Colorado · Hiking
Hiking in Towaoc, Colorado
Towaoc sits at the heart of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park in southwestern Colorado, and the hiking here is unlike anything else in the Four Corners region.
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Towaoc sits at the heart of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park in southwestern Colorado, and the hiking here is unlike anything else in the Four Corners region. Most of the routes around town follow working roads and trails on tribal land — Pack Trail, Moccasin Mesa Road, Ute Trail Road, and a network of numbered Indian Routes including IR 48, IR 209, IR 257, IR 258, and IR 303 — which means access is managed by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, not the federal government. That distinction matters before you plan anything. The terrain is high desert: red rock mesas, open scrubland, and wide canyon views with serious sun exposure. Elevation changes vary by route, but the mesa trails in particular can feel deceptively flat until the heat and altitude catch up with you. There are 16 active hiking listings in and around Towaoc, ranging from road-width tracks like Arrowhead Road and Taylor Spring Road to narrower routes like Jeep Trail and Johnson Road. This is not a trailhead-with-a-kiosk kind of place. Come prepared to navigate, carry your own water, and respect that you are a guest on sovereign tribal land.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit or guide to hike around Towaoc?
Yes. Most of the hiking routes here — including the Indian Routes and trails within the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park — are on tribal land that requires permission from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe before you enter. Contact the tribe directly through their tribal park office in Towaoc to ask about guided tour requirements and any self-guided access options. Do not assume a route is open just because it appears on a map.
What is the best time of year to hike near Towaoc?
Spring (April through early June) and fall (September through October) are the most comfortable seasons. Summer temperatures in this high desert environment regularly push above 95°F, and routes like Moccasin Mesa Road and Ute Trail Road offer almost no shade. Winter is generally mild enough for hiking but snow and mud can make unpaved roads like Taylor Spring Road and Johnson Road impassable without a high-clearance vehicle.
What gear should I bring for these routes?
Carry more water than you think you need — at least a liter per hour in warm weather — because there are no reliable water sources along most of these routes. Sturdy trail shoes or light hiking boots handle the rocky desert surface well. Sun protection is essential: hat, sunscreen, and light long sleeves. A paper map or downloaded offline map is worth having since cell coverage is inconsistent across the Indian Routes.
How difficult are the hikes around Towaoc?
Most routes follow roads or established tracks — Arrowhead Road, Indian Route 48, Indian Route 209 — so the technical difficulty is low to moderate. The challenge comes from distance, heat, and elevation rather than scrambling or route-finding. Pack Trail and Jeep Trail are narrower and less maintained, which makes them better suited to hikers comfortable navigating without clear trail markers.
What is the best time of day to start a hike here?
Start early, ideally before 8 a.m. in summer and before 9 a.m. in spring and fall. The open mesa terrain around Moccasin Mesa Road and Ute Trail Road offers no midday shade, and temperatures climb fast. Finishing by early afternoon keeps you off exposed ground during the hottest hours and gives you a buffer if a route takes longer than expected.
