Narrow Gauge Trail in Chalk Creek Canyon

My family and I are excitedly planning our trip to Colorado this summer.  For my wife and me, this is

from Coloradoguy.com

our first return to the land of the narrow gauge since 2004 and our children’s first visit.

In looking around I came upon a trail that I wasn’t aware of, aptly named Narrow Gauge Trail in Nathrop, Chaffee County.  I discovered it via a random YouTube video and then found more info on Colorado Guy’s website.  He describes it as “a great choice for those seeking a easy and flat hike with mountain scenery in Chaffee County.  It is approximately two miles long and runs on the south side of Chalk Creek Canyon.  The trail was once the grade for the Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad that traveled through Nathrop, St. Elmo, the Alpine

Tunnel and Gunnison from 1880 to 1926.”

He also gives directions: “From Nathrop, travel west on Chaffee County Road 162 toward the mountains.  Pass the Mount Princeton Hot Springs and keep going.  A short distance past the Deer Valley Rance entrance, turn left on Chaffee County Road 290 and take it all the way to the end, the site of the trailhead.”

From Coloradoguy.com

The photos show a very walkable trail on the ROW and even an historical sign.  Is this what is referred to as the area called the Cascades?  When I searched “Narrow Gauge Trail Chalk Creek” on Google, I was given a Google map with the trail (see bottom of this post).  It appears County Road 290 is on the RR grade and ends where this trail begins.  At the other end of the trail, it looks like the grade continues as Chalk Creek Drive, or Route 162.  Shortly beyond that point is a campground named Cascade.

This Cascade campground is not to be confused with Cascade, Colorado near Colorado Springs.  Instead it is a campground run by the US Forest Service near Cascade Falls.

A more recent post from another site points out that a rock slide has occurred (as of 2016) that blocks part of the trail.

from Mybuzzabout.com

Our family hopes to check out this trail in the summer.









Sources:
"Narrow Gauge Trail in Chaffee County, Colorado." Colorado Guy.  www.coloradoguy.com

"A Hike, A Drive, and a BBQ." My Buzz About RVing, Travel, Food, Drink, and Life. 24 June 2016. www.mybuzzabout.com

link