Creede, CO – The first question I had upon hearing the name of this trail — the Hobbit Trail — was why is it so named? I don’t have an official answer, as very little info about this trail exists. But I have a theory.
Hobbit Trail climbs the left spire, as seen from our RV site
The trail starts off the Bachelor Loop just outside the town of Creede, at the #6 signpost. I *think* I hiked the correct trail, but it’s hard to know as no signs exist to point the way. The #6 signpost is where the trail is supposed to start, but there are only 2 two-track dirt roads going off in opposite directions and no discernible trail. Based on the map, I picked what I think was the correct dirt road and started hiking up, steeply. The road gets progressively rougher and deeply rutted as you ascend, to the point I wouldn’t drive our Jeep Rubicon on it, which is saying something. Arrive at a saddle after 0.75 miles and take a break, most of the elevation gain is behind you.
View from the Hobbit Trail
The Hobbit Trail has a long talus section en route to the spire
Ahead of you is the crux of the hike: you must navigate a narrow band of rocks on a very steep hillside, encircling the cliff’s edge, many hundreds of feet above a ravine. I don’t recommend this section for those with a fear of heights, but it’s quite manageable otherwise. This band of rocks impressively hewn into the side of a cliff continues for a good 0.75 miles, culminating in some old mining remnants and a stunning view down into the town of Creede.
Talus section looking toward Spire
Looking back at the trail through the talus
View from the Hobbit Trail
So, why is it called the Hobbit Trail? My theory, which admittedly requires the person who named this trail to have mistaken The Hobbit for the The Lord of the Rings, is that the narrow rock band hewn into the side of the cliff is reminiscent of Sam and Frodo’s harrowing journey on the side of Mount Doom. A single slip of the foot on Mount Doom would lead to…well, doom, much like on this hike. If anyone has a better theory please leave a comment.
View of Creede from the Bachelor Loop near the Hobbit Trail
