Galloping Goose Trail at Lizard Head Pass

The Galloping Goose Trail follows an old railroad grade from Lizard Head Pass in the San Juan Mountains for 21 miles north toward Telluride in southwest Colorado. The segment from Lizard Head Pass to Trout Lake is very smooth and easy walking. It is about an 8 mile round trip from the pass to the west end of Trout Lake and back.

The trail head is on the east side of Highway 145 across from the view point area at the pass. This might be a more popular mountain bike route than a hiking trail. During my hike a group of 50 bikers passed by.

Near the trail head are historic sheep pens. Before 1951 the Galloping Goose was used to move livestock out of the mountain area before the onset of winter. The Lizard Head Pass at 10,225 ft. is a spectacular spot. Sheep Mountain, Vermilion Peak, and Yellow Mountain dominate the scene. The elevation at Trout Lake is 9710 feet.

In the 1890's a mining boom inspired the building of a rail system connecting Durango, Dolores, Telluride, and Ridgeway in southwest Colorado. The mining boom ended and the in the 1920s the transportation needs of the area were served by the Galloping Goose, an odd looking narrow gauge train.

The Goose ran until the early 1950s when the highways finally put it out of business. Three of the seven Geese were saved and are on display around the area. 

The route winds downhill through Spruce-Fir and Aspen forest and meadows. Only one of the old trestles from the Goose era still stands. This one is along the route from the pass down to Trout Lake.

Past the trestle is a forest road going up to the trail head for the Hope Lake Trail. Also past the trestle there will be a few more vehicles on the route.

There is an old water tank still standing, mixed in among the cabins on the hillside above Trout Lake. The cabins and homes in the area are an odd mix, some very luxurious and some very rustic. There aren't any stores or shops here. 

The Trout Lake is scenic and there were a number of canoes and row boats strung along the shore. In mid July, there were several fishing from the bank.

Trout Lake water is used to power the historic hydro-electric plant in nearby Ames. The Ames power plant was the first in the country to generate alternating current and provided power to the mining activity near Alta Lakes and the now Alta Ghost Town.

 It took me about 1:30 hours to walk downhill here from Lizard Head Pass. My return hike uphill took 1:35 hours for a total hike of 3:25 hours for about 8 miles. On a 70 F degree day I carried and drank 3 liters of water.