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Sig Creek Campground, 32 miles north of Durango, has 9 campsites on a southfacing
hillside about 1/4 mile from the East Fork of Hermosa Creek. The campground
is 6 miles west of Durango Mountain Resort on the Hermosa Park Rd. (Forest Rd.
578), accessible by 2WD. Much of this gravel road follows the route of the Scotch
Creek Toll Road, which ran from Rico to the Animas Valley in the late 1800s. The
road continues over Bolam Pass to Colorado Highway 145 north of Rico. The upper
section is 4WD only.
The upper trailhead for the Hermosa Creek Trail begins 2 miles past the campground,
near the confluence of the main and east forks of Hermosa Creek.
This multiple-use trail heads back to the town of Hermosa through the
Hermosa Roadless Area. The trail offers a technical single-track experience
for mountain bikes (at 19 miles, taking most of a day, including
shuttle drops). A few camping sites are available at the trailhead, which
has a toilet, picnic tables, fire grates, corral, and parking area.
Fishing in
the East Fork of Hermosa Creek is catch-and-release only.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
U.S. Highway 550 is part of the San Juan Skyway, a National Scenic Byway. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad parallels the highway for 15 miles north
of Durango. Groceries, gas, and other camper services are found in Durango, Hermosa, and near the Durango Mountain Ski Resort.
The Alpine Loop, a BLM Backcountry Byway, offers a high-elevation, rough 4WD route linking the mountain towns of Silverton, Lake City, and Ouray. The Alpine Loop is for high-clearance 4WD vehicles only.
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