Second Fork Rock Creek Trail #236

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The middle portion of the canyon will have grazing cows during the summer, while the upper portion has sheep. Be mindful of livestock.

Most of the trail is great, but there are a few rocky sections. There are also some very short steep sections with loose dirt. Be careful around those.

This trail is accessed from the Third Fork Rock Creek Trail #004, which begins at the Third Fork Rock Creek Campground. You must travel about 1.5 miles to get to this trail, so factor in an extra 3 miles when you plan to take this trail. The fork for this trail is clearly marked with a sign that says "236."

The trail is well-maintained, though some sections are a little rocky. After another 1.5 miles, the trail forks again, but the Second Fork Trail is again clearly marked with a "236" sign. After this point, the trail crosses the creek several times, but fortunately they are all easy crossings. There are a few muddy sections, even in the late summer and fall, so I imagine this trail is particularly muddy in the spring.

The upper portion of the canyon is especially scenic, with plenty of pines and aspens to provide nice shade. The trail ends when it connects with ATV trail labeled "171B." From here, you can possibly extend your trip by taking one of the connectors over to First Fork and make a loop, or exploring the highlands of the South Hills. The scenery is nice in the high elevations with large groves of aspens and pine stands that stand in stark contrast with the golden hills and blue skies.

Grouse, pheasants, songbirds, deer, elk, moose, hawks, snakes