Name: Cooper Lake, Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks, San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Start: 2024-06-18T06:00:00-07:00
End: 2024-06-21T18:00:00-07:00

This three-night trip in the San Juan Mountains will take us to an alpine lake and up two of Colorado’s 14’ers. **Experienced High-Altitude Hikers Only.**

Our first hike will follow the **Cooper Creek Trail to Cooper Lake**: This well-maintained trail ascends gently up a valley, through forests and meadows, across a creek, and enters a basin prior to the final one-mile climb to Cooper Lake. Beauty and solitude are two things you’re very likely to experience on the Cooper Creek Trail. This trail starts at 10,650 reaching 12,750 feet, 7.4 miles RT, 2350 ascent.
See [https://trails.colorado.gov/routes/134](https://trails.colorado.gov/routes/134),
See [https://hikingwalking.com/destinations/co/co_sw/lake_city/cooper_lake](https://hikingwalking.com/destinations/co/co_sw/lake_city/cooper_lake)
Our second hike will follow the **Silver Creek Trail to Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks**: This very challenging route should only be attempted by experienced adventurers. The Silver Creek Trail will take us to the summit of Redcloud Peak at 14,042 feet (at 4.7 miles) and then (optionally) to the summit of Sunshine Peak at 14,006 ft (at 6 miles) will take us (12 miles, 4648 AEG).
See [https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/redcloud-and-sunshine-peaks?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/colorado/redcloud-and-sunshine-peaks?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map)
**Daily Agenda:**
Day 1: (Tue) Drive to Silverton (8HR), car camp at Arrastra Creek disbursed camping area. Dinner either at campsite or in Silverton.
Day 2: (Wed) Drive from Silverton to Cooper Creek TH (21 miles, 1:45 HR some 4WD), hike Cooper Creek Trail to Cooper Lake, 7.4 miles RT, 2350 AEG. Car camp overnight at or near the trailhead.
Day 3: (Thu) Drive to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch trailhead (0.7 miles 4WD), day hike to Redcloud and Sunshine and Redcloud Peaks, return to camp, sleep well. There are ruins near this trailhead to investigate.
Day 4: (Fri) Drive back to Mesa (10 HR) (arrive home about 4PM – note one hour time difference)
**Camping**
Camping (first night) near Silverton: Disbursed camping on BLM land off County Road 2 (CO RD 2), river road sites 1 – 7, Arrastra Creek, Arrastra Gulch Dispersed Camping [37.82309477 N 107.6215567 W] (BLM) Elevation 9547ft, less than 15 minutes from Silverton.
Camping (second and third nights), Burrows Park area, disbursed camping near Cooper Creek Trailhead – expect porcupines and marmot in the area.
Disbursed Camping on BLM land see Gunnison Field Office BLM
[https://webmaps.blm.gov/program_apps/BLM_Natl_Recreation_Opportunities/](https://webmaps.blm.gov/program_apps/BLM_Natl_Recreation_Opportunities/)
Drive from Silverton to Burrows Park follows the Alpine Loop - The Alpine Loop leaves pavement and people behind, crossing the remote, rugged, spectacular heart of the San Juan Mountains. It's demanding—the two 12,000-foot passes (Cinnamon and Engineer) require a **high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle** — but the well-prepared motorist reaps unparalleled rewards: pristine mountain views, hiking and biking trails, great camping opportunities, and ample solitude.
See [https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways/southwest/alpine-loop](https://www.codot.gov/travel/colorado-byways/southwest/alpine-loop)
All hikes are “Come Along At Your Own Risk”
Greg

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Cooper Lake, Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

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Cooper Lake, Redcloud and Sunshine Peaks, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

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