Leadville Ranger District

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