Piedra River Trail- (Shuttle Hike)

This is a proposed shuttle hike, that is a hike requiring staging a car at the trailheads at each end.

The start trailhead is the Piedra river trailhead on Piedra Road (CR 600). About 17 miles from City Market.

The end trailhead is the First Fork TH 12 miles down First Fork Rd. First Fork rd (FS 622) is 22 miles West on 60 from Pagosa Springs.

Two cars must be driven to First Fork, one car will be left there while the second car (along with the occupants of the first car) is driven to the Piedra River TH end.
Hike from Piedra River TH to First Fork TH, take the car left there back to Piedra River TH to retrieve the second car.
We could meetup at City Market and then drive to First Fork, or meetup at First Fork.

(An alternative would be a 1 night backpack from Piedra River TH on Piedra Rd and back).

This is a popular trail and the section within 2 miles of the Piedra Rd TH may be crowded on the weekend.

The trail has little elevation gain and is rated Easy. The greatest risk on this trail is severe sunburn, as much of it is exposed.
A current trail report says the trail is in excellent condition.

https://pagosatrails.org/portfolio/piedra-river-trail-no/

While the trail is relatively easy it offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the area. I love this trail. I have done the section between Piedra River TH and the '3rd bridge' many (hundreds of?) times and a bit of the section at the First Fork end. But not the distance between.

It is a lot of driving to shuttle cars. But I think the beauty of the hike is worth it. (An alternative would be a 1 night backpack from Piedra River TH on Piedra Rd and back).

I have a vehicle that can hold 4 people plus gear, and the second car must be able to match the capacity going (up to 4).

If there is a preference to do it as a 1 night backpack, I am open to that idea.