Motorcycle Colorado
Good Things to Know Great Roads Dirt Roads and Side Trips Motorcycle Camping Motels/Hotels Rides/Rallies Dealers/Repairs Attractions Rentals/Tours Riding Stories Motorcycle Colorado Blog

Slumgullion and Spring Creek Passes

CO 149 over Slumgullion and Spring Creek Passes Marshall Park CampgroundSilver Thread Campground

The ride on Colorado 149 from Blue Mesa Reservoir, west of Gunnison, to Lake City and down to Creede takes you over Slumgullion and Spring Creek Passes. Heading out of Lake City going south you quickly come to the Alferd Packer Massacre Site. It was on this spot in 1874 that Alferd Packer, trapped with five other men by heavy snow, survived by eating his companions.

On the south side of Spring Creek Pass you’ll see a turnoff for North Clear Creek Falls. It’s well worth the half-mile detour on good pavement to this viewpoint.

There are two motorcycle-accessible campgrounds along this route, Silver Thread Campground and Marshall Park Campground.

Click on the photos below to see larger versions; you can then arrow through them, or click on the large image to close it.

The first photo is looking back towards Lake City while climbing Slumgullion Pass.

The second is looking up toward Spring Creek Pass. The turnoff in the foreground is the road to South Clear Creek Falls, shown in the third and fourth photos.

The fifth photo shows the descent from Spring Creek Pass and the sixth is of Creede. Creede is a very picturesque town and well worth a stop.

Climbing Slumgullion Pass Slumgullion Pass
Clear Creek Falls Clear Creek Falls
Descending Spring Creek Pass Creede

Back to top

South Clear Creek Falls
North Clear Creek Falls

Visit the Motorcycle Colorado Blog
More riding stories, comments, exchanges, etc.... all on the Motorcycle Colorado Blog