Colorado or Wyoming/Montana

[smallfry]

I’m currently in Colorado Springs working on a short-term construction project that is supposed to finish sometime in August and I’m planning to take some time off once the project is completed. I currently have a company vehicle so I’m kind of limited where I go which makes a little difficult to explore Colorado while I’m here and my personal vehicle is back in Utah.

I’m trying to decide where to go after the project is complete. I’m toying around with the idea of heading back to Ouray for the 3rd time and do some more exploring in the area and around that part of the state (Schofield Pass/Devils Punch Bowl is still on my list from 2 years ago). My second thought is head back to Glacier National Park in Montana to do some more hiking but head along the western part of Wyoming exploring some of the dirt roads and ghost towns along the way (Morrison Jeep Trail is on my list from last year).

My final thought is to head across Nevada via the Pony Express Trail but to the time of year (heat)I probably won’t do that.

What would you choose? Any other suggestions.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

For offroading, you can't beat the Ouray area. Get the Charles Wells book(s) Home - FunTreks Guidebooks for Jeep Trails, 4 Wheel Drive Trails, and back country roads for a great list of trails and ratings. I've got both volumes I & II as well as the Arizona book.

There are a lot of cool trails up by Crested Butte as well, two of which you alread named. Don't let the Devils Punch Bowl near Marble worry you, it's been blown out of proportion. We love Paradise Basin and always have lunch there.

BE WARE if you do Gunsight Pass right out of Crested Butte, watch the water crossing right off the road next to the bridge. The East side tends to eddy and hollow out a DEEP hole that has swallowed many a 4x4. The local shops make TONS of money on hydro-locked rigs. The water is clear and very deceptive on its depth. They refuse to put up a sign to warn people.

If you go to Glacier NP, take your passport and go around the NE side across the border on the Canada side. It's also great and well worth your time. Much more wildlife on the Canadian side.

 

[ndcent]

Ouray is one of my favorite places in the entire world, so I'm voting CO.

Don't forget to do Black Bear if you haven't yet!

 

[ndcent]

For offroading, you can't beat the Ouray area. Get the Charles Wells book(s) Home - FunTreks Guidebooks for Jeep Trails, 4 Wheel Drive Trails, and back country roads for a great list of trails and ratings. I've got both volumes I & II as well as the Arizona book.

There are a lot of cool trails up by Crested Butte as well, two of which you alread named. Don't let the Devils Punch Bowl near Marble worry you, it's been blown out of proportion. We love Paradise Basin and always have lunch there.

BE WARE if you do Gunsight Pass right out of Crested Butte, watch the water crossing right off the road next to the bridge. The East side tends to eddy and hollow out a DEEP hole that has swallowed many a 4x4. The local shops make TONS of money on hydro-locked rigs. The water is clear and very deceptive on its depth. They refuse to put up a sign to warn people.

If you go to Glacier NP, take your passport and go around the NE side across the border on the Canada side. It's also great and well worth your time. Much more wildlife on the Canadian side.

Huge +1 on the Charles Wells book, it was invaluable in my experience. I was even able to do some short sections of red "advanced" trail in my slightly modded rig.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Huge +1 on the Charles Wells book, it was invaluable in my experience. I was even able to do some short sections of red "advanced" trail in my slightly modded rig.

Agreed. I don't have his 3rd edition books. They were still $19.95 each when I bought the second editions but they can MAKE a trip so much better. I usually plan out a week of wheeling basing out of Ouray and hardly ever run the same trails twice.

That's like Governor Basin is rated difficult but while very rocky, narrow, and technical, I don't personally think it's that bad. It's very scenic and not crowded because the rental "cars" can't make it coming up from Yankee Boy.

We actually saw a couple in a Honda civic (rental I hope) 1/2 way up lower Engineer approaching the restrooms from Hwy 550. I won't tell you what my wife said. We were freaked out!

If a person is new to Colorado wheeling, the Charles wells books are a must.

 

[ndcent]

Ha, I saw a Jeep Commander parked at the top of Black Bear, no one in sight. Likely abandoned before the insanity of the steps. There were some guys on big ADV touring bikes up at the top of that pass as well who urged me to first. I suggested they wouldn't want to wait on me and they'd move much quicker along, they said "no no, you go!" lol.

I just grabbed the book to remember what "red" I did, which was I think by accident and it was Mineral Creek, which was crazy difficult and technical but as you remarked, slow and easy!

I saw a guy with Ohio plates in a stock Ford Explorer with side steps, his wife looked visibly shaken. He asked me how much further it was "like this" (he was going the opposite way. I just shook my head and feigned ignorance, he'd have made it out but those side steps were already broken up.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Ha, I saw a Jeep Commander parked at the top of Black Bear, no one in sight. Likely abandoned before the insanity of the steps. There were some guys on big ADV touring bikes up at the top of that pass as well who urged me to first. I suggested they wouldn't want to wait on me and they'd move much quicker along, they said "no no, you go!" lol.

I just grabbed the book to remember what "red" I did, which was I think by accident and it was Mineral Creek, which was crazy difficult and technical but as you remarked, slow and easy!

I saw a guy with Ohio plates in a stock Ford Explorer with side steps, his wife looked visibly shaken. He asked me how much further it was "like this" (he was going the opposite way. I just shook my head and feigned ignorance, he'd have made it out but those side steps were already broken up.

Yes, Mineral Creek going up to Engineer is where we saw the Honda.

I keep all my GPS logs so I can go back an look at where were were and when.

Black Bear can really freak people out especially if they see it first from Telluride. Not good for first time passengers.

Motorcycles are great until you have to go down hill. Ride those brakes!

 

[Jimmy_D]

Schofield Pass/Devils Punch Bowl is still on my list from 2 years ago

Our 4-wheel group in Crested Butte usually does it (including the Lead King Loop) a couple of times each summer so you might want to check with me should you be in the area to see if it's on our agenda when you'll be around.

 

[MStudt]

Hard choice, but I'd say Alaska. I've been hiking all over Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Tetons. The southern Utah slot canyons are quite amazing as well. All are very unique in their own different ways. Since I've never been to Alaska, that would be my choice.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Hard choice, but I'd say Alaska. I've been hiking all over Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Tetons. The southern Utah slot canyons are quite amazing as well. All are very unique in their own different ways. Since I've never been to Alaska, that would be my choice.

B.C. and the Yukon are gorgeous. Buy a copy of "The Milepost" and drive it. Start out in Glacier N.P. head north to Banff and then to Jasper and over to Prince George, then Whitehorse and you're on your way.

But then that's just driving, not offroading. So back to the OP, how much offroading are you wanting to do or is this just an exploration trip?

 

[smallfry]

Don't forget to do Black Bear if you haven't yet!

Done it twice.

 

[MStudt]

If you go to Glacier NP, take your passport and go around the NE side across the border on the Canada side. It's also great and well worth your time. Much more wildlife on the Canadian side.

Plenty of wildlife of on the US side of Glacier, you just need to be willing to hike for it. I do agree though, cross the boarder and head into Waterton. You can take a boat ride down the lake to the US entry point at Goat Haunt Range Station. From there you can hike a couple miles to Kootenai Lake and watch the moose feed. We've hiked from Goat Haunt to Many Glacier a few years ago. By far the best backpacking trip I' ever done.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Plenty of wildlife of on the US side of Glacier, you just need to be willing to hike for it. I do agree though, cross the boarder and head into Waterton. You can take a boat ride down the lake to the US entry point at Goat Haunt Range Station. From there you can hike a couple miles to Kootenai Lake and watch the moose feed. We've hiked from Goat Haunt to Many Glacier a few years ago. By far the best backpacking trip I' ever done.

Absolutely and I didn't mean to imply there's not much wildlife on the US side. There is. It always seems to be less crowded on the Canadian side so there was more wildlife in view. We always enjoy both sides and each is different.

 

[MStudt]

Absolutely and I didn't mean to imply there's not much wildlife on the US side. There is. It always seems to be less crowded on the Canadian side so there was more wildlife in view. We always enjoy both sides and each is different.

The Canadian side was not crowd at all. Most the people that head over to Waterton are just there for the boat ride down the lake to Goat Haunt. You can buy a round trip ticket, get dropped off at Goat Haunt early in the morning, and get picked up anytime throughout the day for your return. The night that we stayed there, we easily saw 8 moose in the lake feeding most of the night.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

The Canadian side was not crowd at all. Most the people that head over to Waterton are just there for the boat ride down the lake to Goat Haunt. You can buy a round trip ticket, get dropped off at Goat Haunt early in the morning, and get picked up anytime throughout the day for your return. The night that we stayed there, we easily saw 8 moose in the lake feeding most of the night.

We were just driving back from Waterton lake and this guy was hauling down the road right at us and kept right on going. It was June and he was hungry. This pic is not zoomed in. My wife was on the passenger side and was not pleased. He didn't stop and we didn't stop. :thumb: There were moose were all over as were the grizzlies and black bears.

Both sides are great but if you go, you really need to see the park on both sides of the border.