Fleming Meadow Eldorado National Forest

May 19, 2022

Needing to get out of the valley heat (already!), this will be my first visit to an area burned by last year's Caldor Fire.

There isn't much left of the forest

There are a few roadside flowers, though.

Vari-leaf Collomia
Yellow Star Tulip

I'll try this route

Miner's Lettuce

There is a lot of noise up ahead.  Dead trees are being cleared out of an open area.

Doubtless many such operations are in progress in this forest

Not wanting to continue around the corner into the construction zone, I opt to try what looks like a fairly easy passage down the hill in the opposite direction.  Perhaps I can hook up with one of the many other routes that were showing on the trailhead map.

This path is great — if it lasts

Unfortunately, the 'path' peters out after a hundred-foot descent; so I must clamber steeply uphill through what seems like a giant pile of lumpy sawdust.

Careful footing is required at times

Grabbing charcoal-encrusted trees for support is a dirty business

Another spur route goes down to a creek, but then continues in the wrong direction.

Down, then up

Near the end, I must make way for passing lumber trucks

American Vetch

§: Well, this area never did have much of interest, and now there is even less.  For a hike in this area, pay the five dollars across the street and walk up beside Jenkinson Lake to the man-made waterfall instead.

• Trailhead: 5 miles south of US-50 on Sly Park Road, then 2 miles east on Mormon Emigrant Trail
• Distance: 2½ miles
• Elevation: 3500'
• Hikers: none
• Rating: 2

Scenery
Difficulty
Personality
Adventure
Flowers

September 2021: This entire trail system burned; some of the trees survivied.  As of May 2022, some trail clearing has been done, but that is about all. Lumber is being harvested from the Fleming Meadow area.