Mountain lion safety

Dinosaur National Monument

Returnable bottle near the Ruple Ranch was likely resting there for half a century.

Jones Hole

Jones Hole

Jones Hole

Red sand near the Ruple Ranch. Easy walking.

Peak 6917 at Island Park

1.  The red country around Lime BM near Ruple Ranch has been a killing zone. I saw a dozen remains of game animals. How many did I miss? A lion was sitting on the creek banks waiting for something to stroll by. It was gone for over a month but if it comes back I would hike elsewhere or at least stay on the ridges. Posted October, 2024.
2. BULL CANYON LOOP - I went down canyon from Plug Hat Rock then back on the north rim. I parked at the picnic area then walked down the highway and dropped down a ridge at N40 17539, W108 58248 and then across a neck at 17616, 58306 el 6700. I went on to a gully at 17671, 58540 then down that and on to a drop at the main canyon. I followed the bank up to the right for a view of the big fall and got close to it then retraced back and stayed on the bank until it ended then dropped to the sandy stream. It was only an inch deep but once I went knee deep in quicksand. It's best to have a friend along to lead thru the quicksand. And have a second friend in case the first one gets sucked under. At 17527, 59764 there is a rock art panel straight up the cliff on the right about 50 feet up. I checked the bench to the left of it and found nothing. I went as far as the canyon coming down the west side of peak 6384 and started up the east rim of it. I went right of center to 17574, 59860 el 6240 then left to get on top then walked the easy ridge to where it meets the main rim trail at 17968, 58486 and followed it less than a mile back to the start. 5 hours, 1000 gain. Some light brush. Sturdy wading shoes would be best for the whole hike. I did this in shorts 20 years ago but forget that now. I was such a man then. I put a track on peakbagger under Plug Hat. Posted Sept, 2024.
3. LOWER BULL CANYON has an elk trail going down in from peak 6385 on the south rim. The sat image shows two roads going to it but the last mile of each is closed. I walked the one from the south at peak 6421 but the one from the east is bound to be nearly as easy and easier to drive to. The trail starts at the end of the road at N40 17079, W109 00372 then down the easy ridge to bottom at 17479, 00664. A trail goes around the base of the cliffs to a petroglyph panel facing the creek. I went up both box canyons on each side of the descent ridge but found nothing. It's a 3 hour hike in and out to the panel with 500 gain and no brush. No recent cattle. Posted 2024.
4. MIDDLE CREEK LOOP - I went down canyon from the Harpers road then out on a jeep trail to point 7763. I parked at west end of the Escalante Overlook then down cow trails to the road below. At the 9 on the topo I stayed left at a fork then on to fork at N40 20165, W108 58146. I went left there and the road soon faded but I was in a clean juniper forest by then. I went on down a slope north of the 8 on the topo and hit the creekbed at 19875, 58997 el 6700. A big drop is a tenth mile down canyon, so I got on the north rim to get between the main forks. Both forks have big drops around the 6400 line. I dropped down an elk route at 19654, 59337 el 6500 and hit the west fork but it's brushy so I walked the bank to the east fork. I was able to go up that to the big fall. Both forks had tiny streams. I  went down the ridge between the forks to the flats. The creekbed is clear to walk but I used a trail on the far right at 19178, 59754 to check for rock art but struck out. I went on thru a gap and crossed the forks of Richardson Draw where the topo shows them to be shallow. The last fork has a trail at 18607, 59917 that crosses and goes along the edge of trees and bends left to the jeep road. I walked that up and stayed on the road that goes to point 7763. I didn't think to spot a bike there so I used a cow trail at 19227, 56484 that took me back to the start. 6 hours, 2000 gain, 11 miles. I did this in shorts but got scratches in the first half mile. Girl hikers won't like that part. All the dirt roads are closed and only used by elk and I. Posted 2024.
5. PEAK 7230 is 2 miles east of Plug Hat Rock. I used the easy 4wd from the Harpers road south of point 6586. At point 6592 I turned toward the peak and parked at the end. I followed the topo to the north side neck then up. I had a 3 hour hike in a clean forest but next time I would go one way from the plateau. I would come down the ridge from the high road el 7700 and cross the neck then up to the summit. The neck is class 2. Then back to the neck and down to Twin Wash. That goes into a slot that might work if dry but the west bank works. I would head for the road that goes to point 6592. It's nearly 3 miles if using the dirt road all the way to pavement. Shortcutting the road might get brushy.  Posted 2024.
6. BLM ROUTE 18 runs along the base of Cliff Ridge. At mp 164.2 on highway 40 is a way to get on it. It goes past Birch Creek and there is an OHV trail going up that to the mouth of that but tough hiking beyond there. Route 18 keeps going past Davis Spring but no water there for years. The road goes on to a main fork where right goes to highway 40 near the junction with highway 45. Left goes on the graded Miners Draw road. This is mainly decent high clearance but the crossings are 4wd. Good for two wheelers as there are few rocks. Posted 2024.
7. CLIFF RIDGE el 8228 has a road running over it. County 1550 comes in from the north off of the Harpers road and cars can make it 7 miles or so to camps on the the cliff edge. Then it's high clearance on to the summit where the road drops to Cub Creek but that part is steep 4wd even though the county maintains it. The main attraction is the easy west ridge which I call Polaris Ridge. A one way hike down is preferable and only 4 hours but that's a tedious shuttle so I looped it. I parked at the end of the road near point 8004 in a good pinyon forest with camp spots. I walked down the ridge and along the right side of peaks 7223 and 6954. Then up and along the left side of peak 6635. Just before peak 6263 I took a ridge down to peak 5555 where there is a road. Part of a Polaris ATV is along there at N40 20660, W109 13985 el 5900. He must have planned to ride to the summit. I wonder what happened? I walked the road to the end then dropped right to a road in a canyon and then on to 20903, 14781 where I crossed a line of cottonwoods then walked the road on the other side up Bourdette Draw. The road makes a right turn toward peak 5432 but I stayed in the creekbed and merged with the road again and to point 6032 and took the nasty jeep road to the start. 8 hours, 3000 gain, 14 miles. Mostly class 1 with a little class 2. No brush. Now that I know the ridge is easy, I would start low in Bourdette and try the jeep road that goes to peak 6630 then up to the 7800 line then down. This is wild country where nobody goes. I saw a 1916 BM near the start at 20967, 10397. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2024.
8. POTHOLES CANYON is what I call the long one at the west end of Cliff Ridge. It has a jeep trail on the rim. I took highway 40 to mp 164.2 and turned on easy 4wd and on across a wash. I went on nearly 3 miles on the Bourdette road to a road at N40 21025, W109 14899. I walked that into the mouth then some minor falls are easy to pass and it's easy going to el 6050 where it gets cluttered and no fun beyond there. I turned back and got on the high north bank at 21852, 12493 and merged with the rim and walked the jeep road back. A bike stashed at the last mile would help. 3 hours or so, 1000 easy gain. There is a lot of slickrock with potholes that hold water for weeks. The next big canyon to the south where the springs are is blocked by a 40 foot fall in a narrows near the mouth. Both springs were running on down across the road. Posted 2024.
9. GREEN RIVER RIM - there's a big sandstone block on the rim near the river bridge. It makes an easy loop. On the east side of the bridge a dirt road goes south into a canyon and up to point 5144. I parked before the point at N40 24356, W109 13483 and went up a gully there then to the right to get on game trails that lead to the rim. Then I walked the rim counterclockwise and came back to the road. 70 minutes, easy. Posted 2024.
10. PEAK 6480 is at the head of Bourdette Draw next to peak 6262. I did a loop from the north then down to the divide of Bourdette. I parked on graded county road 1550 in the south fork of Cub Creek and went up the rim there at N40 24810, W109 11528. I strolled up to a bad jeep road at the 5600 line. That ends at peak 5899 and skirted around to the right at the last contour line and walked the rim to a break in a cliff at 23893, 11296. Then I had a little mesa in the way so I walked along the right base to get past it then on to the summit. I found two ways down off the summit. One is what the GPS tracks shows, but I soon saw a better route by going down the SE drainage that can be seen on the topo. An easy route goes thru the cliff band at 22997, 11672 then I followed elk tracks down a ridge at 22952, 11602 and on to the divide. I didn't trust the red chasm so I walked the rim then dropped in and then I went up it and found it does go thru. So I should have dropped into it at the divide. No guts, no glory. I strolled on down canyon to the 4wd road that goes to 1550 where I had a bike reading 24124, 10343 and then coasted 1.2 miles back to the start. 5 hours, 1200 gain, nearly 7 miles. This is a wonderland of red. Posted 2024.
11. CUB CREEK SOUTH FORK RIM - the topo shows a road going up to the north rim. I walked that to get on the rim then strolled to peak 6704. A gap in the rim beyond there  would be a lot of work to cross but the remaining rim is not as good anyway. So I retraced to N40 24670, W109 09333 and dropped down to the lower cliff at 24612, 09308. I went down a class 3 crack there then moved left a few feet to the next ridge and it has a class 3 drop with some exposure. Both of those drops are 5 feet high. I hit bottom and strolled a red wash to the road then had .7 mile to the start. A bike would have saved me that last bit but I didn't know where I would end up. 4 hours, 1300 easy gain. This is one of the better rim walks of all time. Posted 2024.
12. DANIELS TRAIL can be used to make a loop over the Yampa Plateau but a couple of segments are faded. I parked at the Hog Canyon TH and walked that trail to an old road at N40 25458, W109 10241. I followed it to a trench at 25326, 09792 and crossed it there then on to a path at 25290, 09821 that goes left down to the creek. I went up the creek 120 feet then took a hard right up a path to get to the Daniels Trail. It's an old road that turns into a foot trail at el 6200 then at el 6400 the topo is all wrong. The real trail goes left then up to 25403, 07525. I couldn't tell where it goes but there is gully that must be crossed to get on he ridges that lead up to the rim of Cub Creek. Then it's easy on to BM 7185 where the topo is correct again and the trail is easy to see. It soon turns into a road and goes past a spring polluted by cattle. The road bends back to the left and up to the pleateau then roads on the topo can be followed close to Chew BM. I dropped down an easy ridge at 26441, 10424 el 7400 then 26305, 10427 el 7150. At 26157, 10554 el 6800 I had a deep canyon on my left and I followed the rim of it down and had a short walk to the start. 6 or 7 hours, 2500 gain, not steep. Some light brush is near the start. I put a track on peakbagger under Yampa Plateau. SHORT VERSION - just go as far as the south rim of Cub Creek no higher than 7000. Then walk the rim down to el 6100 of so and drop into the canyon on the left at some stairs reading 25408, 08627. Who built that? Indians? It would be a route for them to get on the plateau. From the stairs go left 300 feet then down and across to a draw that goes up to the Daniels Trail. It has a 7 foot climb that is nearly class 4, easy for two. At 25311, 08566, it's the only tricky move on the hike and can be inspected on the way in and a 30 line tied off there if need be. I was OK with it. If a 68 year old coot can do it, how hard can it be? That took 5 hours, nearly 2000 gain and I went to 7000. Posted 2024.
13. CUB CREEK GORGE - I returned to the Daniels Trail to get into the gorge near the springs. I veered off the trail into a trench at N40 25270. W109 09370 and went down it a few feet to get on the right bank of the creek. I walked it until it ended then crossed to the left bank and then popped out in a clearing at 25471, 09327. Then I had a faint trail on the left bank to the springs. The creekbed opens up there and is easy to walk to a main fork. The right fork is blocked by a 50 foot fall. I got on the bench between the forks and when that ended it got tedious so I turned back just short of the 5600 line. 4 hours and the only strain is a few steep banks. Brush is very light in the gorge. Posted 2024.
14. RED WASH drains along the west side of Splt Mtn. It's an easy stroll up then back on the west rim. The Sound Of Silence TH is along the paved road in out of Jensen. It goes up the wash but soon loops down to a campground on the river. I just stayed in the easy wash and off the banks until an elk trail on the left at N40 27250, W109 17820. It crosses to the right bank then fades and there are no more useful trails. I came to a trickle at 27848, 18977 and fresh elk tracks. That dried up in 150 feet. At el 5400 I took the right fork and it's easy to miss. At 29042, 19156 I took a left fork and stayed low in it to a sandy ridge that leads to the rim. The sand was mosltly firm. I then walked over peak 6166 and on down an elk trail where I had two rims to choose from. The inner rim is a disaster so I stayed on the trail over peak 6035 and on down the outer rim and along the right base of peak 5665 and on past peak 5295 then took a hard right to 26597, 17219. I dropped down a drainage there then just before a drop a trail is in view on the right at 26547, 17194 and it leads down to the start. 5 and a half hours, 400 noticeable gain, 12 miles. It's easy to come down the sandy rim but I wouldn't go up it. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 6166. Posted 2024.
15. DEL BENCHMARK 5759 has a jeep road most of the way. A good road goes in from the river bridge at Jensen then up the north ridge of the peak where it turns 4wd. It ends at about el 5600 then it's a short walk to the summit. I followed the road on toward the Daniels Ranch then took the highway on to Cub Creek South Fork and up that the Bourdette road and took that to highway 40. I was on my 125 but could have easily drove a jeep. I put a track on peakbagger. That's a good 4wd tour. Posted 2024.
16. SPLIT MOUNTAIN is a good one to do as a one way up the west rim then down the north. I went to a 4-way on the graded Island Park Rd at Blair Draw. I turned south on easy 4wd for nearly a mile and parked at N40 30026, W109 14169. I then rode my bike 5 miles to camp at the turnoff for the west ridge where the Island Park Rd tops out. The next morning I went a mile south on a 4wd road then to the west ridge at 29376, 17430 then on up to the BM then the summit. An old jeep road goes as far as 7200. I kept going north down the rim then at el 6600 or so I moved left to the next ridge at 29373, 14015 el 6550 then down to the flats and thru a saddle at 29873, 14120 to get to my cycle. 4 or 5 hours, nearly 2000 gain, all easy. No brush. This hike has as good a ponderosa pine forest as I have ever seen. A car and a bike is all that's needed Posted 2024.
17. EAST SPLIT MOUNTAIN el 7528 is a good loop up the rim of Horsetrail Canyon then back down canyon. The easy 4wd road that goes south from the Island Pard Rd then along the west side of the canyon ends in .7 mile at shady camps. I walked to a saddle at N40 29881, W109 14058 then to a trail at 29795, 14019 and then on to the rim and up it to the summit. I then walked to the rim at 28949, 13280 el 7400 then down to 29045, 13425 el 6950 and then to a slab at 29074, 13465 el 6800. I soon hit bottom then walked to a trail at 29519, 13721 el 5900 bypasses along the left side of falls and then retraced back. 4 hours and the main gain is the 2000 up the rim but that's not steep at all except for the last 1999 feet. Good clean forests. No cheatgrass. What was the trail built for? Posted 2024.
18. RAINBOW DRAW has good badlands and makes for an easy one way hike. I took the Island Park Rd to the easy 4wd road going up Wagon Road Bench. I rode my cycle up that and parked in 2 miles at the saddle north of peak 5888. I coasted back down on my bike for 4 miles to where the draw crosses the Island Park Rd. It took me 2 hours, 10 minutes to walk up the clean creekbed using the forks that took me to my cycle. I had about 300 noticeable gain but there would be no gain if going in reverse using an ebike to shuttle. A hiker with just a car and bike would have a 3 hour hike. I put a track on peakbagger under Wagon Road Bench. Posted 2024.
19. LIME BENCHMARK el 6001 sits on the east rim of Limekiln Draw overlooking a sea of red. I parked on a bend in the graded Island Park Rd and walked 600 feet to a faint road at N40 31567, W109 08422. I followed that to 31885, 08428 then dropped into the clean and easy creekbed at some cottonwoods. I followed the forks that lead along the west side of the peak then into the north saddle. I went up to the summit and then to loop back on the rim to the east I went back to the saddle and on to 34052, 08797 el 5800 where I dropped to a creekbed. I went up that and circled around on easy ground to get to the east side of the rim then got on top just in time to go over peak 6040+. It has the best view. I went on over peak 5956 then along the right side of peak 5862 to 33086, 07888 el 5720 and just kept going to merge onto the top of the ridge. A faint road soon appears and it goes to 31935, 08137 then I went to a trail at 31803, 08304 and on down to the start. 5 hours, 600 noticeable gain, 9 miles. I did this in shorts but gaiters would defend against cheatgrass in the first half mile. This is one of the great red hikes. I saw remains of 4 game animals. OTHER CANYONS - I returned and went up the canyon on the east side of Lime BM. I came to a thicket and used a sandy trail on the left bank to pass it. I went as far as the 5600 line then came back and took the fork heading to the 17 on the topo. That's the best fork. At the 5800 line I got on the east rim then headed for the canyon west of peak 5862. An entry point is on the south side at 33241, 08046 el 5600. That fork needs pants but I got thru in shorts. That took 4 hours, 15 minutes and the only strain is a few short sandy slopes.I saw remains of 3 game animals. This time I was carrying my 9mm derringer.  Posted 2024.
20. SQUAW HILL el 6265 is next to Hardscrabble Mtn. The Jones Hole Trail can be used for a loop. An easy 4wd road forks off the maintained Island Park Rd near the Ruple Ranch and goes up the west rim of Red Wash as the topo shows. I parked near point 5371 then walked to the end of the road at the base of peak 5548. An elk trail goes right around it reading N40 32086, W109 07265. I went on to 32318, 07254 then down thru a cliff at 32380, 07184 and down to the bottom of Red Wash. It had a tiny stream. I walked the left bank to the Jones Trail and followed it but I missed a fork near the peak. I cut thru a gap in trees at 33446, 05497 to get back on the trail. Then at el 5880 I left the trail and headed for the east saddle of the peak. I went up to the summit then back to the saddle then south down canyon where I saw 3 game animal carcasses in the creekbed. I got to Sage Creek and was blocked by the Mariana Trench. I went up the bank to an elk trail at 32750, 05670 to get across then had a major trail going up to the rim. I then walked up the rim to peak 5786 and walked the easy SW ridge at 32377, 06149 down to 31594, 06969 where I could cross the canyon to get back to the start. 5 and a half hours, 10 miles, and about 700 strenuous gain. No brush. Roads are ebikeable. Posted 2024.
21. DIAMOND MOUNTAIN el 7779 - 500 North leaves Vernal and goes paved to the top of the mountain. Then a graded road branches off and goes along the rim with a lot of camp spots. Just past Point BM the road turns to 4wd but so many loose rocks make it bad for two wheelers. Two easy 4wd roads come up from the Island Park Rd. One starts just inside the park boundary and the other comes up Blair Draw and it's the better one. A road branches off it and goes to Box Reservoir where it's a short hike up to Butte BM. I circled around the west side of it and had an easy grade. Posted 2024.
22. JONES HOLE - 500 North leaves Vernal and goes paved for 40 miles to a fish hatchery where there is a trail down canyon. In about 2 miles there is a bridge across the creek and then comes rock art. Just past that a sign points to Ely Creek Falls. It's 5 more minutes to the falls. That's a major creek in there with a lot of hikers. Posted 2024.
23. BUCKSKIN HILLS el 6855 - take 500 North out of Vernal to an easy 4wd road at N40 32236, W109 23793. Go 3 miles on it to point 6172 and park. Ebikes make all but the last half mile. Then it's an easy hike up to the summit. I went on to Green BM using a trail at 32284, 27433 then down the east ridge to the road. 2 hours, 1000 gain, clean juniper forest. I didn't see any pinyons. Posted 2024.
24. RED MOUNTAIN el 7798 is north of Vernal on 2500 West. The main attraction is walking down the rim which is easy using a short trail from the main road up the north ridge to the summit then down the rim to a second vehicle. I didn't have a shuttle so I walked the jeep road on the topo then came back down the rim. I came back to the jeep road at N40 33067, W109 34985 el 6150. That took nearly 5 hours, 9 miles with nearly 2000 gain. A shorter version would be to ride an ebike the first mile or so. The road turns bad at point 6891 and only rock crawlers drive beyond there. Another shorter option would be walk the road to el 7000 then back down the rim. A log cabin near the summit may have been built to accomodate loggers. There are lots of big pines and slickrock on the rim. Posted 2024.

Rangely, Colorado

Box Canyon

Peak 6975

Willow Creek 

Coal Oil Rim

Cabin ruins at Coal Oil Rim

Willow Creek

1. Rangely has a market and Dollar General. A lot of BLM land is near town with cell signal. Texas Beach is a shady camp area a few miles down river but no signal. It's not for big rigs but I saw big rigs at another spot down the road. Posted 2024.
2. PEAK 6052 is a good rim walk near county 1. I took county 1 to mp 6.6 and turned on county 96 then went half a mile and parked. I coasted back to 1 then on to mp 7 near point 5552 and started up the rim there. I stayed on the low rim then to N40 11379, W108 51288 where I stepped up a level then on to the summit. Then I went to the NW point at 11006, 51581 and went left down a game trail. 2 hours, easy gain, good juniper forest. Posted 2024.
3. SPOOKY MOUNTAIN, PEAK 6521 have roads most of the way up. Take county 1 to mp 6.6 and turn on county 96 then go nearly 6 miles to a 4-way where the road tops out. Left goes almost all the way to the summit of Spooky. Right goes to towers on peak 6521. The last mile or two of each might need 4wd. Take an ebike. Posted 2024.
4. COAL OIL RIM el 6021 is a good rim walk and loop ride on a two wheeler.  I took county 1 to mp 6.6 and turned on county 96 then on 3.1 miles to the 4wd road that goes to Nate Spring Reservoir which is BLM #1736. I parked where I could walk the rim directly out to point 6021. Cabin ruins are there at N40 08700, W108 49247. I walked the rim a mile and a half to the end at 08054, 47911 then retraced to point 6005 then headed back. 2 hours, easy, good juniper forest. I followed the road to a 4-way at Chase Draw then down that on #1737 and then right along the base a short way then on to Rangely and back on pavement to camp on county 96. That's about a 25 mile loop with half on pavement. CHASE DRAW - later I returned to where #1736 crosses the draw and walked up canyon then left in the fork that goes under peak 6008. At the 5660 line I came across several potholes that hold water for weeks. I was going to turn south to peak 6204 then down the rim, but that was before I saw how pleasant the canyons are. I stayed in the canyon to 09219, 46510 where I took a ridge up to the rim then on along the east side of peak 6287 and then to the north rim of the descent canyon at 09500, 45813. I walked it to 09491, 45519 then down to the creekbed and back. 3 hours, 300 noticeable gain and all easy. It's a perfect juniper forest. I did this in shorts. I'll return for the peak someday.  KENNEY RESERVOIR - from the 4-way in Chase Draw, BLM #1735 goes south a mile and a half to a fork. Left goes smooth for 2 miles to a shaded table on the shore. Right goes to the rim then down to the dam but is rough bedrock. A steep road connects the dam to the table but bad for cycles.  Posted 2024.
5. MELLEN HILL el 6350 has a good county road to a cell tower. County 98 leaves highway 64 at mp 7.6. I could have drove a car all but the last tenth mile. 98 goes on north to county 130 but is high clearance and ebikeable. But with an ebike I would start on 130 and make a counterclockwise loop of about 30 miles using 64 and county 1. Posted 2024.
6. DINOSAUR VISITOR CENTER LOOP RIDE-  I started at the visitor center and took the paved road up the mountain to the sign for county 16. I turned there and went along Wolf Creek for 16 miles to county 95 then down that to highway 40 and back to the start. That's 54 miles and county 95 is not good for low slung cars and good for nothing when wet. I put a track on peakbagger under Lone Mtn. Posted 2024
7. WILLOW CREEK is a major attraction in the WSA of the same name. A good route is a one way over Moose Head Mtn then down the creek. I left my bike at mp 10.5 on highway 40 near BM 5861. Then rode my cycle on 6 miles or so to the Dinosaur visitor center and turned up the mountain for 6 miles to BLM road #1520. It's a high clearance road for 3 miles to a gate el 8050. I walked from there and stayed left at the first fork then right at the next ones and for the final road I was reading N40 18547, W108 52960. I went on to the summit el 8495 then down to a faint road fork at el 8335 and took the low road thru point 8105. I wandered off the road on a cow trail but should have stayed on the road then down a ridge at 17699, 52413 and then it leveled off some and I moved left to 17601, 52269 and then hit bottom. I went down to the spring but it's below a double drop and I couldn't see it. I was blocked by a deep fork so I went up and crossed it at 17495, 52399. A trickle was there with mossy pools and water striders. I walked level to merge with the west rim then on down a gully at 16874, 52494 el 6950 then down the ridge to the flats. I crossed the small stream on an elk trail at 15986, 52568 then on out. Private land is in the lower canyon but there was no fence or signs and easy to skirt anyway. I went on to my bike and coasted a mile and a half to camp on county 134 and retrieved my cycle the next day. Nearly 6 hours, 10 miles, 700 gain but  nearly 300 of that could be avoided by skipping the spring. Brush is very light and not a factor with pants. Just walking the west rim all the way down might work but I couldn't tell if there was a way thru the rim at el 7200 but it seemed likely. No cattle in Willow for years. I put a track on peakbagger under the peak.  Posted 2024.
8. WILLOW CREEK EAST RIM - I went up the rim then down the rim of Red Wash. I rode my cycle to mp 12.3 on highway 40 and turned on a crude road. I went a fifth mile and parked at a sunny camp spot then rode my bike to mp 10.5 near BM 5861. Then I walked to an elk trail at N40 15168, W108 52463 and that took me to the rim. I went up and got on the best part of the rim at 16201, 52178 el 6700. I went on along the left side of peak 6958 then to the right side of peak 7102 where I found an old logging road at 16974, 51343. I walked it a short way to an area of trees cut by axe. I kept going to the rim of Red Wash and went up it on trails as far as a good view at 17912, 50970 el 7150. I could see that canyon is brushy. I retraced down the rim to the 6480 line then turned south to my cycle. 5 and a half hours, 9 miles, and 1500 gain, all easy. I wore shorts. It's a good pj forest and the one on the rim of Willow is as good as it gets. SHORT VERSION- go as far as the logging road and come back on that. It would be the same shuttle.WILLOW CREEK CENTER - I returned the next day to mp 10.5 and started out the same but went into the canyon not expecting to get far. I crossed the stream on a trail at 15962, 52574 and walked the left bank until it fizzled then crossed to the right bank. Then I crossed to the left bank at 16350, 52249 and moved far left against the wall. I dropped to the stream at 16640, 52150 and stayed low along it. At 17175, 52174 I came to a spring on the left bank. At the 6600 line I ran out of trail but could walk up the one inch deep stream to a dry fall of 100 feet or higher. The main spring is coming out of the base there, not at the top like the map shows. It took me 107 minutes to get there and about 3 miles. Some light brush. Posted 2024.  
9. BOX CANYON, PEAK 6975 - I made a loop over the peak then back on the rim of Box. Take highway 40 to mp 15.5 and turn on county 165 then go 1.3 miles to BLM land. I walked to N40 15885, W108 47487 then stayed low along the slope to a fence then cut over into Box Canyon. I went up that and took a faint road at 16231, 47403 that leads to an elk trail that goes over the low rim into Little Red Wash then down to a finger at 16283, 46482. I went 230 feet down that and then across to the far bank then downstream a little to get up onto the rim. I walked it to 16651, 45718 el 6550 then looked up at the rim and saw a gully with promise. It's only class 2 and then it's a stroll to the summit. The reg was soaked and needs a better jar. I went down the north side at 16982, 45374 but should have gone down a little more to the left on an elk route down a main ridge. All ridges go as there are no cliffs on that side. I hit bottom and got on a trail at 17313, 45392 and on to a wash at 17214, 45996 then to a canyon. I went down a draw there at 17273, 46258 and hit a 6 foot class 3 drop at the bottom then up the other side and followed the high ground to point 6761. I then detoured to a view of Box at 17469, 47270 el 6650. I came back up and walked the rim down to a class 2 break at 16601, 47645 el 6300 to get down then out. 6 hours, 13 minutes, and 10 miles. All the gain is mellow but for 500 feet. I could do this in shorts. No cattle for years. County 165 soon ends at private land. BOX CANYON - later I returned and went up canyon. No issues other than boulders here and there. At the first main fork I stayed right because left is choked. It got super easy and I came to some tall grass. I put on pants but that soon cleared up and I strolled on to the fork at el 6600. I went right 50 feet or so then up to the right and back to a bench at 18315, 46635 el 6750 then crossed a drainage at 18174, 46692 el 6700. I walked benches on to point 6761 then on down the rim to the class 2 break at 16601, 47645. On the way out I detoured up peak 6400. The drainage that leads east into the north saddle has a trail on the right side on the red soil.  The canyon loop takes nearly 5 hours, 8 miles and 300 or so noticeable gain.The peak side trip adds 40 minutes. I put a track on peakbagger under the peak. Posted 2024.

Encampment, Wyoming

Browns Peak

Telegraph pole on Med Bow Peak?

2. Encampment has gas and tiny stores, Saratoga has a Family Dollar and supermarket. FR443 is west of Encampment and goes for miles with camps that have Verizon. The west side of Medicine Bow Peak has camping on FR103 at mp 46 on the highway. That is tricky for cars but I saw some in there.  At about mp 31 is FR101 and it has camping then FR329 branches off and has Verizon and cars make those. Posted 2024
3. MEDICINE BOW PEAK el 12013 has two trails up. I did a traverse from the south TH at Lake Marie all the way to Browns Peak then down to the Lewis Lake TH. The trail goes up to the south sadde el 11550 of the peak at an old lookout. Telegraph poles run north from that to ? The topo goes astray there showing the trail staying close to center where the poles are but it really goes left of center. Just stay with the large cairns. The trail goes over the summit then down to Lewis Lake, but I stayed on the crest to N41  22374, W106 18107 then dropped down a tundra slope. At around 11200 I moved right to the ridge then down to the main saddle and then up the ridge to Browns Peak. I kept going to 22635, 16098  then down tundra to Lost Lake and picked up a trail along the west shore and walked it to Lewis Lake where the parking lot was full and 50 cars lined the road on the way in. My bike was still there from the hike the day before around Browns Peak and it took me 20 minutes to ride to the start. 6 hours, 9.5 miles and 2500 gain, rarely steep. Nothing harder than class 2 but late season only when snow is gone.  Another loop could be done by going up the trail from Lewis with no shuttle required. Posted mid August, 2024.
4. BROWNS PEAK LOOP- a 12 mile loop can be done around the peak on trails starting at either Brooklyn Lake or Lewis Lake. I cut it to 8 miles by parking at Brooklyn and riding my bike to Lewis via FR332. I walked north thru the pass to North Gap Lake and stayed left at a fork and on to Cutthroat Lake then stayed right at forks to get to Brooklyn.  3 and a half hours, 8 miles and 1000 easy gain. The bike ride was 6 miles and one hour. Good lakes and tundra. The topo is off in places but not an issue. I left the bike in place for the peak traverse the next day. Posted 2024.
5. ROCK CREEK KNOLL el 11125 has an easy route from FR101. I walked FR326 then veered off a tenth mile to FR326C at N41 24684, W106 13612. I walked it to the end then elk trails to 24453, 13989 where I cut back on a trail to get on the ridge. I walked the left edge to 24396, 14137 and turned toward the summit. The last tenth mile was pure talus but easy. 3 hours, 1200 easy gain. ATVs go in on FR326, what about bikes? ROCK CREEK PEAK was in view to the east, but the main attraction is the bald south ridge. I took FR329 for nearly 5 miles then walked to a clearing at 24028, 09278 then up to a saddle on the ridge at 24102, 09784. I went on to peak 10429 then back. 1 hour, 500 easy gain. Cars can make all these roads. Posted 2024.
6. KENNADAY PEAK el 10810 has 12 miles of dirt roads all the way. Just inside the west forest boundary on highway 130 is where FR100 goes north and graded. At about 6 miles is a sign for the peak. A car might go another mile to a meadow but then it's high clearance and maybe 4wd. Or ebike it. The lookout on the summit is kaput. Posted 2024.
7. BLACKHALL MOUNTAIN el 10979 has a road to a lookout on top. At the east end of Riverside is a sign for Blackhall Mtn Rd. It goes graded a dozen miles to a main fork. Go left then at the next main fork go right. The last 3 miles is easy 4wd and ebikeable. The last tenth mile is for jeeps. Signs make it hard to get lost on the drive in. The lookout is for rent starting in mid August. Posted 2024
8. VULCAN MOUNTAIN el 10786  is mostly easy tundra. I took highway 70 to mp 50.2 and turned on FR443 and followed that a dozen miles to FR434. That road is easy 4wd for a couple miles to N41 12643, W106 59690 el 9880 where I started hiking. There is a small parking spot there. I walked to elk trails at 12533, 59829 and followed those up to 12502, 59970 and had tundra the rest of the way to the summit then came back over the north summit. A mine cabin is in the saddle in between.  2 hours, 1200 gain. I could have drove a car in the first 7 miles or so then ebiked the rest. FR440 is another way in but I didn't check it. Posted 2024
9. BRIDGER PEAK el 11012 has a 4wd road to the top, FR412. But the weather was crap so I skipped it. People camp where the road departs from highway 70 at nearly 10000 feet. Posted 2024
10. ENCAMPMENT RIVER TRAIL  is just south of town. The lower part can be done one way starting on the Purgatory Gulch Trail. That trail starts along the Blackhall Mtn Rd. A 4wd road goes down the gulch like the topo shows then becomes a trail leading to the river trail. Cars can park along the Blackhall road and high clearance vehicles can go little more to a saddle. Then it's downhill for 7 miles to a BLM campground and then a 10 mile drive back to the start. I did this in reverse using a pedal bike to shuttle but I won't make that mistake again. It's steep as hell on the climb out. It ain't called Purgatory for nothing. The campground has a hand pump well near site #2. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 8480. Posted 2024.

Rawah Wilderness Area

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1. Dispersed camping is non existent on highway 14 between Fort Collins and Walden. And the same goes for Verizon service. But the graded county roads have camping starting with 63E. Only highway legal vehicles are allowed on these roads. Glen Echo has gas pumps but I didn't stop in to see if they are in operation. Posted 2024.

2. COUNTY 63E leaves highway 14 at mp 96.1 and goes graded for 16 miles to the CSU campus and Tom Bennett campground. Camp spots are along the first 6 miles with a restroom at mp 4. FR139 branches off at mp 4.3 and goes graded for nearly 20 miles. The first 6 miles along Bennett Creek has the best camps. At mp 12.2 on 63E is where county 44H goes left for 18 miles to pavement. Going left there leads 9 miles to highway 14 near mp 106. I could have drove a car on all these roads. And so it was in 2024.

3. COMANCHE PEAK el 12702 is a good loop. I went up the Mummy Pass trail and walked the easy ridge to the peak then down to Emmaline Lake and back on that trail.  County 63E goes in from highway 14 for 15 miles to Tom Bennett campground. Take the road thru that then shortly a 4wd road goes left for half a mile to a gate el 9000 then it's foot travel only. The closed road runs high on the west side of the CSU campus then the fork for the Mummy trail is signed. I took that to where it tops out at el 11400 then veered right to N40 31882, W105 39108 el 11600 where I had the most tundra to climb the ridge. I leveled off around el 12000 and skirted left of a peak then on past Fall Mtn and on to 32755, 40857 el 12500 where I could circle around to the west side of Comanche then stroll up. I then walked the ridge to 32944, 40436 and went straight down to the lake. I had to weave thru scrub near the lake and the trail is where the topo shows at 32486, 39699 el 11000 and I walked it back. 9 hours, 44 minutes, 16 miles with nearly 4000 gain. Generally easy terrain. The mileage could be cut to 13 by setting up base camp where the old road crosses Fall Creek el 9450. Camping is not allowed at the lakes. Posted July 12, 2024.

4. SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN el 12120 is the easiest 12er in the world. The Stormy Peaks Trail starts near the CSU campus as the topo shows. I walked it to el 11400 and saw a game trail to my right. I walked easily to it but could have stayed on the main trail then hit it at N40 31171, W105 35578 el 11450. That took me to the main ridge then I strolled to the summit. I retraced back to 31005, 36396 el 11850  then dropped down on tundra and shortcutted back to the trail. I went thru 31350, 36301 el 11050 to get to the trail. That took 7 hours, 14 minutes, and nearly 13 miles with 3300 gain. All easy gain. Posted 2024.

5. CROWN BENCHMARK el 11637 is so easy it makes pie look hard. Cars can make it to the Browns Lake TH el 10500 on FR139. Then there's just one trail to follow to the west ridge of the peak then tundra the rest of the way. 3 hours, 1400 gain, 7 miles. Posted 2024.

6. MIDDLE MOUNTAIN el 11002 is a short hike. County 69 leaves highway 14 at mp 91.1 at Glen Echo. Camp spots start showing up in 5 miles. The road connects to county 86 and many camps along that road have Verizon. It's just a matter of following the roads on the FS topo around to the west side of the peak to a newer trail just past the one on the topo. It goes up to the north side of the peak then it's easy the rest of the way. I could have drove a car the whole way but the last 8 miles is less maintained but that would make a good ebike ride. The other peaks nearby looked easy. Posted 2024.

7. National forest visitor center is at mp 88.

8. BIG SOUTH TH is at about mp 74. That trail runs along the river. It's best as a one way by riding an ebike to the end of the road at Peterson Lake then take a trail there down the river and walk it down to the highway. Trouble is, the river was too high to ford there at the lake so I put it off. It would be an 8 mile hike with a bike shuttle of a dozen miles. The highway has a paved shoulder. Posted 2024.

9. FR103 leaves highway 14 at mp 71.5. It goes along Chambers Lake where there are tiny camps and large camps start in a few more miles at FR191. Posted 2024.

10. TWIN CRATER LAKES el 11000 has a trail the whole way. The West Branch TH el 8550 is at mp 6.8 on county 103. The trail goes to a fork at N40 39398, W105 54177. Go right to another fork at 39598, 55599 then left to the lakes. 7 hours, nearly 3000 gain, 14 miles. Posted 2024.

11. SOUTH RAWAH PEAK el 16644 has easy tundra ridges. I went up the east ridge and down the north. I walked the Twin Crater Lakes trail to a creek draining the lakes at el 10650 and filled my bottle. I started up the ridge nearby reading N40 39390, W105 55789 and on to 39436, 56088 then just followed the ridge up. The summit is at 39561, 57343. I then walked across a flat to a view of Lake #4 at 40055, 57286 and then on down the ridge there. At 40570, 56715 I could see the trail to take me back. 9 hours, 16 miles with 4400 gain. A basecamp 3 miles in at the first major creek crossing el 9550 would cut the time way down. Another good camp is at el 9900 just past a creek. The last camp is right along where I left the trail at el 10650. This is the best hike I did in this wilderness. Posted 2024.

12. SHIPMAN PARK is a 4 mile long meadow surrounded by high mountains. Locals say that dinosaurs still roam there. At mp 15.5 on county 103 is where county 99 branches off and goes nearly 3 miles to the McIntyre TH el 8400. The trail goes over a mile to the creek with a good bridge. The trail stays on the right bank all the way to the park passing thru a saddle el 9632. Just past that is a game trail at N40 47221, W106 00640 that goes up a low hill with glimpses of the park. On down the main trail is another game trail at 47182, 00752 that goes along a bog and in a fifth mile to the edge of the park at 47364, 00720. Beyond there would require galoshes. I've never seen anything like this on this scale. It took me 6 hours, 18 minutes and 14 miles. Easy grades. This all was once a road that went to Ute Pass and beyond. Best late in the season when bogs dry up. I hope.Posted 2024

13. CLARK PEAK el 12951 has an easy route up the east side from a closed logging road. I made a loop up that then back on the Blue Lake Trail. I parked at that TH on highway 14 at mp 69.3 then walked a fifth mile up the highway to the logging road. I walked it to N40 34665, W105 51944 el 9800 then cut across a switchback. At the next fork I stayed right then just had one road to follow to the end at el 10600. I got on an elk trail at 35460, 53776 and went level for a tenth mile then could see where elk go up. I went up to 35580, 53881 el 10850 then on to the top of the ridge. I just followed the pleasant ridge on up. I then went down the NE ridge staying low on the right for the best tundra. At 36753, 55159 el 12100 is  where I merged with the route posted by Hahn. It's an easy ridge down then left over peak 11232 and on to 36948, 54502 el 11150 where I could see the lake. I went on down to the trail and walked it out. 7 hours, 10 minutes, 13 miles and nearly 4000 gain. Only the 400 up from the logging road could be called steep. A basecamp could be set up on that road but the last good water I saw was a tiny stream at 35135, 53061 el 10300. A popular camp is at the end of the road el 10600 and likely used by hunters. Posted July 24, 2024.

14. CHICKADEE el 12170 is the name on peakbagger for a peak south of Clark Peak. I parked at about mp 66.3 on highway 14 and took the Montgomery Pass Trail to the crest then on to the peak. I descended the easy NE ridge to N40 34553, W105 54340 el 11200 then dropped down and walked a tundra strip to a bog at 34809, 53903. I walked the right edge to get past it then down to a logging road shown on the topo at 34810, 53429. I shortcutted a bend and hit the road again at 34911, 53204 and soon there is a switchback. I cut that then at the last switchback I went half way down it then cut it and walked on to the highway where I had a bike stashed at mp 69.4. Deadfall was not an issue but that won't last because I was in a burn for half a mile. That took 5 hours, 9 miles with 2500 gain. Easy terrrain. I could have gone on to Clark then down to the logging road. That might take 8 hours. Posted 2024.

15. LONG DRAW ROAD leaves highway 14 at mp 69.3. It goes graded for 14 miles to the national park where the Grand Ditch exits. About 30 small designated campsites are along the way in. Posted 2024.

15. IRON MOUNTAIN el 12265 is in the Never Summer Mountains. I made a good loop up the west rim of Trap Creek then down the east rim. The TH el 9950 is along the Long Draw Rd. I walked up canyon on the trail then up a game trail at N40 32644, W105 49780 el 10400. It follows a logging road up to the rim at a saddle el 10692. I then strolled on up the rim then for the last 400 feet I walked a game trail straight up the ridge to the summit. That's the only steep part and can be avoided by clrcling wide left. I then went down the east rim to 31132, 50416 el 11300 and went down tundra. I stayed left around every obstacle and hit bottom at springs reading 31315, 50509 el 10650. I followed the stream thru a clearing to a faint trail at 31504. 50537 and weaved 200 feet to the main creek and found the main trail on the far bank and strolled back. 6 and a half hours, 10.7 miles with 2600 gain. Deadfall near the saddle el 10692 was a minor nuisance. Posted 2024.

16. FLAT TOP MOUNTAIN el 11355 has a logging road part way up out of Trap Creek. It enters the trees at N40 32335, W105 49953 then on to a clearing at 32191, 49858 el 10650 where I stopped because the road seemed to end there. I would prefer to use this as a descent route on the Iron Mtn hike. Posted 2024.

17. LULU MTN, THUNDER MTN - these two can be done as a loop. I parked at the La Poudre Pass TH at end of the Long Draw Rd then the rode my bike back 4.3 miles to the Long Draw Campground. A closed logging road goes up the ridge there. I shortcutted a gooseneck by heading for N40 30754, W105 47803 and then along the north side of peak 10954 and then hit the road again. The road fades at the wilderness boundary and there I moved to right of center to weave deadfall on up the ridge. The forest soon got very easy and I leveled off at el 11200 and on to springs at 30389, 49346 el 11300. Those seem to be leaking out of the 11374 ponds. I stepped up to the ponds then leveled off to the south ridge of peak 11896.   That would be where to go up if doing Iron Mtn, but I was just on it so I stayed low and circled the basin to an elk trail at 30255, 50674 el 11400. Springs there were the best on the hike. The trail stays above the springs and fades and then I picked up another one at 29922, 50953 el 11350 and I went down to the main saddle then up over Thunder Mtn and down to the saddle before Lulu. There I dropped left a little on an elk trail to get an easy angle up to the SE ridge of Lulu then up over that peak and down to Thunder Pass then took the trail out. The last 3 and a half miles are on the Grand Ditch road. I thought that would be dull but turned out to be pretty dramatic.  8 hours, 3700 gain, 14 miles. Easy terrain. I zizgagged tundra up the peaks and didn't have to stop for breath. Shorter loops could be done using the Neota Creek trail as an exit but I didn't scout that. Though I skipped it I could see the south side of Iron Mtn and nothing appeared to be harder than class 2 to get down to the saddle for Thunder Mtn. Posted July 27, 2024.

18. NORTH DIAMOND PEAK el 11852 is a popular one. Behind the restroom at Cameron Pass is a clear strip going straight up the mountain. The steep trail is on the left of it in the trees. But I took a wuss route by riding my bike a mile and a half to the Montgomery Pass Trail el 10000 at mp 66.3. I walked that easy trail to the crest then a trail goes left to the peak. I stayed level along the west side of peak 11588. I descended to the south saddle then down to the trail at N40 31101, W105 54406 el 11300. It faded and I hit another trail at 31071, 54035 that goes along a stream and soon merges with the main trail and goes on down. 3 and a half hours, 1900 gain, 5.2 miles. Posted 2024.

19. FR740 leaves highway 14 near Gould at mp 55.4. That goes graded for miles with countless large camps. It turns 4wd approaching the South Fork TH like the topo shows. Owl Mtn has two different roads to an abandoned lookout. The best is FR792. It might need 4wd at a spot or two. Ebikes should make it. I did a loop on my cycle. Posted 2024.

20. WALDEN is at mp 34. It has Verizon service, Family Dollar and the supermarket is a mile north of town. Posted 2024.