Black Canyon Field Club - July 13, 2013

Hike Weehawken Trail

Co-hosted by the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership

Time and place: Saturday July 13th, 2013 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Meet and park at the Ouray Visitor's Center - 1230 Main St, Ouray, CO (see map below).

CLICK HERE TO RSVP or contact Alecia, Outreach Coordinator.

Hit the trail with Black Canyon Regional Land Trust and the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership for a mid-summer hike on the Weehawken Trail near Ouray. This challenging 6.6 mile (roundtrip) hike will reward us with spectacular views of the town of Ouray and high mountain habitats in full summer foliage. 

Bring your usual hiking supplies, plenty of water, and a bag lunch. We will eat together at the 1/2 way point of our hike in a high mountain meadow and talk about the history and geography of the Weehawken Creek Basin.

Below is a full description of the hike from Denver Post writer, Dave Cooper:

A quick look at the map will tell you immediately that this trail is steep. Much of the elevation gain occurs in the first mile — 1,000 feet, to be precise. However, the well-constructed switchbacks make the walking quite reasonable. At the top of the switchbacks you are on a broad ridge, well above the creek and above some of the cliff bands barring access along the creek itself.

At mile 1.2 a signed trail junction is reached, the right branch going to the Alpine Mine. We stay straight here. Above this junction the trail becomes noticeably rougher, and a few spots require care where the now-narrow trail becomes slippery (gravel over rock slabs) and somewhat exposed. Cross several minor drainages, following cairns to regain the trail on the far side of each of these crossings.

At mile 1.9 a trail descends to the left to the abandoned Weehawken Mine. Not much is left of the mine buildings, but a few artifacts can still be seen.

From the mine, return to the main trail and continue northwest as the trail gradually contours to meet the creek. Soon you will reach an area where the trail crosses what seems an endless succession of washes, again marked by cairns. Eventually the trail turns the corner and provides views towards the head of the drainage, before ending at a small clearing marked by a sign for Weehawken Creek (mile 3.3).

The established trail (including the side trip to the Weehawken Mine) gains 2,700 feet in 3.3 miles one way, ending at the sign in the meadow at 10,810 feet.

Directions to the hike start:

Please meet and park at the Ouray Visitor's Center on Main Street in Ouray. We will then carpool to the trail head off of Camp Bird Road.

If you would like to carpool - offer a ride or be a rider - please let Alecia know in your RSVP and include where you will be coming from that day.