Basecamp Colorado is Glenwood Springs Colorado

The JQS Trail North and West of Rifle Colorado, 20 minutes west of Glenwood Springs on I-70 is approximately 4 miles northwest of Rifle. This unit embodies Anvil Points, the dominate landscape feature north of I-70 and the adjacent steep and picturesque southeast-facing cliffs of the Roan Plateau. The main road takes off opposite the Rifle Gap road by the bowling alley. It is a dirt road that will climb the cliff face to the top of the Roan Plateau for 4 miles and 1,500 ft. The beauty of this area is all of the side roads. Multiple loops with ups and downs, chances for lots of air. Hot in the summer. This area is popular for motorcycles, mountain bikers, because of access to the plateau it is staging area for horses. JQS was a cattle brand used by H.W. Hallett — a prominent citizen and early founder of Rifle. In 1885, Hallett and a man named William (Billy) Chadwick established the JQS Trail — one of six stock trails that led from the Grand Valley to the top of the Bookcliffs, now referred to as the Roan Plateau.

Posted by Brett at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is a local favorite. Along with Rifle Gap Reservoir and the Climbing park this is one of the main attractions of this area. The park sits at 6,000 ft. which allows for warm temperatures in the summer. Wading happens at the falls and is a good place for kids to play in the summer, with the right supervision. The creek is pristine and one can see the trout swimming in the stream. Camping is allowed here for $7-12 a night. Parks Pass and or Day Passs required.

Posted by Brett at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Head North on Railroad Avenue and about a mile out of town on Highway 13 go right on highway 325, Go a couple miles to Rifle Gap. There is a park fee, $5 or Parks Pass. One of three lakes in the area that allow powerboats so waterskiing, wakeboarding, jetskis and all sports behind a boat are popular here. There is also windsurfing here and camping. This is a popular lake in the summertime, and like most Colorado Lakes the water level fluctuates during the year as water is in more need in late summer and more abundant in the early spring. Always wear your life vest and pick up trash. There are public restrooms. Fishing is also popular here whether you use flys and spinners from the bank or rapala and bait from a boat. There are even annual fly fishing contests in the winter. The Gap is the valley in the hogback where the dam is built and is the site of the famous Christo Curtain in the early seventies. Lower elevations promote warm temperatures which condone water activities.

Posted by Brett at 07:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thompson Creek Road provides access for many hiking and biking trails including the following: South Thompson, Lake Ridge Lakes, Mid Thompson, South Branch of Mid Thompson and Dexter Park. This area is primarily used by bicyclists, horseback riders and hunters. It passes through aspen groves and crosses many small streams. In the lower region there is an extensive system of Cross country ski trails in the winter.

The road is accessible to two-wheel drive vehicles until reaching the stream crossing at Middle Thompson unless it is raining. Impassable when wet. Users will need a high-clearance four-wheel drive to cross the stream and for the road afterward. Continue driving 3.9 miles on road #305 until you reach a fork in the road. Take the right fork to access road #306 and Mid Thompson, the South Branch of Mid Thompson, Dexter Park and Lake Ridge Lake Trails. Take the left fork to stay on road #305 to access South Thompson.

Directions from Carbondale: From Carbondale follow road #108 west past the stoplight. Follow road #108 for 7.5 miles and turn left on to Mid Thompson Creek Road #305.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through September (NOTE: Snow may obstruct the trail during the Spring, Winter and Fall months.) .

Continue reading "Thompson Creek Four-Wheel Drive Road" »

Posted by Brett at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sellar and Diemer Lakes are near the west end of Forest Road #532. There is fishing and some dispersed camping opportunities at both of these lakes. A good place to view alpine scenery is at the eastern end of Mid Cunningham Creek Road.

This route provides a challenging side trip from the Hagerman Pass Road. It has some narrow, steep and rocky sections that will provide a challenge suitable for many four-wheel drive vehicles with adequate ground clearance.

Directions from Carbondale: From Carbondale travel east on Highway 82 to Basalt. Turn left at the stoplight and travel through Basalt following the main street through town. this road is the Fryingpan River Road and travels out of Basalt following the Fryingpan River. From Basalt travel 27 miles until the pavement ends. turn left at the fork in the road, sta;ying on road #105 (Hagerman Pass Road). Travel on the all-weather road for four miles to Sellar Meadow, and take a left on to road #502. This will bring you to Sellar Lake.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through September (NOTE: A snow closure gate prevents automobiles from traveling this road in the Spring and Winter months.) .

Continue reading " Mid Cunningham Creek Four-Wheel Drive Road" »

Posted by Brett at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Hagerman Pass area is a relaxing ride packed with lots of beautiful scenery. There are campgrounds at Turquoise lake and Ruedi Reservoir that provide convenient camping and fishing. The pass is close to leadville which has gas, food and lodging.

From the end of the pavement on the Fryingpan River Road is an all weather road until you reach the Lyle Lake Trailhead, three miles before the pass. Along this road there are two short sidetracks to some smaller lakes in the region. Forest road #502, near Coke Oven State Wildlife Area, takes you to Diemer and Sellar Lakes, and forest road #527, the right fork three miles before the pass, takes you to Ivanhoe Lake. All of these lakes are worth exploring. Continuing over the pass will take you to Turquoise Lake and the town of Leadville.

Directions from Carbondale: From Carbondale travel east on Highway 82 to Basalt. Turn left at the stoplight and travel through Basalt following the main street through town. This road is the Fryingpan River Road and travels out of Basalt following the Fryingpan River. From Basalt travel 27 miles until the pavement ends. Turn left at the fork in the road and then left again, staying on road #105. Travel on the all-weather road for 11 miles and take the left fork to Hagerman Pass. Here the road becomes suitable for high clearance vehicles only.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through September (NOTE: Snow and mud may obstruct the road during the Spring, Fall and Winter months.) .

Continue reading "Hagerman Pass Four-Wheel Drive Road" »

Posted by Brett at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lead King Basin four-wheel drive road passes very close to the boundary of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and affords some spectacular views of mountains, meadows, and canyons. The basin is a great place to view a variety of wildflowers during the late summer. Three trailheads into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness are located along this road. The old bridge over the Crystal River between Crystal and Lead King Basin is not maintained by the forest service and located on private land. Please respect the privacy of these landowners.

For Bikers this is a loop from the top of Daniels hill. Park where legal and possible. For those who choose to do this in a clockwise fashion you will have one of the funnest downhills in the state, smooth four-wheel drive road with lots of rollers. Then a rocky section dropping into Crystal City where you will be awarded the most photographed ghost town in America, Crystal City and it's mill. One of the best trails to see fall foliage in Colorado.

The segment from Marble along Lost Trail Creek to Lead King Basin should not be traveled when it is wet! The road is built on slick shale and slopes towards the valley bottom. Four-wheel drive is required. From Lead King to Crystal City the road is very narrow and extremely rocky. There is a very steep drop-off into the Crystal River Canyon. There are few pullouts on this road and drivers may be required to back-up for considerable distances when another vehicle is met. A high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is required for this segment. A loop can be made from Marble by traveling along the Crystal River to Crystal City, and then returning to Marble via the Lead King Basin road.

Directions from Carbondale: From Carbondale travel south on Colorado Highway 133 for 22 miles to the Marble turnoff. Go east on the Marble road, through Marble, and past Beaver Lake. The four-wheel drive section begins just past the Gold Pan Gallery. The road begins to head uphill and passes over shale rock. About one mile outside of Marble there is a fork in the road; take the left fork (Forest Road #315). the road immediately heads uphill.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through September (NOTE: Snow may obstruct the road during the Spring, Fall and Winter months.) .

Continue reading "Lead King Basin - Crystal City Four-Wheel Drive Road" »

Posted by Brett at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

3.5 miles round-trip (Petroleum)
2.5 miles round-trip (Anderson)
If you want good fishing, wildly profuse wildflowers and a fun four-wheel-drive access road, then these easy trails are for you. A bonus: you’ll enjoy views of the beautiful Collegiate Wilderness peaks. Take Hwy. 82 east of Aspen 11 miles to Lincoln Creek Road. Turn right and drive 6.5 miles on the rocky, rutted road to the Portal Campground. From the campground, the road gets even rougher. Either drive or hike the last 3.3 miles to a fork in the road. Take the right fork, cross the creek and park on either side. This is very high-alpine area and will have snow late in the year. There is abundant fishing here.

The trail follows Anderson Creek, gradually ascending an old Jeep road as it passes through thick stands of fir before emerging into alpine tundra. You’ll see some privately owned log cabins at this point. About a mile in from the start, the road forks. The left fork goes to Anderson Lake, another quarter-mile. To access Petroleum Lake, retrace your steps from Anderson Lake and take the right fork. Petroleum is about .75 mile farther. Climb through some alpine meadows and tundra, and cross the lake’s outlet stream. Keep climbing; the lake is just ahead, beyond the rise on the left. Even more adventures await if you keep going uphill on the trail: an alpine pond and additional breathtaking views.

Continue reading "Petroleum & Anderson Lakes" »

Posted by Brett at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)