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Scouts with just a little experience can try the National Fish Hatchery cross-country ski trails around the Evergreen Lakes. The longer loop trails are intermediate, Scouts should have some experience to handle this terrain and the longer distances involved. There is a trail guide published by the US Department of the Interior entitled A Guide to Cross Country Ski and Hiking Trails, these are available at the Fish Hatchery Trailhead. How to get there: Take US 24 south out of Leadville. At Malta, where US 24 turns south, CO300 will turn off to the west. Follow CO300 for 2.5 miles and turn off at the fish hatchery. Drive back into the hatchery area pass white bungalow housing and park southwest of the old brick building, noted on the “Cross Country Ski Trails” map as (P)1. There are a number of loop trails you can take; two trails start at the fish hatchery; one to the south of the parking area and another just north of the fish hatchery. The main trail starts on a service road south of the fish hatchery complex. You can see this road when you are in the parking lot. Ski up this road to Evergreen Lakes. There are six small lakes just above the fish hatchery. There are interlocking nature trails during the summer around these lakes. During the cross country ski season the same short trails can be used for skiing. If an adventure is desired take the road around the lakes and off to the southwest. A well used cross country trail is north of Rock Creek noted on the “Cross Country Ski Trails” map as trail (a), and heads west for several miles, eventually intersecting with the Colorado Trail. You can return on the same trail or make a loop using the CT, noted as trail (d) to connect you with the Highline Trail to the south (FS1489), noted as trail (b). The Highline Trail Loop is 7.8 miles. The second loop trail is known as the Kearney Park Loop. Take the CT north from the junction of trail (a) and the CT to Kearney Park, noted as trail (e). The return trail will start on the southeast side of Kearney Park which returns you just north of the fish hatchery, noted as trail (c). The Kearney Park Loop is 6.8 miles. Note: Both of the loop trails are for intermediate skiers.
Created on: 2024-09-07 22:06:36