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| Bridge of Heaven   | 
| Page Type: Route Location: Colorado, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 38.01300°N / 107.577°W Route Type: Walk Up Time Required: Most of a day Difficulty: Class 1
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| Page By: Aaron Johnson Created/Edited: Sep 21, 2004 / Jun 22, 2006 Object ID: 162240 Hits: 980 Loading... Page Score: 86.23% - 1 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
ApproachFrom the Ouray Visitor's Center (at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool),drive north on highway 550 1.6 miles and turn right. Two blue signs indicating a mine tour attraction are on the right and are your cue to turn. This is Ouray County road 14. Stay to the right at Panorama Heights, and stay on County Road 14 when is splits to the right and 14A goes left. Pass privately owned Lake Lenore, going left at the mine tour sign. Cross Dexter Creek on a wooden plank bridge, then arrive at another crossing, presently washed out.
From this point, 4WD is recommended. Cross the creek carefully and proceed up the road, bypassing a private road immediately after the crossing on the right. From the washed out crossing to the trailhead, it's 1.2 miles of easy 4WD. At a Y, go right, followed by another Y in which you go left.
The road enters a clearing and ends on a hillside. You'll pass the trailhead sign as you assume a parking spot in the limited parking area.
Route DescriptionThe route to the Bridge of Heaven (and beyond) is easy to follow on the well maintained Horsethief Trail. Be sure to register, then follow the trail as it winds up through the forest. 11 long but gentle switchbacks get you up steep, forested terrain just prior to breaking out into the overlook meadow from which you can peer down upon the tiny town of Ouray. This is a dramatic spot.
The trail veers SE (left) and climbs steadily up along great open slopes and through patches of trees. When you finally break out of the trees, you're just below the Bridge of Heaven. 8 or so more switchbacks get you up the steep, tundra covered cone and you arrive with sudden, muted fanfare on the Bridge of Heaven, simply a fifteen foot long piece of ridge. Great exanpses are seen to the north and south featuring the Cimarron Range, Amphitheater Mountain, Mount Abrams, Ironton Valley and the Sneffels Range.
Return the same route.
Longer dayhikes or over-night backpacks from this point are certainly worth the effort if you have the weather, time and stamina. The trail loses evelvation from the Bridge of Heaven as it traverses near the summit of the Amphitheater. The trail eventually meets up with the Difficulty Creek trail and provides acces (although via the long distance option) to Wildhorse Peak. Proceeding further, the trail connects with a spur to the Bear Creek trail and eventually ends at the Engineer Pass Road on the Lake City side, just below the pass. Keep in mind that the rest of the route is above timberline and your exposure to the elements is continuous.
ROUND TRIP MILEAGE: 8.4 miles
GAIN: 3,000 feet
Essential GearStandard dayhike gear will do.
Assuming the road is open and the trailhead is accessible, a spring or winter hike is not recommended due to immediate avalanche danger.
Miscellaneous InfoIf you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.
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San Juan Range
