Turkey Springs and Monument Park Roads

 
Hint:  Click the "play" button after the slide show loads.
 
The Turkey Springs/Monument Park Trailhead is by the cattle guard where the asphalt ends and Piedra Road enters the San Juan National Forest.  This is about 6.25 miles from the intersection of Piedra Road and Hwy 160.
 
These multi-use trail is groomed by the Trailblazers Snowmobile Club.  There are two routes combined here.  You begin both at the same trailhead.  The Monument Park Road connects to Turkey Springs Road 2.25 miles from the parking area.
 
Expect a bit of a climb from the parking lot to the mesa top.  After you reach the top you will feel any effort exerted to get up there is well worth it.  Also, don't be discouraged if there are a lot of boot and dog pock marks at the beginning, they don't usually go very far.
 
Details:
  • The initial climb from the trailhead to the top (where the trail crosses Newt Jack Road) is 1.25 miles.
  • There is a wye junction in the trail shortly after you cross Newt Jack Road.  The sign sends cross-country skiers to the left and snowmobiles to the right.  Go right.  (For the trail going left, see the "Turkey Springs, Brockover and Newt Jack Loop" on this web site.) 
  • In another mile you will arrive at the junction of Monument Park Road.  This means this junction is 2.25 miles from the trailhead.
  • Turn right to go up Monument Park Road.  Go straight to go up Turkey Springs Road.
  • From the intersection of Monument Park Road and Turkey Springs Road to the end of Monument Park is 7.75 miles (so out and back is 15.5 miles).   You begin at about 8000 feet and reach 8700 feet at the end of the road, but there is 1430 feet of total ascent.  The turn off for the hut is 4.5 miles from the beginning of Monument Park Road.  Out and back from the parking lot is 20 miles. 
  • If you go to the end of the groomed trail along Turkey Springs Road (including a spur to the right that goes to the Turkey Springs Guard Station) you will cover 5.75 miles from the trailhead and will climb about 830 feet.  In and out on this route is 11.5 miles.

Turkey Springs Trailhead

 
You should be able to zoom in and out and navigate within the above Google map to find directions.
 
 

A Topo! map of these two combined routes is attached below, so you can easily print it out and take it with you.
 
Notice the two "Huts" on the map.  These are part of the "Pagosa Hut and Trail System and are available to rent. 
 
 
Please see the WEB site of the Colorado Snowmobile Association for updates on grooming status of the roads groomed by the Trailblazers Snowmobile Club.
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TurkeySprings&MonumentParkTOPO!Map.pdf
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Tom Steen,
Jan 2, 2010, 5:24 PM
v.3
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