Clear
Creek
Forest Service roads open to motorized vehicles are posted
with white arrows. Wilderness areas such as Collegiate Peaks and
Mount Massive are by regulation, permanently closed to motorized
and mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes. Mileage is measured
one way, unless otherwise indicated.
Clear Creek Road (Chaffee County Road
390)
Length: 12.0 miles
Road Beginning and End: This portion
of road is passable by passenger car. The first segment of road
is through private ranch land. Leaving it, you enter forest land
with lush aspen, pine and shrub growth on both sides of the road.
Fishing in nearby Clear Creek is a challenge. A museum in the ghost
town of Vicksburg, about 8 miles from U.S. 24, is maintained by
the Clear Creek Canyon Historical Society. As you climb gradually
toward Winfield, Clear Creek disappears and reappears through the
undergrowth. Several of the buildings at Winfield are maintained
by the historical society; the rest are privately owned.
Description: A moderate four wheel drive road offering nice opportunities
for hiking.
Hiker Access To: Colorado Trail, Missouri
Gulch (including Mt. Belford, Mt. Oxford and Missouri Mt.) Continental
Divide Trail, Lake Ann, Three Apostles, Huron Peak, North Fork Clear
Creek.
South Fork Clear Creek Road (FDR 390)
Length: 2.0 miles.
Road Beginning and End: Begins at Winfield and ends at the road
closure just south of the Banker Mine.
Description: The road passes the turnoff to the Banker Mine, a large
privately owned patented mining claim, and continues on into an
open alpine meadow with some excellent undeveloped camping sites.
The road is extremely rough and recommended for high clearance vehicles
only.
Hiker Access To: Continental Divide Trail, Lake Ann, Three Apostles,
Huron Peak.
North Fork Clear Creek Road (FDR 390.2A)
Length: 2.2 miles
Road Beginning and End:Begins on the north side of Winfield. Ends
at the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Boundary
Description: Gradual, bumpy climb into an open alpine valley with
meadows, willows, wildlife and wildflower viewing.
Hiker Access To: North Fork Clear Creek Trail.
Clohsey's Lake Road (FDR 338)
Length: 3.2 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins at Clear Creek Road at Rockdale,
about 2 miles west of Vicksburg. Rockdale consists of 5 cabins on
the south side of the road. Ends about ½ mile before Clohsey's Lake.
Description: Extremely rough road, recommended for high clearance
vehicles only. Steep, difficult stream crossing at Clear Creek-early
summer high water flow. Heavily forested.
Hiker Access To: Pear Lake Trail.
Fremont
Pass
Forest
Service roads open to motorized vehicles are posted with white arrows.
Wilderness areas such as Collegiate Peaks and Mount Massive are
by regulation, permanently closed to motorized and mechanized vehicles,
including mountain bikes. Mileage is measured one way, unless otherwise
indicated.
CHALK MOUNTAIN (Forest
Road 134)
Length: 2.9 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins 9 miles north of Leadville on Colorado
91 and ends at the top of Chalk Mountain.
Description: Old growth spruce/fir forest, alpine meadows. View
of Mount of the Holy Cross, Chicago Ridge, and Climax Molybdenum
Company mining operations. During the 1970s,
Chalk Mountain served as site of an observatory, constructed by
Louisiana State University.
Halfmoon
Forest Service roads open to motorized vehicles
are posted with white arrows. Wildernesses such as Collegiate Peaks
and Mount Massive are by regulation, permanently closed to motorized
and mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes. Mileage is measured
one way, unless otherwise indicated.
Halfmoon Road (Forest Road #110)
Length: 14.8
Road Beginning and End: Begins approximately 1 mile west of Hwy.
24 on road #300 (Fish Hatchery Road) and ends on private land at
Champion Mine.
Description: Road is passable by passenger car for the first 7.1
miles to the Mt. Massive trailhead. Remaining is rough, four-wheel
drive road along valley floor. Gradual climb with a few steep pitches.
Hiker Access To: Mt. Massive, Mt. Elbert, North Halfmoon Lakes and
Colorado Trail
South Halfmoon Road (Forest Road #110.3A)
Length: 4.6 miles
Road Beginning and End: Road begins on the Halfmoon Road 2 miles
west of the Mt. Massive trailhead and ends at the Iron Mike Mine.
Description: Very rough four-wheel drive road with a few difficult
stream crossings. Experienced four-wheel drivers only. Climbs into
large open alpine basin.
Hiker Access To: Casco, French Mountain and Echo Canyon - no defined
trails.
Twin
Lakes
Forest Service roads open to motorized vehicles are posted
with white arrows. Wilderness areas such as Collegiate Peaks and
Mount Massive are by regulation, permanently closed to motorized
and mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes. Mileage is measured
one way, unless otherwise indicated.
Lost Canyon (Forest Road 398)
Length: 8.5 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begin on Hwy. 24 just south of the Granite
store. End at wide alpine meadow to the northeast of Quail Mountain
near an on going privately owned mining operation.
Description: First few miles of road accessible by passenger vehicle.
Rough and rocky beyond that point, high clearance 4WD recommended.
The road winds through lodgepole stands, passes an abandoned placer
operation on Lost Canyon Creek and takes you above timberline. The
broad alpine meadow permits views of Clear Creek Valley to the south,
Boswell Gulch to the west and Lake Creek Valley to the north. Excellent
opportunities for observation of alpine tundra, wildflowers and
wildlife.
Hiker Access To: No defined trails
Flume Creek (Forest Road 399)
Length: 4.2 miles, from Lost Canyon Road to road end.
Road Beginning and End: Begins on Lost Canyon Road (Forest Road
398) approximately 1.3 miles from Hwy. 24. Ends at Flume Gulch.
Description: Good road that winds through the forest and climbs
quickly above Twin Lakes before descending into Flume Creek.
Hiker Access To: No defined trails
South Fork Lake Creek (Forest Road 391)
Length: 5.5 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins at Hwy. 82 about 8 miles west of
Twin Lakes Village and ends at Collegiate Peaks Wilderness boundary.
Description: Road follows the valley floor of the South Fork of
Lake Creek. Excellent opportunities for wildlife and wildflower
viewing. Access to dispersed camping. The first 1.4 miles passes
through private property, please respect owners rights and remain
on the road.
Hiker Access To: So. Fork Lake Creek, Lake Pass, Sayers Gulch
Sayers Gulch (Forest Road 382)
Length: 2.1 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins at South Fork Lake Creek Road (Forest
Road 391) 2.7 miles southwest of Hwy. 82 and ends at Wilderness
boundary.
Description: Rough road with a significant stream crossing at the
beginning. Continues into alpine valley with willow and beaver ponds.
Hiker Access To: Sayers Gulch
McNassar Gulch (Forest
Road 394)
Length: 1.5 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins at South Fork Lake Creek Road 3.3
miles southwest of Hwy. 82. and ends at gate with hiking access
only on private road above gate.
Description: Rough road with a few steep switchbacks. Wonderful
viewing of wildflowers in upper reaches of valley.
Hiker Access To: Upper McNassar Gulch and Grizzly Peak, elevation
13,988. No defined trails.
Peekaboo Gulch (Forest Road 393)
Length: 2.3 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins at South Fork Lake Creek Road 4.6
mile southwest of Hwy. 82 and ends just below Red Mountain.
Description: Rough road that winds up into alpine valley.
Hiker Access To: No defined trails.
Turquoise
Lake
Forest Service roads open to motorized vehicles are posted
with white arrows. Wilderness areas such as Collegiate Peaks and
Mount Massive are by regulation, permanently closed to motorized
and mechanized vehicles, including mountain bikes. Mileage is measured
one way, unless otherwise indicated.
Hagerman Pass (Forest Road 104)
Length: 7.3 miles from Turquoise Lake Road to the pass. 22.5 miles
from Turquoise Lake Road to Nast, CO (beginning of pavement on east
side of pass)
Road Beginning and End: Begins on the south side of Turquoise Lake
about 4 miles west of the Sugar Loaf Dam and continues on to the
White River National Forest past Ruedi Reservoir and onto State
Highway 82 at Basalt.
Description: Although not one of the more difficult passes in the
area, four wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended. At the top
of the pass, 12,075 feet, there are great views of the Turquoise
Lake area to the east and the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness to the
southwest.
Good scenic drive for viewing wildflowers, pikas and marmots. Just
east of the pass, look to the south over Hagerman Lake to see remnants
of the Colorado Midland Railroad.
Hiker Access To: Colorado Midland Trail, Colorado Trail, Native
Lake and Windsor Lake.
Bear Lake (Forest Road 107)
Length: 4.5 miles
Road Beginning and End: Begins on the north side of Turquoise Lake.
Ends at the Holy Cross Wilderness Boundary just east of Bear Lake.
Description: Fairly easy, although steep, four wheel drive road
through lodgepole pine and spruce/fir forests. Great views and hiking
access from the end of the road.
Hiker Access To: Colorado Trail Segment #9
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