Directions:

From Hwy 40 just west of Steamboat Springs, head north on County Road 129 (initially Elk River Road), for 5.5 miles to the Swamp Park Trailhead on the east side of the road.  There is a large parking area at the trailhead.

Hike Description:

Swamp Park Trail, also known as the Mad Creek Trail, is one of the classic Steamboat Springs fall colors hikes. However, you need to make some effort for the foliage on this one as the Aspen Groves don’t really come out to play until about a mile and half into the hike.  That being said, the first mile and a half is extremely scenic and the meadow with Aspen groves and the Mad Creek Barn is a worthy destination.

The trail starts out by skirting the western rim of a deep and narrow canyon and quickly begins the steady climb.  The views looking back down the canyon are immediately impressive with Mad Creek cutting its way through the rocky canyon walls.  The trail stays along the canyon rim for most of the hike and the climb is steady and constant.  After about a mile of hiking the canyon walls give way to rolling hills and the views north towards the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness become more impressive.  Another half mile or so and you’ll start to realize why this hike is famous for its fall colors.

At a bit more than one and a half miles, and about 500 feet of elevation gain, you’ll enter the meadow which is surrounded by hillsides covered in aspen trees.  The colors are incredible in this area and even though you are rarely immersed in the aspen forests, the views are nothing short of jaw dropping.  In the middle of the meadow is the hike’s destination, the Mad Creek Barn.  Preserved by the US Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Historical Fund, the barn is in surprisingly good shape and you are allowed to enter and poke around.  This is a great spot to relax and take in the scenery.  You can also take a short spur trail down to Mad Creek or continue on the Swamp Park Trail deeper into the Wilderness. The hike back is a bit easier with the steady downhill jaunt all the way back to the trailhead. 

If you are looking for immediate fall colors and aspen groves give the hikes in the Buffalo Pass area a try.  However,  if you are willing and able to put in some work, the reward of fall colors along the Swamp Park Trail is well worth the effort.