Three Mile Creek Trail

Trail Difficulty: Moderate. Gentle upward slope on well-maintained trail.

Trail length:
1-3 miles

Trail Description:
You may want to register your name in the brown box at the trailhead – the U.S. Forest Service monitors trail usage with the data from these type of lists.

The Three Mile Creek Trail heads northwest into the Arapaho National Forest and Mt Evans Wilderness area through beautiful shady forest and over the Three Mile Creek!! You will enjoy crossing over the creek more than fifteen times!! Small wooden footbridges allow you to enjoy the creek and the surroundings from both sides of the water. Children will love to throw rocks and sticks in and watch them disappear down the hill.

You will eventually emerge from the pine forests into a green meadow filled with a variety of wildflowers and Aspen tree stands. While you are in this small valley, you will be surrounded by several mountains towering above you including: Spearhead Mountain elevation: 11,244 ft; Arrowhead Mtn. 11,209 ft.; and Kataka Mtn. 12,441 ft.

The trail continues for miles up the mountain (a serious1-2 day hike into the Mt. Evans wilderness up to Guanella Pass). Turn around anywhere you feel like and the trip back down to the car is just as enjoyable as the hike in!!

No Restrooms available at trailhead or parking area.
(There is a rest station on the road (Rd 62) about 1 mile before you reach the parking lot and trailhead- your last chance).

Picnic Recommendations:
Picnic wherever you like – there are many areas along the way that are suitable.

Travel Time:
Approximately 60 minutes from Jct C-470 and Hwy 285

How to Get There:
From C-470 and Hwy 285 go south on Hwy 285 about 39 miles to the town of Grant. It is a very small town so, look for it. At Grant, turn right (west) onto CR-62. Follow CR-62 approximately 3 miles. You will pass a rest station on the left and about 1 mile further, you will come to the trailhead on the right side of the road. There is a small, dirt parking lot and a sign with the name of the trail on the hill.

Special Attractions:
The world famous Coney Island hot dog stand is on the outskirts of Bailey – a great place to stop for icecream and hotdogs after your hike on the Three Mile Creek. You can’t miss it. It is a building in the shape of a hotdog with all the fixin’s! Or if you prefer an espresso or coffee, Bailey also offers a small town coffee shop; advertised by the big, coffee cup sign along the highway.