Owl Creek Pass

Trail Overview

This is an enjoyable and easy 45-mile trip over Owl Creek Pass between the Uncompahgre and Cimarron Rivers. There can be a few water-filled potholes, but nothing that would stop a passenger car with reasonable clearance. Perhaps it would be muddier early in the year. John Wayne filmed scenes from both "True Grit" and "How the West Was Won" along this road. The southern portion of the trail varies from ranch land to forested mountains. Chimney Rock is a prominent landmark along this stretch. Owl Creek Pass is heavily forested at just over 10,000 feet in elevation. Silver Jack Reservoir is a fair-sized lake fed by the Cimarron River. The Cimarron Road is a wide gravel road connecting Silver Jack Reservoir to US 50 east of Montrose. This track follows the main road for a ways toward US 50 but then takes a shortcut on a good county road to reach US 50 at the Dallas Divide. There are areas of private land with cabins and lodges, and also large expanses of open range land.