Burn the legs on Burnt Timber Trail

Burn the legs on Burnt Timber Trail

Arborglyph Grove and Burnt Timber Trail a warmup for the high-alpine season
From the south ridge of Point 11,003’, look across the Florida River gorge to a string of thirteeners. Sheridan Mountain is the pyramidal peak on the right.
For the trail hike simply go north until the BTT merges with the Lime Mesa Trail. To visit one or both points, divert from the BTT at two miles. Walk west on a secondary trail. Visit the arborglyphs and then follow the black or blue line north and intersect the BTT. All three hikes return on the BTT.

Burn the legs on Burnt Timber Trail

From the south ridge of Point 11,003’, look across the Florida River gorge to a string of thirteeners. Sheridan Mountain is the pyramidal peak on the right.
For the trail hike simply go north until the BTT merges with the Lime Mesa Trail. To visit one or both points, divert from the BTT at two miles. Walk west on a secondary trail. Visit the arborglyphs and then follow the black or blue line north and intersect the BTT. All three hikes return on the BTT.
Travel Basics

Travel: From Durango, drive north on Florida Road. It becomes La Plata County Road 240. At Helen’s Country Store, County Road 240 makes a sharp right. Stay straight, following the sign for Lemon Dam and Transfer Park. Start measuring from the corner, the beginning of County Road 243. At the dam, 1.6 miles, the road turns to smooth gravel. Continue past the lake and turn left at 6.8 miles on Forest Service Road 596. Cross the Florida River and go left at the split at 7.1 miles, staying on FSR 596. The road is prone to potholes, but two-wheel drive vehicles should be able to dodge them. Park at 8.2 miles at the Burnt Timber Trailhead in Transfer Park. This was the site of an historic transfer station for ore and supplies between pack mules and wagons in the mining era.


Total Time: 5 to 6½ hours for the longest hike


Difficulty: Trail, off-trail; navigation easy on the BTT but moderate for Point 11,003’ and Point 11,724’; no exposure


Maps: Lemon Reservoir; Mountain View Crest, Colorado 7.5’ USGS, or Trails Illustrated #140, Weminuche Wilderness

Distance and Elevation Gain

Burnt Timber Trail to Lime Mesa Trail and back: 8 miles; 2,340 feet


Point 11,003’ and Lime Mesa Trail: 9.2 miles; 2,500 feet


Point 11,724’: 9.6 miles; 3,300 feet

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