Recreation area

New York Creek #2182

Colorado — managed by USDA Forest Service

Open recreation area — no reservation needed

About this campground

From the parking area, the trail crosses Lincoln Creek. This crossing is very wide and can be tricky during high spring runoffs. The trail ascends gradually and then more steeply following an old jeep road for 1 mile before merging with the old aqueduct road. Follow the old aqueduct road to the right for 1/2 of a mile. In a little over 1/4 of a mile, the trail crosses the Brooklyn Gulch Creek Diversion. Stay on the aqueduct road which makes an immediate S curve and then straightens. A few minutes farther the New York Creek Diversion can be seen. A few steps before this diversion, the New York Trail enters the woods on the left where a sign is posted. If you miss the trail turnoff and come to the end of the road, retrace your steps and the trail will be about 50 yards back on the right. Once in the woods the trail parallels New York Creek for 3/4 of a mile ascending through spruce forests before crossing New York Creek and emerging into a meadow. The trail then ascends more steeply through alternating evergreen forests and open meadows for another 1-1/2 miles to the upper meadows above treeline. Marking the trail for the last mile before the pass are cairns and wooden posts. This portion of the hike is very steep and extreme caution is required to avoid damaging the fragile alpine tundra.

Getting there

Drive 10 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82 to Lincoln Creek Road. Turn right and drive 3.1 miles on Lincoln Creek Road to the New York Creek Trail turnoff on the right. Although a 4WD vehicle is not necessary, High clearance is a must.

Activities

  • HIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Explore more Colorado camping

New York Creek #2182 doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Colorado campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.

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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.