Our local trails are starting to open up, but early season conditions still exist with mud from our recent rain storms, downed trees for winter wind storms, and the remaining snowpack at higher elevations.
Lower country trails like West Boulder Meadows, West Pine Creek, Suce Creek and Deep Creek are all great options right now. The hills are emerald and the wildflowers are about to begin in earnest. It’s a great time of year to hike in and around Park County! We continue to get some nice afternoon thunderstorms, so an early start is always a good idea to avoid lightning on exposed ridges.
We included some details on popular local trails below. As always, stop in to the shop or give us a call for recommendations and up-to-date reports.
Pine Creek
The Pine Creek trail is in excellent condition to the top of the falls, and the understory is as spectacular a green as it gets. While there are still a number of down trees from the top of the falls to the main creek crossing, the worst snarls have been cleared and the trail is easily passable. The stream is in full runoff, so be cautious.
We did get a report that the trail is largely snow-free to the lake, but the lake remains frozen as of May 30.
Livingston Peak
This is a great summit option right now. The lower trail is in great shape. Snow and downed trees begin in the gulch below the saddle, about 3.5 miles in. Hiking takes a little extra time and caution through this stretch, but it’s nothing impassible; plan for about an hour or so to get from the bottom of the gulch to the saddle as you navigate snow patches and downed trees.
The saddle is snow-free, but packed snow remains on the north-facing aspect of the summit, which is typical this time of year. Allow yourself plenty of time to safely summit and descend over the snow. Hiking poles and gaiters aren’t a terrible idea.
Deep Creek
It’s one of the best times of the year to explore Deep Creek. The hillsides are green and wildflowers are starting to sprout. Everything is vibrant, including the creek itself. The water is high and mighty making for some beautiful white rapids and falls. That said, the second creek crossing will involve getting wet. The logs that make up the bridge are under water right now. It’s a quick dip, but a dip nonetheless.
North Deep Creek is dry with minimal downed trees until just before Blacktail Lake. The previous weekend’s rain storm likely muddied the trail, but the trail should still be very accessible to Blacktail Lake.
Mill Creek Area Trails
Elbow Lake - The trail is good up to the East Fork bridge, but there are large trees laying lengthwise on the trail past the bridge and hikers should anticipate more on the ascent to the lake.
Passage Creek - The trail is completely dry, and the Wallace Divide Trail is dry almost to the pass.
