by Ian Muñoz
GOATs, llamas, and a dedicated crew of volunteers teamed up this summer to complete a major trail improvement project on the Willow Lake Trail, located in the Saguache Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest near Crestone, Colorado — one of the most iconic backcountry destinations in the San Luis Valley.
On July 6, our SLV GO! Stewardship Crew headed into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to tackle a much-needed trail repair project deep in the backcountry. Between the long drive to the Willow Lake trailhead and the steep hike to the worksite, this wasn’t a project that could be completed with day trips. Instead, the crew established a backcountry basecamp and spent eight consecutive 10-hour days on the mountain, hiking out only after the work was finished.
Packing a Backcountry Basecamp — With Llamas
Getting an entire camp into the backcountry near Willow Lake was a project in itself. We partnered with Wolf Creek Llamas of South Fork, Colorado, to pack in everything the crew needed for eight days on the trail. Behind the scenes, days of planning went into organizing gear, weighing every load, and carefully balancing each pack to make sure the llama string was ready for the trip.
Six hardworking llamas carried camp kitchen supplies, bear-resistant food storage, propane, tents, sleeping gear, human waste containers, and an arsenal of trail tools into the mountains. Before they could even reach camp, the crew spent their first day clearing obstacles from the trail — moving large boulders, trimming back overgrown vegetation, and improving creek crossings so the llamas could safely pass.
Rebuilding Switchbacks on an Unstable Scree Field
Once camp was established, the real work began. The crew focused on rebuilding five steep, rocky switchbacks that crossed an unstable scree field on the Willow Lake Trail. Constant rockfall had buried sections of the trail, making travel difficult and encouraging hikers to cut switchbacks — creating new social trails and accelerating erosion in this part of the Rio Grande National Forest.
Fortunately, there was no shortage of stone. The crew constructed dry-stacked retaining walls to stabilize the hillside, strengthen the trail, and catch loose rock before it rolled into the trail corridor. These walls also protect the landscape by providing a durable surface where hikers inevitably cut between switchbacks, reducing long-term erosion and resource damage.
Backcountry Life Near Willow Lake
The work was tough, but the setting made it unforgettable. Throughout the week, the crew enjoyed incredible mountain views, chatted with more than 100 grateful hikers passing through the worksite, cooled off at Willow Lake after long days, and even found time for some evening cutthroat trout fishing in Willow Creek.
After seven days of hard work, the llama string returned to camp just before sunset. Llama handler Jeremy surprised the crew with a well-earned dinner of pork burritos — a delicious break from a steady menu of oatmeal, tuna packets, and pasta.
The next morning, camp was packed, the llamas were loaded one final time, and everyone headed down the mountain with lighter packs and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Thank You to Our Partners
Projects like this simply wouldn’t happen without great partners. We’re incredibly grateful to Wolf Creek Llamas and their volunteer packers for making this Willow Lake Trail restoration possible.
Thank you to Amanda & Jeremy Hobbs, Mike Welshimer, Iris Devlin, Riley Duff, and Dave Strawn for your time, expertise, and support.
And finally, a huge thank you to the hardworking llamas: Kevin, Dos, Carl, Norbert, Frank, and Torrito!
Want to help keep trails like Willow Lake in great shape? Donate to support future backcountry trail projects →
