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Scotland Trail

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9610 - 10,219 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 2 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Scotland Trail
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest, mountain lakes, wildflowers




The Scotland trail is located on the Grand Mesa just south of Ward Creek Reservoir along Highway 65. The trail begins at the highway and stretches north for 2.5 miles where it connects with Forest Service Road 115. There is also a Scotland Connector trail that begins at the Ward Creek Reservoir and connects to the Scotland trail about a mile from the Scotland trail trailhead.


The Scotland trail is usually one of the first trails to become snow free on the Grand Mesa. The trail also seems to have many fewer mosquitoes than most trails on the mesa.


The Scotland trail climbs steadily over its entire length, at a gradual pace, to reach its end which is a little over 600 feet higher. There are enough areas where the trail levels off that it doesn't seem like a total uphill effort.


The trail is mostly secluded within the trees and hidden from view from passers-by on the highway. There is one spot where you can walk over and get a nice view of Ward Creek Reservoir.


A loop hike could be formed by cutting the hike short and taking the Scotland Cutoff trail down to Ward Creek Reservoir and then hiking along it back to the lower trailhead.


As you can see from the above photo the Scotland trail offers some very pleasant hiking.


The Scotland trail ends at Forest Service Road 115. If you follow the road to the right it will take you up to Island Lake. If you follow it to the left it will take you over to the Grandby Reservoirs.


On the hike back I hiked the short distance through the trees to get a picture of January Reservoir. There isn't a trail that connects the reservoir to the Scotland trail so it requires a little climbing over fallen trees and such. There were also mosquitoes around the shores of the reservoir.


The Scotland trail is open to ATV's. This group were riding from the camp below Ward Creek Reservoir over to the Grandby Reservoirs.


The Scotland trail is a hike that the entire family can enjoy. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to find a good spot to have a picnic. Some bug spray  would probably come in handy if you go around the water. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.