July 22, 2026

We got up and had some leftover dinner and Lake City Bakery pastries for breakfast, then we showered and packed.

We left the motel around 9:00 so they could clean the room and went to the Hiker Center. One of the volunteers was making little donuts that were delicious. I managed to get another couple days of blog updated while we waited for the shuttle up to the trail. We talked with some of the other hikers, including a guy from Texas, “Lifer”, who is 75 years old.

Trail Hiker Center - note the clocks
Trail Hiker Center - note the clocks - Lake City, CO

A bit before 11:00 they arranged for a second driver because there was about eight of us hikers hoping to take the shuttle. We got to the trail a bit after 11:30.

Shuttle to Spring Creek Pass trailhead
Shuttle to Spring Creek Pass trailhead - Courtesy of the Trail Hiker Center

We ran into Brightside, who we hadn’t seen since Bailey, at the parking lot. We told her not to miss the bakery.

The trail follows a jeep road for a few miles. We saw a sheep herder’s wagon, then four sheep, then saw the shepherd with his horse and dogs a mile later.

Shepherd with horse and dogs
Shepherd with horse and dogs - Colorado Trail segment 22

We stopped and ate an upscale “pig in a blanket” from the Lake City Bakery for lunch.

Looking back on Colorado Trail segment 22
Looking back on Colorado Trail segment 22 - Snow Mesa from segment 21 in distance

The trail leaves the road and climbs over a very smooth ridge. We got to the top and saw a cell tower on a nearby hill - we had very good reception for a couple miles. We also got some great views of mountains, including Red Mountain and the distant Uncompahgre Peak.

Red Mountain with Uncompahgre Peak in distance
Red Mountain with Uncompahgre Peak in distance - Colorado Trail segment 22

We could also see back to where we had hiked down from Snow Mesa on Sunday.

Colorado Trail segment 22
Colorado Trail segment 22

After descending a bit the trail climbs and begins following a ridge. After a bit under nine miles we arrived at the last water source for another nine miles. Several people were already camped there, some out in the large meadow and others in amongst the (mostly dead) dead trees.

Popular camping area on Colorado Trail segment 22
Popular camping area on Colorado Trail segment 22 - Rito Hondo creek

We set up the tent and then joined a group sitting in a circle and talking for a while. Then we went back to our tent and ate a calzone from the bakery for dinner.

Camp at Rito Hondo creek
Camp at Rito Hondo creek - Colorado Trail segment 22

We went to filter some water and saw a moose in the brush. We decided to just fill our collection bag and do the filtering back at the tent - once we were in the brush there was no way to tell if the moose might be moving towards us.

Moose at Rito Hondo creek
Moose at Rito Hondo creek - Colorado Trail segment 22

We had a tasty piece of fudge for dessert, then set up our sleeping bags and went to bed somewhat early. We read books on our phones for a while before trying to sleep.

9 miles in about five hours.