West Willow Creek Trailhead

Location

RangeSan Juan Mountains

Elevation11,500'

Lat/Lon37.95563, -106.96672

14ersSan Luis Peak

Road Difficulty

3 Easy 4WD/AWD, good clearance

Driving Directions

The West Willow Creek Trailhead is nearly 9 miles north of Creede. After taking CO 149 into Creede, turn right onto Main Street and drive north through town to join Loma Ave/Road 503. The 503 road is a well maintained 2wd dirt road, albeit steep and rough in a few sections, and only turns to 4wd when you get within 1.5 miles of the trailhead. Reset your odometer as you pass the last buildings on your right or when the road turns to dirt:

Just outside of town you'll pass a mining museum/community building and a large parking area for ATV/OHV trailers.
Continue north through a gorge, full of mining remnants.
At 2.9 miles the road has a sharp left turn at the Midwest Mine site.
At 4.8 miles continue straight on 503 at a large intersection with Bachelor Road (504). Just past the intersection there should be a sign for Equity Mine.
At 7.1 miles turn left on 503, as you see the working Equity Mine up to your right. The 2wd road ends at the Equity Mine. This last 1.5 miles on 503 requires 4wd and good clearance.
At 8.2 miles the road switchbacks down and crosses a creek. If you somehow made it this far without 4wd, park at the turn before dropping to the creek - there's a pull-off big enough for a few vehicles.
At 8.7 miles reach the unmarked trailhead at a sharp left turn. The road continues west but your trail starts at the turn. There's parking for several vehicles and a few tent spots.

On-Site Info

ParkingRoom for less than 10 vehicles and then you'll have to pull off the road nearby.

CampingA few places to pitch a tent at the trailhead and down the road.

Restrooms?No

Fees?No

Photos

Winter Access

There is usually a winter closure at the Commodore Mine.

Trailhead added by BillMiddlebrook

Status Updates
Map


9/4/2023 Posted On: 9/6/2023 By: HikerGuy Info: I made it easily to the trailhead in my Hyundai Santa Fe with all-terrain tires. As mentioned in previous report, toughest spot is a small wash with steepish exit just after the Equity Mine turn off. I spent two nights at the trailhead with no varmint vs. vehicle issues. Plenty of parking space even with hunters in the area.
8/9/2023 Posted On: 8/12/2023 By: pruzicka67 Info: Road up to Equity Mine is in good shape and a 2WD can easily get there. Like, a sedan can make it there. From there, though, the 4WD road up to the trailhead required a good clearance 4WD, mainly due to a washout that was maybe 100 yards in. If it wasn't for that washout, a 2WD or low clearance 4WD MIGHT be able to make it (some people seem to be unstoppable; I saw a Tesla at the trailhead for Sunshine/Redcloud last year, absolutely no idea how it made it up that road), but I wouldn't chance it as long as that washout is there. You can park at Equity Mine and hike the 1.5 miles to the trailhead; most of the uphill is the first 1/4 to 1/2 mile (I'm totally estimating, didn't measure it). Trailhead is exactly as described, unmarked but easy to find, heads due north from parking lot (same direction as you enter the parking lot).
7/20/2023 Posted On: 7/21/2023 By: jmulcare Info: Roadway was easily accessible to 2WD to Equity Mine. I have AWD RAV4 and attempted to drive to the upper 4WD parking area at 8.7 miles, at dusk. I approached a large puddle that I thought was a sketchy stream crossing so I backed up the hill and parked at the 2WD area at 7.1 miles, then walked up to TH at 8.7 miles the next morning. Upon closer inspection when walking, I found I could have made it up to the parking area at turn prior to final stream crossing at 8.2 miles, or maybe even all the way to 4WD TH area. The 2WD parking area at the Equity Mine has room for several vehicles and is a flat area that offers good car camping. Didn't see the moose that was reported in earlier post.	1
7/11/2023 Posted On: 7/11/2023 By: Kiefer Info: Road is dry to the 4x4 TH and is passable for most Subarus with careful driving. Water levels in the creek crossings are low. Actual TH has room for perhaps 10 vehicles with a few more spots a little higher up (4x4 required). Moose ARE in the area. One has a calf so be warned. Most of us got chased into our vehicles at one point.	2		3
7/2/2023 Posted On: 7/3/2023 By: kkulling Info: To get as far as the 2WD trailhead, I recommend road 504 Bachelor Rd instead of 503. It's a slightly easier drive. Upper 4WD trailhead was easily accessible with our stock 4WD Jeep Cherokee. There were also other SUVs, a van, and a Subaru Crosstrek. You might be able to get up with a 2WD high clearance vehicle, but no guarantees.
6/10/2023 Posted On: 6/11/2023 By: Kiefer Info: The Equity Mine is drivable for 2wd vehicles. For some reason, there's a small (and inconvenient) wooden sign blocking the road to the upper trailhead. It's easily moved though (wink-wink). The road past the mine is free of snow. It's expectedly wet & muddy in spots. Creeks are FLOWING.			1
5/30/2023 Posted On: 5/30/2023 By: Saucerful Info: The road is open. Made it to Equity mine on a 2WD sedan. Did not even attempt to keep going in the car after Equity but it seems most AWD/4x4 would be able to make it.			4
5/24/2023 Posted On: 5/25/2023 By: kallen Info: The road is closed after the intersection of 504 and 503. walked the road up to mine and it was easily driveable. some small patches of snow that were avoidable. 4x4 road is still very covered in snow			1
4/27/2023 Posted On: 4/28/2023 By: Kya Cav Info: Drivable to intersection of 504 and 503 (Bachelor Loop). Small parking area. We used snowmobiles from there to access the Continental Divide. Some sections of the road will melt out quickly but overall the road and valley is still snow covered, though not very deep. It will be a mixed bag of snow and ground for a while I would guess. Ski conditions in Yawner Gullies were less than ideal. Probably not worth the effort to ski this peak for the rest of the season.			1
9/6/2022 Posted On: 9/7/2022 By: _coloradical Info: Road was in good condition up until the 2WD parking area. 4WD Road (FS503) is your typical rocky 4WD road. My 2017 Outback got close to bottoming out two times due to large potholes, but made it just fine along with the creek crossing (low water at the moment). Made it to the 4WD parking area with no issues.
9/1/2022 Posted On: 9/1/2022 By: mtgoatmike Info: 2wd road is in great condition, just a few potholes to avoid. The 4wd portion is also in great condition. After the switchbacks down to the creek crossing, there are some large potholes that just need your attention to traverse. Creek at the 4wd trailhead parking is gently flowing, plenty of spots to pitch a tent and park a vehilce. I got up no problems in my stock 2012 Tacoma, short bed.		1
7/6/2022 Posted On: 7/6/2022 By: kyaera Info: Road is in good condition. Creek crossing has about 6 ish inches. It is VERY steep. Made it in a stock Tacoma.
2/20/2022 Posted On: 2/21/2022 By: illusion7il Info: To reach the winter TH, which is 2.5 miles below the Equity Mine, you have to take the West branch of the Bachelor loop. (504) The road is plowed, dry and in better shape than than a lot of city roads so anything can make it. There is a plowed area to park. The East branch (503) as well as (502) are both closed a short way up.
10/10/2021 Posted On: 10/10/2021 By: jenvalencia Info: Easily reached the trailhead in a Rav4. Dry to trailhead and stream crossings real low. Parked at the second switchback above :)
7/18/2021 Posted On: 7/19/2021 By: bjbatchelor Info: Made it in a Subaru Outback without scraping. There were 2 tricky spots on the 4x4 road that you need to pick a good line on. I let my Subaru's transmission cool down at Equity Mine for a few minutes.

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