Deep Creek Trail and Cornet Falls

The Deep Creek Trail travels for about 13 miles along the north side of the Telluride Valley in southwest Colorado. The east trail connection is along the western loop of the Jud Wiebe Trail. The Deep Creek Trail is part of a large trail system that offers several hiking options.

I started my hike from the free parking area on the southwest end of town and walked a few blocks through the pleasant streets of Telluride to the Jud Wiebe Trail head at the north end of Aspen Street. There doesn't appear to be any parking in the trail head area. At the trail head there is also a short trail leading to the Cornet Falls.

The Jud Wiebe Trail is a popular 2.7 mile loop back to the east. The first 0.8 miles of Jud Wiebe climbs steeply to the west and arrives at the east end connection of the Deep Creek Trail. Another 100 feet along the Deep Creek Trail there is a connection with the east end of the Sneffels Highline Trail that heads further north. It’s good to have a map of this trail system when hiking up here.

The Deep Creek Trail levels out and moves west offering high elevation views of the Telluride Valley. After about a mile it turns away from the valley and loops around the Mill Creek area eventually crossing a small bridge over a roaring plunging stream.

Along the trail there are old pipes and other artifacts from the mining era. High above Mill Creek a large waterfall is visible but the views are obscured by the thick forest. In this area the forest is Aspens, Douglas Firs and Engelmann Spruce.

Past the bridge, there is an access trail connecting to the Mill Creek Road leading back down to the valley floor. After the access trail junction, the trail begins climbing again for 2 miles to the western junction with the Sneffels Highline Trail. The trail signs indicated that the Sneffels loop is 8.2 miles back to the east connection with the Deep Creek Trail.

There are some meadow areas along this segment with great views of the mountains that lie north of the Telluride Valley. Wildflowers are moderately good along the whole length of the hike here.

I got a tip from another hiker that about 10 minutes north on the west connection of the Sneffels Trail there is a large rock outcrop giving great views in several directions. This rock outcrop appears to be a popular local destination. Besides views into Telluride Mountain Village and the mountains beyond, you can see a little into the Sneffels Basin to the north.

From this point the Deep Creek Trail continues west another 5 miles to Last Dollar Road, then another 4 miles or so along Deep Creek. It took me 2:40 hours to get to the rocky view point where I started my return back along the same route.

It took me 2:00 hours to return to the Jud Wiebe Trail Head, the return is mostly downhill. Back at the trail head, I hiked the short trail to the Cornet Falls.

There are two falls here and the higher falls is the most interesting, plunging as a narrow ribbon over the sandstone cliffs. It is possible to get under the falls. My total hike of about 11 miles took 5:30 hours. I carried two liters of water on a 70 F early July day that was partly cloudy with a few drops of scattered rain.