Backpack – BPX 3-day: Meadow Creek Trail to Eccles Pass and climb Buffalo Peak

Hike in and set up base camp in the upper end of the Meadow Creek drainage.  Take a short afternoon hike to several mountain tarns below Deming Peak. On day two, hike up to Eccles Pass and on to Eccles Peak and Buffalo Mountain at 12,777 feet. Hike out on day 3.

Day 1: Hike into camp. From the Meadow Creek Trailhead, hike good trail 4 miles/ 2,200' elevation gain. Make camp at around 11,400’ at a secluded campsite.  Take a leisurely afternoon hike to pretty mountain tarns around 11,800' below Deming Mountain.  Return to camp for the evening.

Day 2: Climb Buffalo Mountain. From camp, hike up the Meadow Creek Trail to Eccles Pass, turn east and follow the broad ridge over Eccles Peak and on to Buffalo Mountain (2.5 miles, 1,200' elevation gain).  Return to camp for the evening.

Day 3: Hike back out.  If there is interest, take a side-hike to Lily Pad Lake (0.8 miles).

For map, go to Meadow Creek Trail to Buffalo Mountain - CalTopo

Hike in is Red

Afternoon hike is Blue

Buffalo Mountain hike is Green

Meet at 1-70 Morrison exit (NOT C-470 Morrison exit) Park & Ride, Woolly Mammoth lot, across from gas station (BB) at 7:00am

Or at the Meadow Creek Trail trailhead at 8:am. Take I-70 to Frisco exit 203, go “straight” (180 degrees around the roundabout) and continue parallel to the highway for about .5 miles to the trailhead.