Carson Saddle to Stony Pass ATV Trail

This 16 mile multi-use ATV trail is governed by the Rio Grande National Forest and it is rated as a moderately hard trail. From the Carson Saddle, the Continental Divide Trail and the Colorado Trail follow the old jeep road south, a little over 1.0 mile, to the junction of Lost Trail Creek Trail # 821 and the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail # 787.

Here the ATV trail turns west-northwest on a jeep type trail and ascends on the north side of Lost Trail Creek. This is still a portion of the La Garita Stock Driveway Trail # 787 that you are riding your ATV on.

This trail is only open to motorized vehicles less than 40 inches wide and to trail bikes until the trail intersects Rio Grande Reservoir Road-Stony Pass Road (Forest Development Road # 520) approximately 1.0 mile below the pass to the west. Although the trail segment south of the Carson Saddle to the Stony Pass Road is open to motorized vehicles (motorcycles and ATV's) and to mountain bikes, the trails were not designed for 3-wheel and 4-wheel ATV's.

The trails are often narrow for ATV use and not well suited to such vehicle use. Motorized 2-wheel trail bikes, and non-motorized mountain bikes are better suited to this segment of trail. If you use your ATV in these areas, use caution, as the climb can be treacherous.

Campsites abound along Lost Trail Creek and the broad grassy meadows of upper Pole Creek, where trout splash in the meandering stream. You will find excellent views and good fishing are possible along this entire trail segment, jut make sure you have your fishing permit and pull your ATV over and have at it! The scenery is magnificent along this portion of the trail between the Continental Divide, just south of Cataract Lake and Pole Creek Trail # 820, a distance of approximately 3.4 miles of glorious scenery for you to take in on your ATV ride.

For the first two miles, the creek lies to the south of the trail and is relatively flat and not obstructing your ATV ride. The trail then crosses the creek and you will want to remain to the south of the stream and follow it until it reaches it's highest point on your excursion which wuold be 12,483 feet, it then tapers off and becomes easy to handle again on your ATV.