Deadman Creek Trail

Deadman Creek Trail is a remote out-and-back from Liberty Gate into the upper Deadman Creek drainage. The mapped line is about 7.4 miles each way, or 14.8 miles round trip including the approach. It starts on sandy access road, follows a rough branch into the drainage, then climbs on a faint path beside the creek. Expect a full day, around 10 hours, with roughly 2,600 feet of sampled elevation gain. This is for experienced backcountry hikers who can navigate and turn around without a signed endpoint; it is not a maintained day-hike route.

The last detailed trip account described about two miles on sandy road from Liberty Gate before an unsigned turn. The mapped route includes a rough spur before reaching the named creek path, so the exact distance to that turn is uncertain. For much of the creek section, hikers traveled above the north bank, crossing to the south side and back once. That account found the line hardest to follow in brush close to the water and easier higher above it. Heavy deadfall slowed travel for several stretches; farther up, the drainage widened and brush eased, though the tread remained thin.

The mapped corridor reaches about 10,400 feet, but there is no established destination or verified trail end. In the only detailed route account found, a party lost the tread around 6.5 miles into its day and continued cross-country toward Deadman Lakes and nearby peaks. Those lakes and summits are separate off-trail objectives, not part of this trail. Treat the map’s upper end as approximate, and turn back when the tread fades rather than following game paths into the high country.

Start at Liberty Gate north of the park near Crestone and walk in; the approach follows a sandy road beyond the gate. There are no verified food, toilet, or reliable water facilities on this route. A field party filtered creek water, but its flow and safety are not assured, so bring water and treatment. Pets are allowed in the preserve on a leash no longer than six feet; carry out waste.