CLASSIC HAPPY TRAILS: CATAMOUNT TRAIL

WHERE:

This well-made trail snakes up through dense pine forest, offering occasional peeks at the town of Green Mountain Falls far below. The trail was built as a bypass for hikers climbing from Green Mountain Falls to a hanging valley surrounded by rocks, called the Garden of Eden, then on to reservoirs of the North Slope Recreation Area.

TO GET THERE: Take U.S. Highway 24 west to Green Mountain Falls. Take the first exit. Park downtown by the lake. Walk up Ute Pass Avenue and turn left on Hondo Avenue. The trail begins at the end of Hondo, a dirt road that roller-coasters for about a half-mile. Walk past the round metal building and cross the bridge. The trail is on your left past the bridge. Follow the yellow markers instead of crossing the creek.

TRIP LOG: Two boots, two miles one way, including walk from parking area to trailhead; a 2,000-foot elevation gain.

THE HIKE: The trail begins just beyond a wooden bridge that crosses Catamount Creek. The first short stretch — the original Catamount Trail — is the steepest, but this is a cool hike made even more pleasant by the sound of the rushing creek. Soon you’ll reach a junction. To the left, closest to the creek, is the orange dot trail, which requires scrambling up dangerous, wet rocks; to the right is the newer portion of trail. It has more switchbacks than the original path, so the elevation gain is more gradual.

The trail winds up the mountain and dips into the lush little valley of Garden of Eden. From here, hikers can continue southwest, following a creek to South Catamount Reservoir.

DETAILS:

Bikes and horses are allowed, but this is a steep trail with several sections of rock steps. It’s best for foot traffic.

INFORMATION:

Pike National Forest, 636-1602