Sawmill Creek - Winter

by Michael Hodges

by Jesse Speer

by National Park Service

by Jesse Speer

This drainage offers unique skiing for most ability levels Follow the old logging road 1.5 miles into a giant clearcut. This area is good for skiing and snowshoeing only if there is adequate snow - otherwise there are logs and stumps. The trail forks here. For the more adventurous, continue west across the clear cut and follow faint old roads and trails towards timberline. The left fork continues about 1.5 miles, and the right fork about 2 miles as the Sawmill Creek drainage continues to steepen. Near timberline pick your way up into either the north or south cirques of Sawmill Creek. While the skiing is fantastic up here, so is the avalanche danger. [http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/recreation/winter-rec/xcskisnowshoe/clrd/index.shtml]

Park at the Blue Lake Trailhead and walk 100 yards west along Colorado Highway 14 and over the highway bridge (watch for cars and snowplows). Do not park directly in front of the trail or you may be ticketed, or plowed in by the snowplow.

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