Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Durango

East Creek

East CreekPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.3 mi
distance
132 ft
climb
7,888 ft
high point
May–Oct
best months

Is East Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in San Juan National Forest. It doesn't name East Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · San Juan National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

East Creek is a cross-country skiing route in the Columbine Ranger District of Colorado's San Juan National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is short, about 1.3 miles, and the climb is gentle, with a total gain of 132 feet from a starting point of about 7,750 feet to a high of about 7,888 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about half a mile in, with a grade of about 7 percent. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Vallecito Reservoir weather station show January highs around 37°F and lows near 9°F, while July highs reach about 80°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run slightly cooler. North Canyon and North Canyon Campground are both about 0.1 mile away, and Graham Creek Campground is about 0.3 mile off. Vallecito Reservoir, a fishing spot, is about 0.7 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    North Canyon Campground

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Pop Sushi

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 18 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (commons)

More in Durango

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit East Creek

    Best months: May–October. 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

      37° / 9°

    2. Feb

      42° / 12°

    3. Mar

      48° / 21°

    4. Apr

      55° / 29°

    5. May

      64° / 37°

    6. Jun

      76° / 44°

    7. Jul

      80° / 53°

    8. Aug

      78° / 51°

    9. Sep

      72° / 45°

    10. Oct

      60° / 38°

    11. Nov

      47° / 25°

    12. Dec

      38° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Vallecito Reservoir, CO, 2.6 mi away at 7,673 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

North BeachPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Campgrounds TrailPhoto: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors