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NORTH FORK TO BLANK’S CABIN

Published with permission from the guide book: Mellow Mountain Trails Hiking Guide to Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River Valley

by Nathan Ward.

Featuring 27 Fun Day Hikes in Buena Vista & Salida – beginner to expert..
Maps and Elevation Profiles for each ride, including altitude gain and loss.
Local Advice on riding areas and seasons, where to sleep, where to soak, where to find the best pizza, the best coffee and the best bars in Buena Vista & Salida, Colorado.

North Fork to Blank’s Cabin

This is a hike from the North Fork creek drainage on the Colorado Trail from the Angel of Shavano campground to Blank’s Cabin at the base of Mount Shavano (14,229 ft.). The trail climbs steadily to the top of a ridge, with spectacular views to the south. From the top of the ridge, descend into a mature aspen forest for several miles to the meadows where Blank’s cabin used to stand. This is a great hike during the fall when the aspen trees are turning gold.

In early spring and early winter, look for the Angel of Shavano, a snowy valley legend just below the summit of Mount Shavano. The Angel is a story of a Native American princess who prayed for rain to end a drought that was driving her people from the land. Her prayers were answered and her tears were the falling snow, which fell to make the land fertile once more.

Options
There are many options in this area. One is to camp at the Angel of Shavano campground and hike this route, then continue on the Colorado Trail. If you’re fit and get up very early, you could climb Mount Shavano. Or, hike the section of Colorado Trail heading south of the campground – it’s also nice. Finally, just hike the 4WD road up the valley to North Fork Reservoir.

Trailhead Access & Facilities
From the junction of US 50 and US 285 in Poncha Springs, turn north and drive west on US 50 up Monarch Pass for 6.7 miles. Turn right (north) on CR 240 and drive 3.8 miles. After the pavement ends, look for the Angel of Shavano Campground. Park here. (N38 35.05, W106 13.16) Cross the road north and look for the trailhead sign. Alternatively, park in the unauthorized parking by the trailhead sign.

There are picnic tables and a pit toilet in the campground. You must pay a fee to camp here.

Location: North Fork Drainage, North of Monarch Pass
Distance: 4 Miles – Out & Back
Hiking Time: 2-3 Hours
Best Months: June to October
Trail Type: Singletrack
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes
Elevation in Feet: Low Point 9,244; High Point 9,893; Climbs/Descends 621
Land Status: San Isabel National Forest
Maps: Trails Illustrated #130
Note: In late fall, the North Fork drainage is a good spot to hear elk bugling.

North Fork to Blank’s Cabin Mileage Log

0.0 Trailhead – Angel of Shavano Trailhead for the Colorado Trail. Sign the trailhead register and start up the trail. Elevation 9,244 ft. (N38 35.11, W106 13.17)
0.1 Cross a shallow stream.
0.3 The trail climbs steadily. It’s a rocky singletrack at first, but then you emerge from the forest into a grassy meadow. Stay on the main trail and don’t be tempted by the shortcuts. The trails switchbacks up a steep sagebrush ridge.
0.5 Look behind you at Mount Shavano.
0.7 Top the ridge and descend into an aspen forest. There is an old fence on the left and a wooden gate. Follow the singletrack.
1.0 This section of aspens looks spectacular in the late fall when the colors change.
1.1 Cross the stream on a dirt bridge.
1.3 A meadow to the right. Views of the Arkansas River Valley to the east.
1.4 Cross the small stream.
1.6 Cross the stream. The trail swings to the right.
1.8 CR 254 intersects the Colorado Trail. Cross the road and continue straight on the singletrack on the other side.
1.9 A sign for the Colorado Trail.
2.0 This is the turnaround spot for the hike. Elevation 9,834 ft. (N38 35.90, W106 11.90)
The Colorado Trail joins the trail to the top of Mt. Shavano at this spot. On your right (east) a buck and rail log fence surrounds a meadow with a stone memorial to L. Dale Hibbs. Hibbs worked for the preservation of the mountain goats. There is also a sign for Blank’s Cabin, but the cabin is long gone.
Retrace your steps back to North Fork. There are a few trails and signs here so make sure you get the right trail back.
4.0 Back at the trailhead.

BE PREPARED

We want you to have a safe and enjoyable trip into Colorado’s backcountry. Be prepared it could be a long walk out. Be sure to read this list of equipment you should bring on your ride along with tips to make your biking trip more enjoyable.

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

The Colorado backcountry is popular – bikers, hikers, motorcycle riders, hunters and equestrians use the trail system in the Arkansas Valley, and everyone wants a private piece of heaven. Even if you don’t agree with everyone’s motives or methods of travel, please treat them in a courteous manner.

CORSAR CARD

If you require search and rescue services, it can be costly. Buy a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card to protect yourself. Funds from the CORSAR program go into the Colorado Search and Rescue (SAR) Fund. If a CORSAR card holder becomes lost or injured in the backcountry, the Colorado SAR Fund pays eligible search and rescue expenses.

Salida Trail & Trail Tales of the Earth

The Salida Trail is a great hike for people of any age along a paved path wandering through historic downtown Salida and out into fields near town.

Castle Gardens

Castle Gardens hosts a maze of trails among fantastic eroded dirt cliffs – the only landform of this type in the area. This hike follows the dry streambed through the eroded spires and it’s fairly easy and short – the perfect place close to town to take a quick…

Behind Tenderfoot (S) Mountain

The low hills just north of downtown Salida offer a wide variety of nice hiking trails – everything from rocky singletrack to the smooth dirt road that spirals to the top of Tenderfoot Mountain. It’s a perfect area to explore on your own. Simply pick a trail and…

Rainbow Trail East

The Rainbow Trail is a long trail that stretches all the way from Silver Creek all the way down the east side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains toward Westcliffe.

Starvation Creek

The hike along Starvation Creek follows a winding mountain stream on singletrack through pine, fir and aspen forests, as well as a few grassy meadows. Local legend has it that Starvation Creek got its name when an early fall blizzard trapped a rancher’s cattle in this…

Pass Creek Lake

The hike to Pass Creek Lake climbs to a high mountain basin and lake at treeline. The beginning of the hike is rocky and steep, but the middle gets easier with a gently rolling trail along Pass Creek through pine and aspen forests.

Fooses Creek – Colorado Trail

This hike starts at Fooses Lake and follows a rough road up the Fooses Creek drainage toward the Continental Divide. It’s an easy walk through pine forests and the road is also a section of the Colorado Trail.

Boss Lake

Boss Lake is a small reservoir set in a crown of thick forests. It’s a beautiful spot for a hike and picnic, an overnight camping trip or fishing.

Lost Wonder Hut

Starting in the small town of Garfield, this route follows an old mining road that traces the path of Middle Fork Creek. The destination is the Lost Wonder Hut, the only mountain hut in the Lower Arkansas River Valley. The road is quite steep in places, although it levels out…

Waterdog Lakes

The trail to Waterdog Lakes is a popular hike that leads to scenic lakes beneath the Continental Divide. The lakes are a great spot for an afternoon picnic or fishing trip.

Monarch Crest Trail

The Monarch Crest Trail wanders above treeline for many miles along the spine of the Continental Divide. The views are spectacular in all directions, giving a true feel for the backbone of the United States and the surrounding land.

North Fork to Blank’s Cabin

browns_creek_waterfall_horseback_trail_ride

Brown’s Creek – Wagon Loop Trail

The Wagon Loop Trail circles a section of Brown’s Creek on a pleasant singletrack through pine and aspen forest with lots of interesting big rocks. The trail climbs steadily through the forest on one side of the creek and descends on the other side, before joining a dirt…

Barbara Whipple Trail

Established in 1991, the Barbara Whipple Trail is a popular, historical hike with interpretive signs telling about the olden days in the valley. Starting from the Buena Vista River Park, the trail loops up from the river to the old Midland Railroad grade and back down to the…

Midland Trail

The Midland Trail offers a pleasant hike that is fairly flat and follows the old Midland Railroad Line. It’s called a bike trail, but it’s perfect for hiking too. There are a few railroad relics along the way and big views of the peaks to the west. The terrain is…

Davis Meadow Trail

The Davis Meadow Trail winds through the upper end of the Fourmile Travel Management Area northeast of Buena Vista. It’s a beautiful trail through fir, pine and aspen forest to a serene meadow with old pioneer cabins. It’s a great hike with children and the meadow is…

Colorado Trail South

Chalk Creek flows east from the Collegiate Peaks mountain range into the Arkansas River. This beautiful singletrack hike starts at the creek and meanders south on the Colorado Trail. It climbs steadily from the waters of Chalk Creek through pine and aspen forests to a ridge with…

Agnes Vaille Falls

Agnes Vaille Falls is a popular trail for a short, pleasant hike to a beautiful waterfall. The history of Agnes Vaille is on an interpretative sign, located at the beginning of the hike. The views to the southwest are spectacular.

Narrow Gauge Trail

This historic hike follows an old narrow gauge railroad route of a train that ran from Nathrop to Saint Elmo. The trail hugs the north side of Chalk Creek Canyon, directly across from the imposing bulk of the Chalk Cliffs. The gentle out and back route climbs slowly through…

Alpine Tunnel

This hike follows the old railroad grade from the ghost town of Hancock to the East Portal of the historic Alpine Tunnel, one of the great railroad engineering feats of the late 19th Century. The tunnel entrance has collapsed, but the gently climbing rail bed will give you an…

Poplar Gulch

Poplar Gulch lies just outside historic Saint Elmo, a photogenic ghost town with many original buildings. The trail begins at the base of Tincup Pass and winds through pine and aspen forests before switchbacking up the mountain. It climbs along a rushing mountain creek to a…

Colorado Trail South Cottonwood Pass

Beautiful singletrack leads you south on the Colorado Trail from Cottonwood Pass on a rarely hiked section of trail that contours across the base of Sheep Mountain (11,939 ft.). The trail rolls up and down with no major climbing as it crosses streams, winds through pine and aspen…

Denny Creek to Hartenstein Lake

Named for turn of the century Buena Vista Lawyer, George K. Hartenstein, Hartenstein Lake sits in a high basin just below treeline. The hike to the lake climbs steadily and sometimes steeply through pine and aspen forests and small open meadows. The trail is a well-marked, rocky…

Ptarmigan Lake

Named for the lovely ptarmigan birds, which live in the area year-round, Ptarmigan Lake sits in a high mountain cirque of big peaks. The trail starts at Cottonwood Pass and climbs through dense pine forests before breaking out into flowery meadows dotted by small ponds.

South Texas Creek

The South Texas Creek Trail is a classic hike through high altitude tundra above treeline. The trail starts at the top of Cottonwood Pass and heads directly east down towards Texas Creek through a wilderness of grassy meadows and pine groves with huge views. The trail sees much…

Cottonwood Pass Skyline Hike

The Skyline Hike takes you from the top of Cottonwood Pass to the quick and easy small summit to the southwest. From the top, enjoy a 360º view above treeline – the Collegiate Peaks, the Sawatch Range, Taylor Park and all the way to the Elks near Crested Butte…

Lakeside to Interlaken

Interlaken is a former resort that once rivaled the Broadmoor for being the most luxurious property in Colorado. It was established in 1879 as a popular summer resort for tourists who rode the train to Twin Lakes then took a stage to the resort. Guests enjoyed horseback rides…

Graham Gulch

14ers

If you’re a “peak bagger,” you already know this area well. That’s because Chaffee County holds a unique distinction. It has the highest concentration of mountains over 14,000 feet (or 4,266 meters) in Colorado and the nation. Colorado officially has 54…

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Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce
111 E Main St
Buena Vista, CO 81211

Salida Chamber of Commerce
406 W Rainbow Blvd.
Salida, CO 81201

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