Colorado guidance

coolerthanafan

coolerthanafan

New member
Hello all!
I've searched this site as well as Google but can't seem to find what I'm seeking. I'm new to CO (Denver) and drive a 3rd gen. I'm looking for some good camping, fly fishing and off roading.
A place that is remote or at least not over crowded. We tent camp so I'd like to set up camp and fish, hike or off road. Off roading is at hardest a level 5/6. Not looking for extreme as I am stock with decent tires. More for expedition is what I look for when off roading.
I've been up Geneva Creek, Champion Mill and Loch Lomond with ease and I loved it.
Before I moved to CO, I always pictured being able to off road to a creek or river bed and set up camp and then go from there. We want to do 2-3 nights and don't mind driving but want to stay in CO as we have not seen this great state yet.
We're snowboarders but closing weekend is upon us and now we want to get out and explore.
Thanks guys! Love this site and info.

Adam
 
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On this site, you can sort by trail difficulty, scenery, activities, etc: TrailDamage.com - All Trails

If you want to escape crowds, stay away from the I-70 corridor or go during the week. It is getting harder and harder to avoid crowds though since so many people keep moving here. :-)

As for camping, make sure you know the regs. Forest Service vs NPS vs BLM, etc. Most of Colorado West of I-25 is owned by a Fed agency of one type or another.
 
There is fun off-roading off Guanella Pass between Georgetown & Mt Evans and great camping spots along trails there. If you don't already have the Colorado Atlas & Gazeteer map book, pick that up. We keep it in the car and mark trails we like. The recommendation to check out trail damage.com is a great one! I use that site regularly for finding and planning trips. There are some trails near Blackhawk that can be fun as well. No fly-fishing in either place, though.

For fly-fishing, try near Deckers and in Eleven Mile Canyon, for sure. Rampart Range Road is usually full of ATV's, but there are some fun little trails off of it and that's close to Deckers for fishing.

If you want a fun trip, go to Chinns Lake (near St. Mary's Glacier.) Not too hard, but can have snow late. Pretty at the top - bring a picnic! I went last year with a friend; I was driving a Jeep and he was driving a heavily modified 4runner. He had to pull me out of a snow bank! It's a great day trip.
 
Any fresh beta on Guanella Pass? I was thinking about taking the family out there tomorrow but wasn't sure what the conditions were like. If it's snowed in we might go to Golden Gate Canyon Park and do some hiking instead.
 
Thanks for this info! Just moved to Colorado from Oregon(Sorry! didn't have a choice, as hubby got a big promotion!) Now that we are in the new house, we are looking for interesting places to go here.. See you all out on the trails!
 
Camped MANY places in CO. Here's a list......Out 285 towards Buena Vista, large skinny rock near trout creek, find the road behind the rock and keep going, go during September, more incredible aspen than you've ever seen.
285 dead ends into 24, go South and look for the sign "Nathrop". Continue through Chalk Creek area to the town of Tin Cup, good camping just past town.
285 to FairPlay. 1 mile (exactly) turn right, at fork stay left towards the old mining town of Levick. (great camp spot just after curve, look closely for a trail rd that cuts backwards to the right. Hike Levick mine to the top, Explore and find a road across a gulley to the left. Follow to a steep climb and you are on an awesome plateau to yhe left of the mine.
Go to Crested Butte, through town to Gothic rd. Go towards the town of Gothic, keep going you will see emerald lake, go past to a road that drops left and minor switchbacks, go straight, keep going and you will be in Paradise Valley, great views, drive to the top, great campsites everywhere. At top stay right, park. Head on trail (on foot) great hike, waterfalls hundreds of feet long across a canyon (all of this is about 20 mi. W, of CB. Saw the Milky Way from here, Incredible. Finally, the Million Dollar Highway, you'll have to look these up......Hurricane Pass, breathtaking, Engineer pass.....can be pretty rough going, California Pass, Imogene Pass (cool rock overhang you drive under) and Corkscrew pass, some of these are connected. Stay away from Black Bear unless you are well experienced. Million $ and othere are near Ouray. Enjoy!!
 
Resurrecting this thread. Gonna go on a trip mid-September. That place near Trout Creek sounds great. Do you know which road it was or which trail you drive up? Is it on the right or left?
Any info would be helpful.

3 former roommates with the main goal of driving some place amazing saturday morning, hanging out and tossing back a few until we see a glorious sunset and call it a night.
TIA

David61 said:
Camped MANY places in CO. Here's a list......Out 285 towards Buena Vista, large skinny rock near trout creek, find the road behind the rock and keep going, go during September, more incredible aspen than you've ever seen.
285 dead ends into 24, go South and look for the sign "Nathrop". Continue through Chalk Creek area to the town of Tin Cup, good camping just past town.
285 to FairPlay. 1 mile (exactly) turn right, at fork stay left towards the old mining town of Levick. (great camp spot just after curve, look closely for a trail rd that cuts backwards to the right. Hike Levick mine to the top, Explore and find a road across a gulley to the left. Follow to a steep climb and you are on an awesome plateau to yhe left of the mine.
Go to Crested Butte, through town to Gothic rd. Go towards the town of Gothic, keep going you will see emerald lake, go past to a road that drops left and minor switchbacks, go straight, keep going and you will be in Paradise Valley, great views, drive to the top, great campsites everywhere. At top stay right, park. Head on trail (on foot) great hike, waterfalls hundreds of feet long across a canyon (all of this is about 20 mi. W, of CB. Saw the Milky Way from here, Incredible. Finally, the Million Dollar Highway, you'll have to look these up......Hurricane Pass, breathtaking, Engineer pass.....can be pretty rough going, California Pass, Imogene Pass (cool rock overhang you drive under) and Corkscrew pass, some of these are connected. Stay away from Black Bear unless you are well experienced. Million $ and othere are near Ouray. Enjoy!!
Click to expand...
 
Aspen Ridge

Still going to Aspen Ridge? I can send a photo shot at peak color season. As far as getting there, do you use Google Earth? I can give you a coordinate. If not Traveling South on 24 towards BV exit to the right on county road 307 to 187 to the left. A good ways down 185 splits to the right at a fork. Continue until 185 splits to the right, 185B is to the left. When you pass the creek bed, theres a camp spot on the right. There will probably be cattle around. Great view across an open field to aspen that cover the opposing hills. I found a single elk antler here. The road is just a long dirt road. As I daid earlier, if you continue south you'll eventually run into Salida. Let me know if you need more info, or want to do do some passes, I can get you there.
I'll be passing through somewhere around that time as well
 
The Trail Damage recommendation still remains valid.

The site is a wealth of information with an enormous number of trails covered. Ratings are based on Wranglers but you can get an idea quickly.

The number of trip reports and pictures is astonishing and that info really gives a sense of the trails in a way in which print guides cannot.
 
Sorry for the hijack but I see a lot of folks with experiance here..

Question for all you Colorado veterans. I keep seeing folks refer to Black Bear Pass as a "Extreme" or "difficult" trail. From all the videos I watch aside from it being very puckery with the drop offs and switchbacks it seems like a a very easy trail. Am I missing something? It looks like you could honestly do the trail in 2wd.

Anyways heading out there this Aug in my 2019 4runner and scoping things out. thanks in advance.
 
Jackalope Runner said:
Sorry for the hijack but I see a lot of folks with experiance here..

Question for all you Colorado veterans. I keep seeing folks refer to Black Bear Pass as a "Extreme" or "difficult" trail. From all the videos I watch aside from it being very puckery with the drop offs and switchbacks it seems like a a very easy trail. Am I missing something? It looks like you could honestly do the trail in 2wd.

Anyways heading out there this Aug in my 2019 4runner and scoping things out. thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

If you have done some high altitude' narrow' loose dirt steep incline and decline trails with some off camber sections also switch back 3 point turns then you'll be fine.but here is my standard answer.
Don't fool your self its extremely nerve racking. The steep grades loose gravel, off camber turns plus it's narrow so it has to be in 4x4 low with enough momentum to not spin the tires and start sliding side ways when going up. When you get to the steps a wrong line and sudden brakes will cause the rig to teeter and and may flop over. Coming down passing by the water fall the trail gets narrow and off camber the truck might slide sideways a bit which is unnerving but don't slam on the brakes keep moving slow. Its always tougher the first time. It is best to have an experienced rig in front so you can follow their lead. Focus is key and even then mistakes can happen.
 
spartacus said:
If you have done some high altitude' narrow' loose dirt steep incline and decline trails with some off camber sections also switch back 3 point turns then you'll be fine.but here is my standard answer.
Don't fool your self its extremely nerve racking. The steep grades loose gravel, off camber turns plus it's narrow so it has to be in 4x4 low with enough momentum to not spin the tires and start sliding side ways when going up. When you get to the steps a wrong line and sudden brakes will cause the rig to teeter and and may flop over. Coming down passing by the water fall the trail gets narrow and off camber the truck might slide sideways a bit which is unnerving but don't slam on the brakes keep moving slow. Its always tougher the first time. It is best to have an experienced rig in front so you can follow their lead. Focus is key and even then mistakes can happen.
Click to expand...


I did a search and found a good thread talking about black bear and after reading it it confirms most of my thoughts.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/117572-black-bear-pass.html?highlight=black+bear

It still sounds extremely easy short of stupid move. I could see total newbs having issues. Some folks can let edges get to them too. But as always we will take it slow and easy and have a good time. I was more worried about it having some areas that could be rockers knocker body crunching type things. thanks for the reply.
 
Jackalope Runner said:
Sorry for the hijack but I see a lot of folks with experiance here..

Question for all you Colorado veterans. I keep seeing folks refer to Black Bear Pass as a "Extreme" or "difficult" trail. From all the videos I watch aside from it being very puckery with the drop offs and switchbacks it seems like a a very easy trail. Am I missing something? It looks like you could honestly do the trail in 2wd.

Anyways heading out there this Aug in my 2019 4runner and scoping things out. thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

As mentioned it is mostly the intimidation factor that gives this trail the ranking it has. It's not a relaxing scenic drive like most people anticipate. I'm from Colorado and I still held my breathe in a few spots on that trail. The steep and narrow shelf roads with tight switchbacks play more of a mental factor than vehicle capability does.

It's complicated because as far as technicality goes the trail isn't difficult at all but the area is heavily trafficked with tourists who hear the trail isn't hard and take their family SUV's up it only to realize the only way out is through after the peak of the trail. Take a look at one of the vehicles that was on the trail last year.
 

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Jackalope Runner said:
I did a search and found a good thread talking about black bear and after reading it it confirms most of my thoughts.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/117572-black-bear-pass.html?highlight=black+bear

It still sounds extremely easy short of stupid move. I could see total newbs having issues. Some folks can let edges get to them too. But as always we will take it slow and easy and have a good time. I was more worried about it having some areas that could be rockers knocker body crunching type things. thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...

Slow down look around enjoy the spectacular views and have fun.
 
I grew up in CO, and I agree that the trail damage guys have a ton of good stuff on their site. I'm kind of old school, so I used a couple old fashioned books to navigate most of the time. The most famous is by Charles Wells, and called "Guide to Colorado's Backroads and 4 Wheel Drove Trails". It is a great book to keep in the rig all the time. Looks like its on it's 4th edition :Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails, 4th Edition: Charles A. Wells, Matt Peterson, Susan Hindman: 9781934838266: Amazon.com: Books
 
Jackalope Runner said:
I did a search and found a good thread talking about black bear and after reading it it confirms most of my thoughts.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/117572-black-bear-pass.html?highlight=black+bear

It still sounds extremely easy short of stupid move. I could see total newbs having issues. Some folks can let edges get to them too. But as always we will take it slow and easy and have a good time. I was more worried about it having some areas that could be rockers knocker body crunching type things. thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...



As [MENTION=50279]spartacus[/MENTION] said, he nailed it.

Black Bear is an awkward trail. It is far from extremely easy which is why IFS rigs roll there annually. It is also far from extremely hard, which is why Subarus drive it on occasion. It is one of a kind. It challanges the driver.

You need to be comfy with trails like Porphyry Gulch or Kendall Mountain before doing Black Bear. There are several other trails that are very narrow as well.

The tip about brakes is gold.

Also: vehicles with bad lifts, huge lifts, or top heavy rigs are much more likely to roll than a stock or properly modified vehicle.

BB is not a beginner trail and must not be taken lightly. Also, heavy rain has killed experienced folks on the trail, literally washing them off the switchbacks. And last year a falling Jeep, bad parking, almost took out another one, flew right in front of it, I posted the video somewhere here.

So care is in order.
 
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