East Willow Loop Route

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

The descending portions are steep, often have loose gravel, blind corners, and may have atv/jeep traffic coming up.

Ride consists of gravel/4WD road through Creede's mining district. If you're new to the area, start out with a ride from town to the bottom of the switchbacks and then turn around back down East Willow for a gentle ride with some good climbing of about an hour. Great scenery of the cliffs.

If you choose to do the loop, most folks ride this in a counter-clockwise direction to allow plenty of warm-up before the steeper climb.

I recommend riding up East Willow Canyon, heading north from town and turning right at the Y. The first three miles make a gradual climb suitable for all levels of riders. After the final creek crossing at about three miles, the road climbs up five switchbacks for about 1.5 miles of challenging climbing to the crest of Campbell Mountain.

This loop finishes by descending to the Midwest Mine where the road meets with West Willow Canyon. The descent back to town is steep with many blind corners. Use caution while descending the canyon as this is a popular 4x4 and ATV road and can have a fair amount of traffic at times.

The included map shows this route starting at the "Y" in the canyon, but the following description begins at the park in downtown Creede. The 5.7-mile length is from the Y to West Willow Road, but the entire loop from town is about 9 miles.

Begin at Basham Park.

0.32 mi. - Underground Firehouse.
0.89 mi. - "Y" intersection in canyon, turn right.
1.45 mi. - First culvert crossing and Kentucky Belle Mine.
2.1 mi. - Second large culvert.
3.09 mi. - Third large culvert.
3.24 mi. - First gulch road.
3.73 mi. - Fourth large culvert - last one - base of the switchbacks.
3.84 mi. - Intersect parking lot of East Willow hiking trail to Phoenix Park.
4.12 mi. - First switchback.
4.62 - Fifth and last switchback.
5.42 mi. - Top.

5.75 mi. - Switchback on the descent (private road intersection).
6.2 mi. - Midwest Mine.
6.49 mi. - Junction with West Willow Road and the Hobbit Trail; road becomes steep and gravely through the canyon.
7.0 mi. - Amethyst Mine.
7.25 mi. - Weaver Townsite.
7.75 mi. - Base of Black Pitch.
8.37 mi. - Commodore Mine.
8.62 mi. - "Y" intersection.
9.47 - Creede City Park.