Lizard Head Pass in Winter

The Galloping Goose Trail is one of several that begin in the Lizard Head Pass area, south of Telluride in southwest Colorado. The 21 mile route mostly follows the old rail bed of the Galloping Goose line that served the mountain area until the early 1950s.

The 2.5 mile segment from the Lizard Head Pass to the Trout Lake Trestle has been groomed for easy cross country skiing and snow shoe hiking. There is a cleared space to park on the east side of Highway 145 across from the 10,222 feet elevation Lizard Head Pass rest area. At the trail head, there is a sign and map with information on the history of the trail.
 

 

The mountains along this segment of trail are Vermillion Peak, Yellow Mountain, and Sheep Mountain. The footing in late January was very firm for easy walking in snow shoes. During my hike I saw 5 cross country skiers using the wide groomed trail.

There are many artifacts of the rail era along the Galloping Goose Trail. The only trestle still standing is the Trout Lake Trestle, at the end of the groomed segment. It took me 1:00 hour of hiking to arrive at the trestle where I turned around.

At the end of my hike I looked around the historic sheep corrals that are visible in the pass area, the snow nearly covering them. The wide meadow areas in the pass area are also being used by snowmobiles and I could see that the first segment of the Lizard head Trail was getting some use from snow shoe hikers.

There were also a few vehicles parked near the Cross Mountain trail head where there is a better view of the iconic Lizard Head formation. My total hike was 2:10 hours for about 5 miles on a 25 F degree late January day.