Contact Info
HC 68 Box 50
Mimbres, NM 88049
- Phone:
- 575-536-2250
Basics
- Length:
- 1.5 miles
- Difficulty:
- Easy
- Time:
- 1 to 1-1/2 hrs
- Trailhead Elevation:
- 6360 feet
- Elevation Range:
- 6360 feet to 7240 feet
- Elevation Change:
- 880 feet
- Usage:
- Moderate
- Season:
- Spring to Fall
Description
Little Creek is a long, shallow valley with open grassy parks and stands of ponderosa pine. The valley is wide enough to offer privacy for camping away from the trail. At it's upper end, about 10.5 miles, Trail 161 junctions with Trail 155 which provides access to upper Turkey Creek or to the southern expanse of McKenna Park by crossing over the Diablo Range. Trail 150, at the saddle between Little Creek and Turkey Creek goes to the top of Granite Peak and offers a panorama of the Gila Wilderness. The Little Creek Trail 161, Turkey Creek Trail 155, and Miller Springs Trail 159 can be linked to make a 3 to 4 day loop trip.
This trail provides a connecting route to remote parts of the wilderness.
Details
Length:
Difficulty:
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Trailhead Elevation:
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Additional Details:
The 160 trail head, the connecting trail to 161, is at TJ Corral. There are chemical toilets, corrals, and plenty of parking for hikers and horse trailers.
Silver City is 43 miles from the trail head and provides auto services, gas, groceries, lodging, restaurants, and shopping.
Tral 160 has no water. Trail 161 has water in the lower end of Little Creek where it junctions with 160 and the upper end were the valley narrows. In the wider sections of the valley the creek bed is often dry with intermittent flow during the wet seasons. Water quality is not tested therefore it cannot be guaranteed to be drinkable, it is advisable to filter or treat all drinking water.
On the topos Trail 155 from Little Creek over the Diablo Range to the West Fork of the Gila River is also called the Little Creek Trail. This is an historic trail that connected the White Creek Ranger Station with the Little Creek Guard Station in the early part of the 1900''s. There once was a cabin at the junction of 161 and 155 that served as one of the many guard stations scattered throughout the forest and housed Forest Service personnel in those early days.
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
Follow NM 15 north from Silver City to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Trail 161 has no trail head at the road and must be hiked to via Trail 160. The 160 trail head is at TJ Corral about one mile before the entry station to the Cliff Dwellings. It's about a 4.25 mile hike from the 160 trail head to Trail 161 in Little Creek. The travel time to the 160 trail head is 1 hour, 45 min.
