Brookside-McCurdy Trail

Views from the first accessible Campsite on the Bailey side.

The Brookside-McCurdy Trail is another close-in local hike to the Bailey area, and offers miles of beautiful Colorado backcountry access in the Lost Creek Wilderness area. The trail is a major North to South transection of this immense wilderness area, and offers everything from a nice day picnic hike to a 35 mile trek that could be stretched out to a week. The terrain varies nicely from mile to mile, heading through pine and aspen forests and high-mountain meadows alike, and you'll see some some splendid views along the way.

The trailhead can be accessed from either the Bailey or the Jefferson side of the park, or it can also be picked up at other spots along the way, including Lost Park Campground. From the Bailey entrance, it's a rather nice hike, offering several very accessible miles, with a mellow elevation gain, although the trail does get more aggressive after two miles or so in. As you can see from the attached image, the picnicking prospects are great here, and the first few miles provide a very nice experience for hikers of all different ability levels.

To get here, heading South on 285, take a left at the bridge by the Ace Hardware store in Downtown Bailey. You'll follow that Co Rd 64 past the Community Church and through a little neighborhood. When you hit the "Y" in the road, head left, and follow that dirt road for about another mile. You'll see the trailhead on clearly marked to the left.