San Miguel South Fork River Preserve

The South Fork of the San Miguel River has several day use areas in the lush riparian area along the stream. The largest is the Sheep Corrals area, with easy access to the river. About 1.5 miles south of the Sheep Corrals is the South Fork River Preserve, one of three Nature Conservancy preserves in the San Miguel watershed. 

This scenic and biologically rich area is south of Telluride and west of Highway 145 in southwest Colorado. There is an over head view of the area along the Galloping Goose Trail between Ames and the Sunshine Mesa Road.

The South Fork Preserve can be driven to directly, but if you want to hike, the South Fork Road offers scenic views and has very little traffic. Hiking south from the Sheep Corrals parking area, a trail head for the Sunshine Trail is on the left after about 0.5 miles. 

I looked to see if it was possible to hike along the stream, but it there isn’t a trail and some of the spots would be steep and overgrown. As the road approaches the Preserve there is a flooded area that is the work of beavers.

The Preserve has a boardwalk with a viewing platform. There are four interpretive signs that explain the San Miguel River Watershed, why riparian areas are important, the most common trees present here, and the San Juan Mountains.

Riparian areas make up about 2% of the west, yet about 90% of the wildlife uses these areas for food and shelter. The San Miguel watershed is one only two upper Colorado basin rivers that does not have a dam. The trees present here include the Colorado Blue Spruce, Aspens, Narrowleaf Cottonwoods, and Willows.

There is a well marked short trail leading from the viewing platform south along the South Fork River. The most obvious signs of wildlife along the trail are the works of beavers. I was surprised that they would take on such a large tree. Beavers clear the way for new growth and their constructions flood some areas and alter the flow in others.

In early June, the flow is at a peak and is roaring along. The Preserve trail is about 0.8 miles round trip and ends near the main road. Near the south end there is something of a stream cascade. The trail didn’t appear to be marked at the south end and might be hard to find other than at the viewing platform.

A hiker could loop back along the road or return the way he came. It took me 0:40 minutes to arrive at the viewing platform starting from the Sheep Corrals and 0:35 minutes to walk the trail inside the Preserve. There are several good viewing spots along the road before arriving at the Preserve.