South Fork
- 23.9 mi
- loop
- 2,938 ft
- climb
- 12,357 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
Is South Fork open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Sulphur Ranger District · USFS · Sulphur Ranger District
Permanent Recreational Shooting Order
Agency alert covering Sulphur Ranger District · Order 02-10-00-25-02 · USFS · Sulphur Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
South Fork is a hard hike in the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, about 24 miles long with a total elevation gain of 2,938 feet. It rises from a low point of about 8,960 feet to a high of about 12,357 feet, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses and bikes. It is not accessible. The trailhead parking is named South Fork, and the route is open from about June 1 to November 15. Several places sit right along the trail. Sugarloaf Campground is about 0.1 mile away, and the Williams Fork Boardwalk and Darling Creek are each about 0.4 mile off. Williams Fork, a canoeing spot, is about 6.4 miles away.
Go with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 40 mi away
- Camp Always Choose Adventures24 mi away
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: jtsmmm, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Williams Fork Boardwalk
Next door
1.21-mile out-and-back boardwalk trail in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Photo: jtsmmm, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Darling Creek
Next door
10.47-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,181 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Acorn Creek Trail
~6 min drive
1.7-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,841 ft gain and 11,342 ft max elevation
Photo: jtsmmm, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)KINNEY CREEK
~6 min drive
2.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 358 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Ute Peak
~12 min drive
25 mi · Hard
HIKE
Ute Pass
~8 min drive
4.9 mi · Moderate
Photo: devriesm, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Upper Pioneer Creek
~11 min drive
1.29-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 355 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Ute Peak
~3 min drive
27.20-mile out-and-back to Ute Peak's 12,494 ft summit in Colorado.
HIKE
St Louis Lake
~9 min drive
5.89-mile out-and-back trail to St Louis Lake in Colorado, 1,308 ft gain.
Photo: devriesm, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Bushee Creek
~12 min drive
1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 712 ft gain.
