ROAD TRIP: NATHROP, CO.- ST. ELMOS, HIKE CTY RD. 294 AND AGNES VAILLE FALLS

* 4/30/2025 I have made a minor tweak and added another waterfall hike which is walking distance from Agnes Vaille WaterFalls.

~HIKING AGNES VAILLE TRAIL TO AGNES VAILLE FALLS:The trail to Agnes Vaille Falls Begins from a roadside trailhead. The hike used to be a 1.2 mile out-and-back trip. Now, the upper segment is closed, so hikers are directed to take the approximately 1-mile loop hike on the Cascade Creek trail that still offers a great view of the waterfalls. We will follow the USFS regulations in this area as posted on the signage. The falls are very beautiful and photogenic but the area of the trail may still be unstable and should not be hiked. We will not be allowed to hike within the perimeter of the trail borders.

~After the Agnes Vaille Trail hike we’ll leave our vehicles where they are and walk .5 miles to the trailhead of CASCADE FALLS where we’ll see the falls from the roadside but we’ll head on down on the social trail to the creekbed for a better look and photo taking. Then we’ll walk back to our vehicles and head on to St. Elmo Ghost Town.

~St. Elmo, one of the most well preserved ghost towns in Colorado, was founded in 1880. Built around mining, the town hit its prime in 1890. With over 150 mine claims, a telegraph office, general store, five hotels, dance halls, a newspaper office and a schoolhouse, the population peaked at about 2,000 people.
Though it was first called Forest City, the small town's name was changed when the post office objected because there were too many towns with the same name. The new name was derived by Griffith Evans, one of the founders, who was reading a romantic nineteenth century novel by the same name.
The St. Elmo General Store is one of the few ghost town stores still open and in operation and will be open when we arrive. The store is a mom-and-pop shop known for its antiques and souvenirs. It operates seasonally, typically from early May through the end of September. Be sure to buy some snacks for the chipmunks!

~HIKING ST. ELMO COUNTY ROAD 294: Those who would like to hike St. Elmo County Road 294 towards Tin-Cup Pass. We'll begin the hike in the town of St. Elmo. The town of Tin Cup is 12 miles away but let’s make it a 4.5 mile hike out and back with an elevation gain of only 305 ft. The scenery is fantastic with views of several fourteeners, valleys and other canyons. This hike is known for its photography.

This is a popular trail for hiking, mountain biking, and off-road driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. As always, we’ll make sure to be aware of our surroundings and cautious of others, especially those who take Jeeps and other 4X4 vehicles on this road.

After the hikes and St Elmo, we'll head on into Nathrop for some grub which is included within the 10AM to 4PM time slot. Then it's onto Salida or wherever you all may want to go for some night time entertainment!

I think that about does it for a day in Chaffee County, Colorado
I hope to see you in St. Elmos!
Drive Carefully,
Don

MEMBERS FROM BOTH: https://www.meetup.com/colorado-trail/ AND https://www.meetup.com/hittinthetrails/?eventOrigin=your_groups WILL BE ATTENDING THIS HIKE!
This Release states that members attend events at their own risk, and release The Organizers, the assistant organizers and Meetup from any claims that may result in injury or death
Events in buena vista, CO