Tabeguache Trail - Dry Creek Section

About

The Tabeguache Trail Dry Creek Section is a 15.8-mile moderate hike starting in Montrose, Colorado. The route connects the Shavano Valley to Transfer Road near Grand Junction. Hikers traverse 15.8 miles with an elevation gain from 4,600 to roughly 9,700 feet. The trail takes approximately nine hours to complete. It begins by following the Rim Road for the first three miles before crossing Dry Creek on the Ralph Files bridge. The surface varies from two-track roads and logging roads to singletrack sections. Around mile eight, vegetation shifts from pinyon pine to ponderosa pine and scrub oak. The trail narrows to ATV width in steep segments before widening again on Cushman Mesa. Brown fiberglass posts mark the path at intersections and every mile. Water is not readily available along the trail, requiring hikers to carry supplies. The area is a designated hunting zone during specific seasons; wearing orange is recommended. Accessible year-round, though conditions vary with snow and ice in winter. Parking is available at the trailhead.