The Cason Lake Trail #728 winds through spruce/fir and meadows at a moderate to steep grade. The trail veers to the south through a large boulder field towards the rim of the Grand Mesa. The grade becomes steep through the talus boulder field and is very rocky. It passes through an old wooden fence line just below the rim along a deep draw. As the tail crests the rim looking back down the trail gives the visitor an idea of the size of the Kannah Creek Drainage. Along the rim the trail climbs gradually along the northern edge of a meadow where it can be difficult to follow. About 150 yards to the north of the trail, below a small ridge, the Matchett Cow Camp is visible. It ends on the south side of the Matchett Cow Camp after passing along the east side of the wooden corrals and fence line and tying into the Matchett Cow Camp road, FSR #109.1B.
Geo-Ref Trail Map Geo-Reference Instructions
Directions
WESTERN ACCESS:
From the town of Mesa, travel approximately 17.2 miles south on Highway 65 to the Lands End Road. Turn right, west, onto the Lands End Road and travel 3.3 miles to the intersection with FDR #108, Carson Lake Road. Turn left, south on FDR #108 and travel for 1.5 miles to the end of the Carson Lake Road on the northwest corner of Carson Lake. At this location there is a parking area and a campground. Travel from the parking area across the dam of the lake on the western side of the lake to the Carson Lake Western Trailhead.
EASTERN ACCESS:
From the town of Mesa, travel approximately 17.2 miles south on Highway 65 to the Lands End Road. Turn west onto the Lands End Road and travel approximately 1.5 miles to the intersection with FDR #109, Flowing Park Road. Turn left onto the Flowing Park Road and travel south for 2.8 miles to its junction with FDR #109.1B, Matchett Cow Camp Road. Turn right, west, onto the Matchett Cow Camp Road and travel about ½ mile to the location where the road dead-ends at the Matchett Cow Camp. Right before the road enters the cow camp at a fenceline, the Carson Lake Trail forks off the left side of the road near some old, wooden corrals.
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ S
Longitude 0° 0′ 0.0000″ W