Recreation Region: Eagle - Holy Cross Ranger District

Lower Piney #1885

The Lower Piney Trail trail is 8.0 miles long. It begins at Red Sandstone Road #700 and ends where the Lower Piney River enters private land: This is a downhill hike along the Lower Piney River into the Eagles Nest Wilderness, so remember that you will need to hike back up what you have descended. Save some energy for your return.

General Information

See Eagles Nest Wilderness Regulations

Getting There

Elevation

9238

Directions

From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. There should be a Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here). Continue up this road about 2.7 miles to an intersection with the Lost Lake Road (#786) and continue left. At mile 6.5 you will pass Red and White Mtn Road-FSR 734. At mile 6.7 you will pass the Lost Lake Trail parking lot on the right and then reach an intersection where the Muddy Pass/Moniger Road goes left. Stay right here. (Some maps show the Red Sandstone Road changing number from FSR 700 to FSR 701 at this point, and some don’t, but regardless, you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Upper Piney River Trail). At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see the trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left.