Spruce Creek

Spruce Creek is an out-and-back hike in the Dillon Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, about 8.6 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 2,478 feet. The trail starts at the Spruce Creek Trailhead and climbs from a low point of 10,344 feet to a high point of 12,454 feet. It is an expert-level route, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals. The trip is open year-round, and the trailhead parking is named Spruce Creek Trailhead. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, which sits about 1,100 feet lower, show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F and no snow days. Winter is cold and snowy, with highs in the upper 20s and about 15 snow days a month from December through February. Mayflower Lakes and the Mohawk Lakes Trail are both within a mile, and Quandary Peak is about 2.2 miles away. Kite Lake Campground is roughly 6.9 miles off.