TRAILHEAD:   Section 36 T43N, R9W
Weir Trail #432 near Butcher Creek and Epees Park

TRAIL END: Section 13 T43N R1OW
Elevation 9600’ at the junction with the Whipple Mountain Trail #419 near the West Fork of Deep Creek

ACCESS:  Take the Jud Wiebe Trail #432 up about 1/2 mile from the Cornet Creek Trailhead at the top of Aspen Street in Telluride.  At the top of the first set of switchbacks is a signed trail junction.  The Waterline section of the Deep Creek trail starts with a left turn here.

LENGTH:  12 miles or 20 KM

RECOMMENDED SEASON:   May to November Winter use not recommended due to avalanche prone terrain

AMOUNT OF USE: light to moderate

DIFFICULTY:   easy

U.S.G.S. TOPO MAP:  Telluride, Grayhead

SUGGESTED USES: hikers, equestrian, Mountain Biking

CONSIDERATIONS:
Some stream crossings without bridges.  Good trail for early and late season hiking, due to relatively low elevation on sunny exposure.  Great trail for viewing fall colors.  Lots of campsites available along length of trail.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION:

From the Jud Wiebe Trail #432 junction a new section of trail called the Waterline Trail contours around the front hillside, connecting the Jud Wiebe Trail with the Deep Creek Trail at Mill Creek.  The trail starts by dropping down to a crossing of Butcher Creek.  It then climbs up through Epees Park and contours out onto the south-facing hillside.  The trail follows the course of an historic waterline.  The first section of the trail traverses through red cliffs and open forest with excellent views of the Town of Telluride and the Ski Area.  There are a few extremely large old trees on along the way.  After about one mile, the trail turns onto a more north-facing exposure, as it works its' way into the Mill Creek drainage.  This next section traverses denser conifer forest and crosses several small streams.  Occasional views of upper Mill Creek and the waterfalls appear through openings in the trees.   Eventually the trail reaches Mill Creek.  After crossing the creek, the trail follows an old road grade down the creek drainage to a junction with the access from the town water plant and the Mill Creek Road. From this point, the trail switchbacks up out of Mill Creek bottom.  It traverses through a few open meadows with spectacular views of upper Mill Creek Basin and the waterfalls.  From there the trail heads west, climbing up the ridge separating Mill and Eider Creeks.  It continues down into the Eider Creek drainage, crossing Eider Creek after a small meadow.  From this point, the trail traverses out around several aspen covered ridges coming off Campbell Peak and Iron Mountain.  Small and intermittent stream crossings divide the gentle ridge climbs and descents.  About halfway to Last Dollar Road, there is a large sign just east of the first of several major slidepaths.  The trail crosses the slidepaths, working its way through flattened aspen trees.  Eventually it reaches a small meadow underneath the end of the Iron Mountain Ridge, just before beginning a descent into Sheep Creek.  A small sign marks this meadow.  From this point, cross the meadow and follow an old road grade down a short distance to a trail junction.  Turn right off the road onto the trail, which begins to switchback its way down into the Sheep Creek Drainage.   After a considerable descent, the trail comes out in a small meadow near an old waterline.  A sign marks this junction.  The trail dropping downhill follows an old road grade down Sheep Creek to a junction with the Last Dollar Road.  To continue on the Deep Creek trail, follow the old waterline straight ahead for a short distance.   Just where the waterline grade turns the corner around the ridge, a trail sign marks the route of the Deep Creek Trail, which drops down off the ridge heading northeast.   Follow the trail as it wraps around the ridge and drops down into the east fork of Deep Creek.  After a bridged stream crossing, the trail climbs up to a junction with the old Iron Mountain Road.  Go left on the road, downhill about 1/2 mile to a signed junction.  The Deep Creek Trail heads right here, leading to the Whipple Mountain Trail by traversing around the south facing hillside into the west fork of Deep Creek.   It stays high on the oak covered hillside for a short distance, before dropping down into the drainage.  It follows aspen cloaked benches up to a crossing of a rocky gully, which is a small intermittent tributary of Deep Creek.  Then the trail heads up the creek through several more grassy benches which hold monument and survey markers.   The trail meanders up the drainage, getting closer to the creek as the drainage narrows.  Soon it reaches the wilderness boundary just before a ford of the creek.   The trail then follows the creek up through a few small meadows before starting to climb a steep hillside along an old road grade.  At the top of the hill the trail traverses a meadow to a point where it leaves the creek drainage and heads uphill.   This point is considered the end of the Deep Creek Trail and the beginning of the Whipple Mountain Trail.