W Mountain Trail

Written By - Wildernet.com - 10/9/2007

Link to Original Article here

The "W" Mountain Trail begins at the end of Forest Road 616, off the Derby Mesa Road, north of Dotsero and west of Derby Junction. The "W" Mountain Trail is a 17 mile long route which eventually ties into Trail 1814 east of Trappers Lake in the Blanco Ranger District. The trail is rated easy and for nearly ten miles it wanders through meadows of the Flat Tops Wilderness. The trail grows faint at times in the meadows but the wilderness traveler can easily stay on track by watching for the rock and pole cairns which mark the route through the parks. The toughest section of the trail comes in the first 2.5 miles during the ascent to the rim of the White River Plateau.

Hikers and horsemen on "W" Mountain have numerous options once they reach the rim. Five miles from the trailhead the trail intersects with South "W" Mountain Trail #2060, which leads the traveler to Sweetwater Lake via the Ute Trail, #2032. Another 3.3 miles of travel takes one to the junction with Trail #2269, which leads to Mackinaw Lake, one mile to the northeast. By following the South Derby Jeep Road, Forest Road 613, to the east, one can make a round trip back to Big Spring. A southwesterly turn at Trail # 2269 will lead the traveler to the Shingle Peak area and intersections with Upper (#2042) and Lower (#1832) Turret Creek Trails which lead to Sweetwater Lake.

Whichever turn is taken, the traveler should remember that most of his trip on the "W" Mountain Trail will be in the Flat Tops Wilderness. Camping and traveling in the wilderness requires extra skills and precautions to protect both yourself and the wilderness. Please practice "Leave No Trace" ethics at all times.

Many of the streams in this area dry up during the summer. The traveler should carry at least one full day supply of drinking water. Always treat any unknown water before drinking.