Marshall Park
Campground
Campground · 2.8 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near South Fork
Shallow Creek
- 4.7 mi
- round trip
- 896 ft
- climb
- 9,738 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun, Sep
- best months
Is Shallow Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Rio Grande National Forest. It doesn't name Shallow Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.
Closures and dangerous conditions on roads, bridges, and trails from flooding
Agency closure covering Rio Grande National Forest · USFS · Rio Grande National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Rio Grande National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Shallow Creek is a 4.7-mile out-and-back hike on the Divide Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail starts at the Shallow Creek Trailhead, which is open year-round, and the route climbs from about 8,845 feet to about 9,738 feet. The total gain is 896 feet, and the trail is rated moderate. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station records typical July averages of 72°F for the high and 40°F for the low, though July and August also bring about 15 wet days each month. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 35°F and lows near 2°F. The trail is on natural surface, and horses and bikes are both allowed. Within a few miles you'll find the McKenzie hike, the Shallow Creek Cut-Off and the Miner's Creek Trail. Marshall Park campground sits about 2.8 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Kip's Grill
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 miIf it rains Quiller Gallery
Gallery
On your way back · 3 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in South ForkLocal outfitters
- Blue Creek Lodge11 mi away
- Grizzly RT RV Park24 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- MckenzieHiking1.2 mi
- Shallow Creek Cut-OffHiking1.8 mi
- Miner's Creek TrailHiking2 mi
- Marshall ParkCamping2.8 mi
Mountain Views at Rivers Edge RV ParkCampingPhoto: Michael Harbour, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)3.9 mi- Rio Grande CampgroundCamping4.9 mi
- Clear CreekCanoeing7.9 mi
- Rio GrandeRiver fishing9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Dry Gulch TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: aspidoscelis, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
So Cl Cr Falls NatureHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Trout CreekHiking · ~20 min drivePhoto: fringedbenefit, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Miner's Creek TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Farmers CreekHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: aspidoscelis, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
Wason Park Cut-OffHiking · ~19 min drivePhoto: snowpeak, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Shallow Creek Cut-OffHiking · ~3 min drive
- Baldy AltoHiking · ~15 min drive
- MckenzieHiking · ~2 min drive
Wheeler LoopHiking · ~20 min drivePhoto: C. K. Hartman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Shallow Creek
Best months: June and September. 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.
Jan
35° / 2°
7 wet
Feb
36° / 3°
7 wet
Mar
42° / 12°
7 wet
Apr
48° / 19°
7 wet
May
58° / 27°
8 wet
Jun
68° / 34°
7 wet
Jul
72° / 40°
15 wet
Aug
70° / 39°
15 wet
Sep
64° / 33°
11 wet
Oct
55° / 23°
7 wet
Nov
43° / 13°
5 wet
Dec
34° / 2°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Santa Maria Rsvr, CO, 7.1 mi away at 9,687 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
