Squaw Creek Trail starts at Thirty-Mile Campground of the National Forest Service, which is located just downriver fromThe Rio Grande Reservoir. The trail begins with a somewhat strenuous but brief uphill as you climb over a ridge to get into Squaw Valley. The creek is down below you for the first mile or so until the valley opens up.
We camped just above the intersection of Squaw Creek Trail and Squaw
Lake Trail, which is about 6 miles from the trailhead. A bridge takes you
over Squaw Creek and then up a slight uphill. We camped on a knoll about
80 feet above the valley floor and had this magnificent view from out of
our tent window looking back down the valley.
Squaw Creek Trail continues another 4 miles or so to Squaw Pass where
it intersects with the Continental Divide Trail. This shot was taken near
the Pass, looking back down the Squaw Creek valley. The entire valley was
breathtaking. The only other valley I've backpacked of comparable beauty
is the Big Blue valley in the Big Blue/Uncompahgre Wilderness area.