By:
Submission
Hermosa Park Road 578 corridor: Parking a motorized or mechanized vehicle is restricted to one vehicle length off of designated routes and spurs only (not 300 feet off the 578).
Sig Creek Campground has been decommissioned, but the road, campsites and toilet are open for dispersed camping until new campground is built near Upper Hermosa Trailhead.
The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection legislation, passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in December, 2014, created the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area (SMA) and the adjacent 37,236-acre Hermosa Creek Wilderness. The Hermosa Creek SMA is located within Hermosa Creek watershed between Highway 550 and the Hermosa Creek Wilderness. Check out the Hermosa Watershed Protected Area Map for SMA boundaries.
Due to the SMA designation, special travel management rules and seasonal closures apply to the area. All users are required to stay on designated trails in the Hermosa Creek SMA; new routes must not be created when trails are impassable.
Please note, in 2018, the Hermosa Creek Watershed experienced the 54,000-acre "416 Fire". As a result, there are burned area hazards in the Hermosa Creek Watershed. Entry into burned areas is at your own risk. Some trails will be impassable, and hazards such as falling trees, unstable soils, and debris flows will exist.
From Durango, CO: There are two main access points to the Hermosa Creek SMA.
Lower Hermosa Creek Road #576: Head north approximately 10 miles on U.S. 550. Turn left (west) onto Co Rd 201. After 240 yards, turn right to stay on Co Rd 201. Continue straight onto FR 576 for 3.5 miles.
Hermosa Park Road, #578: Head north approximately 26 miles on U.S. 550. Turn left (west) into Purgatory Ski Resort. Continue onto Hermosa Park Road, FR #578.
