Trail Name: North Fork Tabeguache Trail
Best Use: Hiking, Birding, possible for an adventuresome Mountain Biker
Best Time for Use: Late Spring, Summer and Early Fall
Difficulty: Beginner
Length: 3.0 miles (4.8 km) out and back from the trailhead
Start Elevation: 7,550 ft (2,301 m) Maximum Elev Gain and Loss from Start Elev: 0 ft, (0 m) gain – 411 ft. (-125 m) loss
Trail Surface and Use: Starts as a short section of abandoned 2-track road, then becomes a single track trail. Lightly used.
Trail Head Access: Suitable for high clearance 2WD in good weather or 4WD in poor weather. Extended wet weather will make vehicle access difficult. The trailhead is about 6 mi (9.7 km) from CO Hwy 25 (Nucla-Delta Rd) at the end of the Copper King Mine Road (FS 602). The FS602/Hwy 25 intersection is about 20 road miles miles (32.2 km) NE of the Town of Nucla.
Trail Head Coordinates: 722,740E; 4252625N UTM WGS84 Zone12
Best Feature: Remote mid-elevation canyon with perennial stream. Great views to Tabeguache Falls. Numerous stacked falls and plunge pools are present a short distance downstream of where the trail crosses the Tabeguache Creek.
Caution: There are steep slopes down to the creek in some areas and poison ivy can occasionally be found along the stream banks.