14ers.com • Trailhead Info and Status (Nutras Creek Trailhead)

Nutras Creek Trailhead

Location

San Juan Mountains
38.0354° N, -106.8602° W

Road Difficulty

2 (0=Paved, 6=Very Difficult 4WD)
Rough 2WD dirt to the TH. NOTE: There is a stream crossing on the road which may be difficult for 2WD vehicles in early summer or after heavy rainfall. Low-clearance vehicles not recommended.

Driving Directions

The directions shown here assume you are coming from the north. If you are coming from the San Luis Valley area, drive north on Colorado 114 to Dome Lakes, turn left onto the 15GG road and follow the directions from Dome Lake, below:

Take U.S. 50 to Colorado 114 which is 3.5 miles west of Parlin and just east Gunnison. It is approximately 47 miles to the trailhead from this intersection.
Turn south onto Colorado 114.
Drive 20 miles and turn right onto the NN14 road.
Now on dirt, drive 6.8 miles to Dome Lakes and turn right onto the 15GG dirt road (also known as FR 794 when you reach National Forest).
Drive 4 miles to reach a junction and bear right onto the 14DD road (FR 794).
Continue 12 miles on 14DD to reach a signed junction. NOTE: After 7 miles on the 14DD road, the road crosses Pauline Creek. There are smooth, cement slabs to make the crossing easier but you will still need good-clearance.
Follow the sign for the Stewart Creek trailhead by continuing straight on FR 794.
Drive 2.3 miles to the trailhead, just before the road crosses Nutras Creek.

Winter Access

Closed far away from the TH.

More Info

Parking: 5-10 Vehicles
Restrooms: No
Camping: Dispersed camping along the road

Status Updates
2020-11-06 Posted By: CaptCO Info: 2 weeks after around 2ft of snowfall the road was doable with snow tires and possibly without. Minor sections of icy snow could warrant AWD or snow tires. Logging trucks and campers most likely packed down the road. First creek crossing NO ISSUE IN PRIUS. The second one was gnarlier and I was happy to have blizzaks/F150 to pick up my partner at Stewart creek after a loop. (POSTING FOR FUTURE USERS)
2020-07-25 Posted By: CCU_Jim Info: Road easily passable with a 2wd Kia sedan. Only one creek crossing on the way to Nutras Creek TH. This first creek crossing (Pauline Creek) has maybe an inch of water. The concrete slabs have shifted slightly to create some bumpiness, which was a bigger obstacle than the water itself. TH is immediately before the road crosses Nutras Creek, so no need to ford there unless you are continuing on to Stewart Creek or Eddiesville THs. Other than the one creek crossing, which is negligible this time of year, road is in impeccable shape and can be driven by any vehicle. Earlier in the year when snowmelt is higher, you’d probably want higher clearance just for the creek crossing. Looking at a map, if you really want to avoid the Pauline Creek crossing, it appears possible to leave the NN14 road a few miles earlier and head most of the way towards the Cebolla TH and cut over on the Big Meadows road, to rejoin the main FR794 road, but I didn’t drive it so I don’t know if Big Meadows road has any obstacles.
2020-07-04 Posted By: angry Info: Dry to th. Creek crossing is Subaruable.
2017-11-18 Posted By: globreal Info: In spite of the Friday (11/17/2017) snow storm, the road is still passable all the way to the TH.