From Horse Gulch, the trail leads out toward Meadow. The Telegraph Trail can be seen snaking up the hillside in the background.

      APPROACH: From East Eighth Avenue, head east on Third Street one block to a small parking area (N 37 15.883, W 107 52.329, 6,600 feet). Third Street turns into a dirt county road, closed to motor vehicles.

      HIKE: Head up the dirt road, passing around the gate that shuts off the road to vehicles. In 0.7 miles turn right off the main road (N 37 15.850, W 107 51.681, 6,760 feet) onto the Meadow Loop, which follows the remnants of a road before veering off to the left at 0.9 miles and crossing the large meadow.

      Keep right where there are trail options, and at 1.4 miles head up the Telegraph Trail. There should be trail maps posted along the way to help guide you. Telegraph climbs slowly as it contours east, west, south, and back east again, joining up finally near the top with the old telegraph road built early in the twentieth century. The distance from the parking area to the top of the Telegraph Trail (N 37 15.536, W 107 50.706, 7,480 feet) is 2.7 miles.