Hi all,
I've searched the internet and found that the water filtration situation for hiking in this area is sketchy. Many reports share that there is a safe spring fed stream slightly east of matterhorn creek around 12500ft. Aside from that, though, where would we get clean water? The USGS map shows that there's water that runs to the east fork cimarron river where the trail may be close, but would there be water flowing on Labor Day?
My group plans to pack in some water and camp for three nights. Nights 1/2 are covered with info that I've found. Day 3/night 3 is where I can't seem to find any info, (the stretch to and from uncompaghre from wetterhorn). Would appreciate any info y'all had. Thanks
Water availability between Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre
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aggiemountainman
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terribletigzy
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Re: Water availability between Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre
I was there last July and definitely crossed several streams between Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre. I was there for a daytrip and didn't assess the quality of the water in those streams. Also, I can't say whether or not they will have dried up by this time of year.
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HPIvelocity97
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Re: Water availability between Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre
You may want to consider impact of this summer's Gold Mountain Fire and associated closure. Not sure how bad or not that would foul whatever clean water source might be up there.
Probably not what you are looking for, but my son and I were in the area last year. We truck camped each day, but hiked Unc and Wetterhorn from our respective camps. Point being, we had fresh water jugs at camp which eliminated the filter problem, but still allowed good day treks as we moved from Lake City to Silverton.
Probably not what you are looking for, but my son and I were in the area last year. We truck camped each day, but hiked Unc and Wetterhorn from our respective camps. Point being, we had fresh water jugs at camp which eliminated the filter problem, but still allowed good day treks as we moved from Lake City to Silverton.
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aggiemountainman
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Re: Water availability between Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre
Noted. Is the red crossed out area land that has been burnt?
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dwoodward13
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Re: Water availability between Wetterhorn and Uncompaghre
No, that was previously the area that was closed, burn area is much further away. Looks like COTREX hasn't updated their overlay though. You can find the current closure map here but the closer is now the high ridgeline of Wetterhorn/Matternhorn instead of the wilderness boundary as depicted on that screenshot: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/gmug/alerts ... order-v-30aggiemountainman wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2026 12:24 am Noted. Is the red crossed out area land that has been burnt?
I would plan to take all necessary water for night 3 from that spring fed stream. I"ve used that stream multiple times before and its perfectly fine. If you do find a stream, the tell is to look for vegetation in/around the water along with no discoloration. Moss on rocks, grasses on the edge. If you don't see that, personally I wouldn't risk it. That spring fed stream checks the above boxes. Its been many years since I hiked Uncomp from a camp at that stream, and I remember being glad I didn't try and move camp after seeing the water options.