Grant Creek Trail is a strenuous, 10-mile trail that is a major travel route between the Blue River Canyon floor and rim. This trail sees moderate usage from May through October.

The upland part of Grant Creek Trail wanders through cool forests for the first few miles before beginning its descent into the canyon. The panoramas of Blue River Canyon and the surrounding mountains are great until you begin the serious drop to the Blue River. But even then, the imposing rugged red rock sculptures along Grant Creek are pretty photogenic next to the bright green of the box elders, cottonwoods and sycamores that thrive in the sheltered habitat of the canyon. Slowly, the canyon will open out again and the trail stays with Grant Creek as it approaches the Blue River. Grant Creek Trail forks to the right from Foote Creek Trail at P-Bar Lake. It passes the Grant Cabin Trail and the Paradise Trail on its way down to the Blue River Road.

This is a Primitive Area so no motorized or mechanized vehicles (including mountain bikes) are allowed. Grant Creek and White Oak Springs provide reliable water year-round.

Elevation: 8,800' to 5,440'

Access: Go 23 miles south of Alpine on US 191 to the south end of Hannagan Meadow and turn east on Forest Road 29A to the Steeple Mesa - Foote Creek Trailhead parking area. Or, go 3 miles east from Alpine on US 180 to the Blue River Road, then go south 26.5 miles to the Blue River trailhead for Grant Creek Trail.

USGS Maps: Bear Mountain, Beaverhead, Hannagan Meadow

Trail map