mountain biking routes. Blob Rock, a climbing area, is 0.3 miles off, and Dry Lake Campground is 3.7 miles away for an overnight stay.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Fish Creek

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 3°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      30° / 5°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 12°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      45° / 20°

      10 wet

    5. May

      55° / 27°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 33°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      73° / 40°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 38°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      64° / 31°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 22°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 12°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      30° / 4°

      12 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gould 4se Sfsp, CO, 40.6 mi away at 9,000 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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