Leave No Trace
Overview
| Wilderness One Way Length Beginning Elevation Peak Elevation Gain/Loss/Net Gain Ratings USFS Regulations Trails Illustrated Quadrangle |
None 4.0 miles (trailhead to summit) 8,105 8,166 176/371/-195 Hikers – Easy; Stock Riders – Easy National Forest #111 Red Feather Lakes, Glendevey Red Feather Lakes |
Location
From Ted’s Place, follow US-287 north for 10.5 miles to the “forks” at Livermore. Turn left onto the Red Feather Lakes Road (CR-74E). At mile marker 20.8 you will see the trailhead and parking lot on the right. There are no facilities or water. Trailer parking is available.
| GPS Coordinates Trailhead Mt. Margaret summit |
N40°46.774’ W105°32.258’ Map N40°49.059’ W105°31.676’ |
Description
The Mount Margaret Trail offers an easy and scenic hike along an old roadbed through meadows, granite outcroppings, and ponderosa pine. From the trailhead, the trail goes to the northwest through a meadow before dropping downhill and intersecting South Lone Pine Creek. There is a plank spanning the creek just downstream of the old road crossing. From here the trail winds its way to the northwest. There are seven campsites, each with a bench and an enclosed fire pit with a grill, within the first 3.4 miles of the trail and a total of nine such campsites along this trail. Soon after crossing the creek you will notice campsite #1 on the right and campsite #2 is just around the bend on the left. From here, the trail winds to the northwest before reaching private property. You will pass through a gate at this point. A short distance ahead, the trail splits and the Mount Margaret Trail heads to the right. If you follow the Forest Service arrow up the hill you will intersect the East Dowdy Trail. After going downhill and through some more meadows, you will see campsites #3 and #4 on the right. A bit further, just before the trail junctions, you will see campsite #5 on your right. At this point, East and North Dowdy Trails intersect the Mount Margaret Trail. From here, follow the Mount Margaret Trail to the northeast (past a junction with the North Dowdy Lake Trail [#503F]), passing a swampy area with a small pond. Campsite #6 is just west of this pond and campsite #7 is a little way north of the pond. After another 0.8 mile, the road will turn into a trail marked with cairns that will take you to just below the summit of Mount Margaret. From here you will have a view of a deep canyon carved by North Lone Pine Creek. This can be a hot trail in the summer months, so carry plenty of water.
| Backcountry Campsites Campsite 1 Campsite 2 Campsite 3 Campsite 4 Campsite 5 Campsite 6 Campsite 7 |
N40°47.308’ W105°32.330’ N40°47.336’ W105°32.350’ N40°48.021’ W105°32.494’ N40°48.111’ W105°32.434’ N40°48.233’ W105°32.332’ N40°48.487’ W105°31.855’ N40°48.591’ W105°31.807’ |
