Colorado Trail: Stony Pass to Celebration Lake Hike

Updated July 23, 2024 12:51PM

For most of us, taking on the entire Colorado Trail is a distant, rather unrealistic, dream. But hitting some of the best highlights in just a few days is within reach thanks to this 40-mile point-to-point route in the San Juans. You can enjoy alpine solitude among some of the most astounding mounts and falls in the region. Catch postcard-perfect shots along the entire trail, especially near the Animas River and the teeming Cascade Creek Falls.

Trail Facts

Distance: 40 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Permits: No. San Juan National Forest has no formal backcountry permit or reservation system for small groups. Larger groups and hikers needing more information are advised to visit the San Juan Public Land Center in Durango, CO for planning assistance, safety tips, directions, and regulations.

The Route from Stony Pass to Celebration Lake

Day One: Stony Pass Trailhead to Elk Creek Drainage

The trailhead, which lies at 12,500 feet, is located on Stony Pass Road and is a 4-car pull-off with signs for the Colorado and Continental Divide Trails. From here, head south for six miles on the well-defined path that meanders through a treeless, alpine environment. In the spring, look for fields of wildflowers as you travel toward your first camp at Eldorado Lake or the Elk Creek Drainage area.

At .8 miles, hike through a steep gulley. Look for sweeping views of the Rio Grande National Forest and the Weminuche Wilderness to the southwest. At 1.4 miles, descend through patches of hip-high brush while viewing the rocky climb ahead. Ignore the faint side trails, which come in from both sides.

Day One: Views of Vestal Peak

Watch for Ptarmigans blending in with the rocks along the trail and be sure to stop and enjoy views of Vestal and Arrow Peaks.

At 5.5 miles, descend to a small valley with four ponds. There are numerous options for good water sources in the area. At the stream crossing, make sure to fill up—this is the last source of water until Elk Creek Drainage. Climb to a small pass where the trail splits from the Continental Divide Trail. Take a sharp right and head west up the grassy hillside, where the trail joins an old Jeep track. At 6.5 miles, rejoin the alternate, guidebook-recommended route as you approach the hill.

Day One: Elk Creek Drainage to Eldorado Lake

From a height of 12,580 feet, soak in your last views to the east and the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Rio Grande National Forest. Down below, you’ll see a small, abandoned mining cabin at the base of the rocky cliffs. The descent into the cavernous Elk Creek Drainage area follows 27 graded switchbacks. For a great first-night campsite head to Eldorado Lake.

Day Two: Eldorado Lake to Elk Creek

Almost eight miles from the trailhead, a small stream joins Elk Creek. Strong sulfur deposits emit the classic rotten-egg smell and cover the rocks with a powdery, cream-colored coating. You’ll cross Elk Creek in a nutrient-rich area, where algae flourish. Look to the north for a skinny waterfall from ponds on the cliff’s edge, 800 feet above. Ahead, look for the first scraggly conifers as the trail separates from the creek and climbs up the loose rocky hill.

At 8.6 miles, as the trail descends back down to creek level where you’ll find a small campsite with water access. At 9 miles, cross a stream and make the short side trip to a spectacular hidden waterfall. Along the next two miles, look for campsites along the creek. The trail here is smooth and wide, but don’t let that fool you. The erratics to the left soon take over the treadway making for a steep descent. When you see the beaver ponds, you’ll know you are at the end of this rocky section of trail.

Day Two: Elk Creek to Animas River

At the beaver ponds, look for excellent campsites on the south shore. The sharp peaks of Vestal and Arrow Peaks guard the southern view. Continue to hike along the creek’s edge for short sections on the way to Elk Creek Park and Animas River.

The many waterfalls that drop into the area will keep you stocked on water. The hillsides are filled with aromatic spruce and aspen. Set up camp at the Animas River, where you’ll find great views of the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge and the Grenadiers.

Day Three: Animas River to Molas Lake

On the third day, feel the burn on a 1,900-foot climb over 4.5 miles to Molas Pass. Well-graded switchbacks make this section manageable and the breathtaking views of the San Juans don’t hurt either. At almost 20 miles out, you’ll cross the Million Dollar Highway (US 550) over to Little Molas Lake Campground, where you can get supplies and a hot shower. Enjoy lunch and a view before finding a campsite. Several great spots lay between miles 25 and 27.5.

Day Three: Molas Lake to Lime Creek

Follow the trail as it climbs 200 feet to Lime Creek Drainage. Thank old Lime Creek Burn of 1879 for the big views to the south. Though not normally above timberline, trees, for the most part, remain absent from the area. From here, you’ll climb straight up the broad ridge on a deeply-rutted treadway. Keep an eye out for wildlife in this area, where animals are active in the late evening and early morning.

At mile 25.8, stop at Lime Creek for water. Afterward, follow the trail around the marsh to a campsite downhill on a small bluff. There’s a large campsite with amazing views at mile 27.7. You can find water at a reliable stream just 100 feet back or at two large streams further down the trail.

Day Four: Lime Creek to Celebration Lake

On day four, start the steady climb up Rollings Pass, enjoying sweeping views of the drainage on the descent to Cascade Creek. At mile 29.9, look for a weathered trail sign marking the turnoff for the Engineer Mountain Trail. Head right to stay on the Colorado Trail and round the edge of a small pond as you continue to climb up to the pass. If there’s an easterly wind, be prepared for a gale as you cross Rolling Pass. Once out of the wind, check out a great view of the next drainage, which you’ll enter by a series of switchbacks down and to the right.

At mile 32.2, take the side trail on the right to a campsite with a view of Grizzly Peak and a nearby pond for water. Drop your pack near the large stream and take a break by scrambling up to check out the falls and intricate rock erosion above. Afterward, continue on the trail, which crosses multiple streams to Cascade Creek. With Grizzly Peak standing tall overhead, begin the last climb up to a small pass on Sliderock Ridge. Keep an eye out for views of the pink and sand rocks of Engineer Mountain as you pass through trees in an old spruce forest. Enjoy the last stretch, through a grassy meadow, before reaching Celebration Lake, which lies below Bolam Pass and is close to Forest Road 578.