North Fork Cutoff #1976

About North Fork Cutoff #1976

ALERT: Due to recent bear activity, bear canisters are required for all backpackers in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. This trail starts at the junction with the North Fork Trail and winds with the junction to the trail which connects with Geneva Lake and continues over Trail Rider Pass. It has a nice view of the north fork of the Crystal River Valley and Lead King Basin. It is a short cut for travelers going to Snowmass Lake, but it is very steep. The trail is heavily used by horses and backpackers. Please give horses the right-of-way to prevent erosion near the trails.

How to Get There

From Carbondale travel south on Hwy 133 for 25 miles to the Marble turnoff. Turn left onto County Road 3 to the town of Marble, and past Beaver Lake. One half mile past Beaver Lake the road becomes 4WD and heads uphill and across shale rock. After another 1/2 mile, take the right fork, or Road #314. This road heads immediately downhill. It is about 5 1/2 miles to Crystal City. Pass through Crystal City, uphill approximately 1/2 mile and take the sharp left turn towards Lead King Basin. This is a fairly difficult 4WD road with some steep drop offs. Park at the Geneva Lake trailhead in Lead King Basin. Hike 1/4 mile, taking the right fork towards the North Fork trail. Hike for approximately 2 miles. Take the left fork at the sign to get on the North Fork Cutoff.

Plan Your Visit to North Fork Cutoff #1976

Heading to North Fork Cutoff #1976? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)