Explore Steamboat, Big Creek Lake Trail #1184

Trail access

1: Go north of Steamboat on the Strawberry Park Road to County Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road) and turn right. Travel approximately 9 miles on this road just before Summit Lake turn right and park in the provided parking lot. Walk the Wyoming Trail #1101, about 6 miles turning left on the 1168. Travel past Luna Lake westwardly, and shortly the junction with Big Creek Lake will be on the right. USE: Light to Moderate

#2: From the Mad Creek area travel on trail #1100 into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness and turn right onto the Luna Lake Trail #1168. Continue east and just before reaching Luna lake, the

Big Creek Trail #1184 will be on the left.

NOTE: Due to the Routt Divide Blowdown, this access is obstructed by fallen trees from the junction of trail #1100 and #1168.

Trail attractions

There is adequate parking at the Summit of Buffalo Pass. Please help protect the vegetation by using the provided parking lot. The trail described can be combined with others to provide a multi-day back packing trip. While views are outstanding and the lakes pristine, part of the Big Creek Lake trail travels through a park meadow marked by few cairns. Please take maps of the area and remember Wilderness Ethics during your trail time.

Narrative

At its beginning, the well-defined Big Creek Lake trail immediately heads downhill for a short length, reaching a boulder meadow. Heading up short switchbacks after this to the top of the ridge another park meadow is encountered. This area may be marked with few cairns and the trail is quite undefined, but do continue to the north end of the meadow between the ridges to pick up the trail again. At this point the trail heads downhill through spruce and fir until it reaches Big Creek Lake, which is visible from the trail.