Cimarron Mountains Climbing

West, Middle, East Forks

21 miles east of Montrose (2.5 miles east of the town of Cimarron), turn south on Cimarron Road (signed for Silver Jack Reservoir). Follow this road past Silver Jack Reservoir to reach signed turnoffs for East Fork, then Middle Fork, and finally West Fork, before reaching Owl Creek Pass. In the winter, the road is plowed 15.5 miles to a parking area and groomed from there to Owl Creek Pass.

Or, 17 miles south of Montrose, CR 8 provides access to the same areas via Owl Creek Pass. The road over Owl Creek Pass is steep and winding and can get slick with any amount of snow. In the winter, the road is plowed 8.3 miles to Vista Point and groomed from there to Silver Jack.

Little Cimarron, Fall Creek

1 mile east of Cimarron Road, turn south on Little Cimarron Road (FS 864). At roughly 10.5 miles, bear left at the fork (signed for Little Cimarron). After 16.5 miles (total), the Little Cimarron trailhead is reached, on the right at the switchback. The Fall Creek trailhead is located another 4 miles up the road.

Little Cimarron is typically accessible longer than the main Cimarron forks. The Fall Creek trailhead is 1000 feet higher and the road aspect is northeast, so it becomes difficult to reach as soon as logging operations cease.

Cow Creek

1.8 miles north of Ridgway, turn east on County Road 10. At roughly 2.5 miles, bear right at the fork onto CR 10A. Around 4 miles (total), turn left onto CR 12. Or, 0.3 mile south of the stoplight in Ridgway, turn east on County Road 12. Either way, the Cow Creek trailhead is just over 12 miles from the highway.

The Cow Creek road can be a serious undertaking any time of year due to mud, steep hills, and potentially high water crossing(s). Anyway there's not likely to be much ice until the road is snowed well under.