Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 7054 - 7179 feet
Cellphone: 2-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: Dennis Weaver
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views
Boot Hill is located in the Dennis Weaver Memorial Park near Ridgway, Colorado. The trail leading up to Boot Hill is part of the longer Riversage Scenic Loop which is the longest of the trails in the park. From the summit of Boot Hill visitors are treated with magnificent scenic views of the San Juan Mountains to the south and the Coxcombs to the east. As an added amusement there are several made up grave markers for such neerdowell outlaws like Messy James, Brawny and Clog, and Wrong Way Cardigan.
The trail begins about a quarter mile from the trailhead at the end of the Stagecoach trail.
From the junction the Stagecoach trail the route heads towards the small saddle in the ridge.
Before the trail has gone 500 feet it begins a loop. The summit of Boot Hill is about a half mile following the trail to the right and just over 1 mile via the left fork.
To get to the summit the trail swings around the east side of the hill.
The climb starts out on a moderate slope.
As the trail continues around to the north side of the hill it gets a little steeper.
There are several switchbacks that help take some of the work out of the climb.
For those whose bucket list has something about having a picnic on Boot Hill there is a table behind the sign for just such an occasion. Tenderfoots should be careful not to get this 'Boot Hill' confused with the one of Dodge City, Kansas fame.
Strolling around the summit reveals grave markers for the 'varmints' buried there along with what we suppose are the pair of boots that they were wearing when they met their end.
This marker is for Wrong Way Cardigan. It reads:
'On the run when he died of dehydration. He was a sweater you know'.
