Indian Trails of Indio Hills

Pushawalla Palms

The trail out of Pushawalla. It likely goes to Stubbe Spring at Joshua Tree.

 1. PUSHAWALLA PALMS LOOP - These are the best palms.  I started out on an Indian trail going to the palms from Dollar Rd to the north then went on to Hidden Palms and back on more trails. Where the pavement ends on Dollar Rd it's another half mile on high clearance dirt to a closure sign. Bikes could be locked to it. I got on the trail just past that at N33 50547, W116 15849 and walked it into the canyon. I walked the right bank a few feet then had to drop into the creekbed but it soon smoothed out. At the main wash I got on a faint road on the left bank and walked it the palms and dropped down the steep bank at 49545, 16848. The palms run a half mile with a stream and there is a trail at 49361, 17005 that goes up a gully onto the rim then thru more palms and on to Hidden Palms. I walked a signed trail thru those then detoured on an Indian trail at 49443, 18233 that goes to the flat north of peak 833. I turned north to a surprise Indian trail at 49880, 18165 that goes up to a modern trail on a rim. I walked that to 49684, 17671 then dropped left down a trail and across a wash and along the right side of a point to a trail at 49849, 17500. It goes up on the rim and stays along the edge at first then on to 50415, 16844 and then fades in another third mile. There I veered right into a wash at 50651, 16325 and up that for a tenth mile then across the last wash at 50657, 16034.  3 hours, 42 minutes and nearly 8 miles with easy grades. If I just wanted to do all the palms I would just walk one way from Dollar Rd down to Washington St. Posted 2025

2. PUSHAWALLA PALMS EAST RIM - a modern trail goes up from the palms to the east rim then a spotty Indian trail runs out to peak 834 and back down. Where the pavement ends on Dollar Rd it's another half mile on high clearance dirt to a closure sign. Bikes could be locked to it. I got on the trail just past that at N33 50547, W116 15849 and walked it into the canyon. I walked the right bank a few feet then had to drop into the creekbed but it soon smoothed out. At the main wash I got on a faint road on the left bank and walked it almost to the palms where a modern trail crosses the road and goes to 49588, 16743 then up to the rim where topo lines look like a dog. It goes on to a canyon then down it to the palms. But there is no need to go past the dog's nose and just head for the rim that leads to peak 834. Along the way is another modern trail at 49006, 16337. It seems to go down a canyon. It only runs 200 feet on the rim and fades then comes some survey junk. At 49133, 16649  the Indian trail shows up running low left. It goes past peak 834 to a point. A trail is to the left but it's safer to go straight north down the point to 49400, 16833 on the edge of a big side canyon then down to the palms. Then either slog back up the soft wash or get on the bank at 49549,  16850 to walk the old road back. Nearly 4 hours, 7 miles with 600 noticeable gain. A lot of good pavement on that east rim. Posted 2025

3. INDIAN PALMS LOOP - this starts near the visitor center. A TH is a third mile south of the center next to Squaw Hill . Park there and walk the shoulder toward the center for a few feet to a gate that is the trail to the palms in a canyon. At the last grove the canyon turns rocky. Either get on the left rim there or go up canyon and go up left to the trail at N33 50518, W116 17863. It goes 2/3 mile and fades at a clearing. I moved left and walked a little more then headed for the return trail at 50605, 17224. It soon splinters but I stayed on the rim to the left and walked the trail on down. It fades in rocks but I had no trouble walking the rim to the end then walked a wash along the base back to the starting trail. 2 hours. Posted 2025

4. PEAK 833 is south of the visitor center. A trail runs across the north flat. It goes up the rim of Thousand Palms Canyon at N33 49763, W116 18567. I parked a third mile west of it then walked to it and up to the top of the rim. Then I went a couple hundred feet toward the peak  to get on it again. I walked it a fifth mile along a lot of rock piles then followed cairns up to the peak and down a faint trail on the west ridge. 90 minutes, 350 gain. Another option would be to walk the trail to Hidden Palms then down to pavement. Shuttle needed for that one and there is a paved shoulder for bikes. Posted 2025

5. PALMS BENCHMARK el 1386 is easiest from the north but I chose the more scenic south canyon. Moon Shadow Dr heads straight for the canyon but they are trying to close it. So I came in on Desert Moon Dr then left on Burr Oak Rd and went around the edge of houses and out to a fence at a T. A local told me everybody drives to the east around the fence and up into the canyon. I took a left fork at N33 51632, W116 21802 then stayed left at main forks to 51975, 21820 where I went right and then stayed left to a ridge at 52059, 21792 that goes to the main ridge. An Indian trail runs the ridge to the summit and keeps going but gets dangerous past the summit. Hiking in from the fence would be a 5 mile round trip with 300 noticeable gain. I could have rode an ebike past the fence most of the way in. Posted 2025

6. MACOMBER PALMS have a rough trail in from the north. Happy Valley Rd goes south from Dillon Rd and in just over a half mile I parked and walked up a ridge at N33 49615, W116 13979 then on to the trail at 49220, 14041. It goes to a saddle then down canyon to the palms. At 48838, 14292 el 1200 the trail runs on the left bank then down a point and stays on the left bank then fades but is easy sand on down to the palms. I followed the low ground to the right past more palms then on to a trail at 48639, 16257. It goes over the rim into the next canyon which is the one I returned in. I stayed right at the first main fork and followed the forks that go along the south side of the eastern 16 on the topo. At 49564, 14729 there is a trail that I used to get back to the start. 3 and a half hours, nearly 8 miles. The only noticeable gain is 150 at the start. Easy but rocky in places. ONE WAY VERSION - keep going the Pushawalla Palms then a trail goes on to the visitor center. That would need an 8 mile shuttle, all paved. Posted 2024

7. PEAK 712 is west of the Macomber Palms. A modern trail goes over it. It took Coyote Song Way to the end of pavement then along the left side of a row of stumps then left and parked a tenth mile from the trail which is at N33 48022, W116 16755. 1 hour, 500 gain. Posted 2025

8. HERMAN MOUNTAIN el 1300 is at the Coachella Valley Preserve. A trail can be used to go one way over it. I parked on the Thousand Palms Rd at N33 51220, W116 18513 then coasted on my bike for 3 miles to the Willis Palms TH which is at the 380 line on the Thousand Palms Rd. At the palms a right branch of the trail reading 49545, 19770 goes up to the summit then down and then turns toward the visitor center. I left it there and walked to a faint road at 51175, 18664 that took me to my cycle. That took 2 hours, 15 minute with 1000 gain. Ending the hike at the visitor center should work but the area around there was closed that day. ALTERNATE DESCENT - follow the trail over the summit and down to the 1200 line then leave it and head down the ridge toward the north saddle of peak 972 then down the wash back to the start. Before the saddle I saw a trail at 50770, 19558 and it goes along the bank of the wash then fades. That's the route I chose that day. That descent needs no shuttle.  I put tracks on peakbagger. Posted 2024, 2025

Cedar Mountain, Price UT

Buckhorn Draw

Balanced Rock at Cottonwood Wash

Marsing Ranch

The Bowling Pin

Buried Forest

Long Point Ridge

Stove Gulch

Near Cottonwood Wash

1. Marsing Ranch

 1. I went across on a graded road out of Cleveland and south of the mountain to highway 191 south of Woodside. A Verizon tower on the summit ensures a signal nearly all the time Posted. 2025

2. PEAK 5950 is a large mesa about 4 miles NW of Flattop Mtn. A good loop starts on the north side.  I turned north off the Flattop road on the jeep road running east of peak 5919. Just past a cattleguard there is a fork. Left goes along the west side of the mesa and is the better road but I didn't know that then.  I went right down Cottonwood Wash and up into Red Holes Wash and parked on the north side of the mesa. I started up a ridge at N39 22224, W110 38980 and strolled on up to point 5901 then south on the rim to survey junk at the south tip. I walked on to 21505, 39020 then it's best to drop into a wide canyon. The canyon narrows and the left bank has a path to get thru to the start. 2 and a half hours and the 150 gain at the start is the only strain. Great pj forest. Ebikes could make it in but it's going to take a jeep to get across sharp dips. Using the west side road won't have those issues. There are ways to climb up from the south but steep and so not as enjoyable. Posted 2025

3. HUMBUG CANYON has a stock trail off the west rim near point 6034. It's obvious there would be a trail there. A good road goes to it from the Flattop road.  The trail drops down a crack at N39 16875, W110 38099 and goes down to a fork at 16921, 37787. The right fork is the one to go upstream. I walked smooth gravel to 15663, 38525 where boulders turned me back. A tiny stream was there from rain a week or two earlier. 2 hours and the only noticeable gain is the 250 back up the trail. No cattle for years. Shady camping at the TH. Posted 2025

4. PEAK 6270, PEAK 6278 are west of Flattop Mtn. A good loop over 3 peaks is a good one. I parked on the Flattop road east of peak 6105 then walked up thru a break at N39 20201, W110 37450 then on up to the first peak that peakbagger shows as peak 6309. I then went to peak 6270 then down a level to a canyon at 20342, 37652. I walked that down to a badlands basin then up that to the end and then up to the right to get on the NE ridge of peak 6268. I cirlced the rim then down at 19917, 38236 and stayed on the high ground to the last cliff at 19708, 37785 where I descended to the start. 3 hours, 1000 gain. Great pristine pj forests. Posted 2025

5. LUCKY FLATS WASH - I went down canyon to the river then back on the north rim but it's better to reverse it. A jeep road branches off the Flattop road and goes to Lucky Flats Spring then over into Cottonwood Wash. The other way in is the road east of peak 5919. It's longer but easier and less hilly. I parked north of 5491 then it's a matter of following the topo on the rim out to peak 5826 then down to N39 22330, W110 35176 and then 22232, 35237 and straight down to the creekbed. It's easy walking to drops at a narrows but the left rim is easy to walk to an overlook of the river but no way down. Then going back up canyon the exit is the canyon east of peak 5663. 5 and a half hours, 9 miles hardly any strenuous gain. An easy walk in a pristine canyon. Posted 2025

6. LEMON FLATS LOOP - looping around on the rims is an easy hike. I parked on the Flattop road at campsites near peak 5980 then rode my bike 2 miles east and started up the west rim. There is an old road cutting along the left side of peak 6090 and I kept on almost to point 6341 then cut left over a ridge at N39 16602, W110 40673 and straight down into a canyon. I walked the smooth wash down that to the flats then up a red ridge at 17344, 39735 to get on the east rim. That's easy until some boulders past peak 6323 but even those have easy paths thru. Past peak 6205 is a drop and there is a way down on the right. 3 and a half hours, 6.6 miles and the 300 gain up the red ridge is the only strenuous part. Lots of pristine pj forest here. Posted 2025

7. FLATTOP MOUNTAIN el 7140 has a great pj forest but some has been marred by dirt bikes. I made a loop from the north. I parked where the road makes a hairpin turn el 5960 in a canyon west of peak 6654 and went up onto the huge bench then up along the west side of peak 6810. Once on top I circled the rim then descended at N39 19724, W110 35199 and on down the ridge and east of peak 6580 to get back to the bench. Then on to peak 6654 then at 21088, 34476 I dropped back to the start. 4 hours, 1700 gain and 6.5 miles. Posted 2025

8. FLATTOP MTN SW RIDGE - the long ridge has a washed out road that can be used for a loop. An easy 4wd road departs the Flattop road at peak 5980 and goes east to the base of the ridge where it is washed out. I walked up it to a fork on top and stayed right to the end then circled south of peak 6472 and came back on the pristine east rim. There is a road on the south side of peak 6434 that leads back to the fork. 2 and a half hours, 5.4 miles with 400 noticeable gain. Good forest, good views. Posted 2025

9. CEDAR MOUNTAIN el 7665 has a graded road to the summit out of Cleveland. Subaru types can go on to a locked gate near Gooseberry Spring. There is a big drop above the spring but a trail runs down to the left to get at it. Water comes out of a pipe into troughs. That's the best water I saw on the mountain. Posted 2025

10. BULL HOLLOW has an ATV trail running up it. At a main fork the right one goes to the 6200 line. The left fork goes a mile or so on the left bank. The wash itself is blocked just beyond there. A third road goes up to Stake Spring and to the rim but I couldn't get my 125 up it. With an ebike I would ride the graded road up the rim and walk it down at the spring then down canyon. Posted 2025

11. THE NIPPLE el 6281 is north of the main road up Cedar Mtn. I turned off at the 6000 line but there is another road higher up that I didn't check. Soon there is a rough spot then easy 4wd on to Cow Flat Reservoir. I turned north there for a short way and parked. The easiest route up is to go up a wash at N39 17204, W110 44203 and on to a ridge at 17340, 44121. It goes up to the final cliff then go left to a break at 17382, 43994. One hour, 300 gain. I rode the road going north but there is a bad spot NW of the peak. Only OHVS and two wheelers beyond there. I went past a stock tank then thru a gate and stayed left at a fork then down Soap Wash to a main road. Ebikes work on all these roads. Posted 2025

12. PEAK 6878 is at the west end of Cedar Mtn. A loop can be made using a bad jeep trail coming up from the SW then down the west rim on an OHV trail. I parked near Buckhorn Reservoir at N39 14571, W110 48736 then rode my bike south for a mile and a half to an obvious jeep road going up the slope. It's on the topo. I walked it and the first mile or so has been bladed in recent times but that's a trick. It goes to hell with no turnaround. I kept going almost to the west ridge of the peak then headed for a road at 13905, 46778. I walked a quarter air mile on that then left up a wash that leads to the east side of the peak. I went up a little ridge at 14061, 46010 and on to a break in the high cliff at 14369, 46021. I descended the west ridge to the east saddle of peak 6635 then dropped south down the drainage. I stayed left of boulders then on to 14157, 46653 where I could go on down then walk the base. Soon the return road came into view and I followed it up south of peak 6419 and it forks there. The left fork is the OHV trail down to the start. 3 and a half hours, 7.3 miles with 1700 gain.  No cattle ever and no boulder problems. Posted 2025.

13. LITTLE CEDAR MOUNTAIN el 6414 has a road to the top. It starts off the graded road on the west side and goes 3 and a half miles up the south rim. Subaru types and ebikes can make it. Posted 2025

14. LONG POINT RIDGE is the largest unspoiled area on Cedar Mtn. I went up an easy ridge to peak 6937 then down the east ridge of Cedar Mtn Knoll. I took the road at Saleratus Reservoir and it goes north like the topo shows then I turned left thru point 5382 and on past a drill hole to a T. I went left a short way to a faded road at N39 14153, W110 31456 and I walked that road to the obvious ridge up to peak 6937. At el 6300 I took an angle to the right to get in the saddle north of the peak but that backfired. I should have gone straight up and over the peak. I went on to the last peak before peak 6792. I call that one Survey Peak as there is some junk still standing at the north end. I then went south to 14226, 32985 and stayed just below the 7000 line on the west side of peak 7192 and on to 13684, 33195 then across a clearing to 13604, 33242. I went up to a rim and on to the bald summit of Cedar Mtn Knoll. I dropped down the east ridge and it bends north to two hills just above the 7040 line. I stayed low left past those then at 13195, 32696 el 6900 the ridge starts dropping steeper. At el 6600 I came to a cliff and was ready to panic. I had less than a pint of water by then. But I moved right to 13268, 32634 and could see an easy way under the cliff then had an easy ridge down to a road. But I should have headed for the road at 13421, 31822 and it leads back to the start. 5 hours, 7.6 miles with 2000 gain. Nothing harder than class 2. Great pj forest. All roads easy 4wd and ebikeable. Posted 2025

15. PEAK 6654 is in the huge valley north of Cedar Mtn. The only road in leaves the main graded road at Saleratus Reservoir and goes north like the topo shows and bends west to a drill hole at Neversweat Wash. There it's best to stay in the wash to N39 16243, W110 32619 where two wheelers can go right in a fork and jeeps can go a little more and take a road on the right bank. I turned right on my 125 then left at a main fork and parked at a fork where I could walk 200 feet up to the high ground at 16558, 33186. I walked that to a minor cliff then went low left to get past it then on up to a crack at 16744, 33794. I went up it then level to the right across a main wash then up a smooth ridge. That's easy to el 6200 or so then the break in the last cliff is up to the right at 16715, 34024. 3 hours, 1000 gain. Pristine. I could have easily drove a jeep in there. Subaru types might get close enough to ebike it. The roads and washes are hard packed. Posted 2025

16. STOVE GULCH, SULPHUR CANYON - these are east of Flattop Mtn and make a good loop. The only road in leaves the main graded road at Saleratus Reservoir and goes north like the topo shows to a fence at peak 5580. Stay right at a fork there and down to the creekbed of Stove. I  walked up Stove into a narrows then a fall made me turn back to a north fork where I  went up a gully and on to the sadde between the canyons reading N39 20359, W110 33349. I could see I could likely go up to peak 5684 and walk the rim back, but I dropped down the canyon leading into Sulphur. It's worth it to go up that canyon until it gets rocky. I could smell sulphur but didn't see the source. I went on down to the river then back up Stove. 3 hours, 40 minutes and nearly 9 miles. Noticeable gain is less than 100. No cattle for years. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 5580. Jeeps can make the roads. Rocks are few. It's just packed red sand.  Posted 2025

17. HISTORIC MARSING RANCH is along the Price River south of peak 6205. A graded road goes from a rest area at mp 367.1 on highway 191 to Coon Spring then a jeep road goes west to a fork just before peak 5598. The left fork is washed out but it's the one to walk then drop off the rim at N39 21993, W110 30961 and go down a canyon on the right side. That will get steep then just drop to a ridge el 5200 in the center and go down and get on the high ground at 21811, 31035. Walk that around to 21663, 31712 and drop down a canyon that leads to the trail that goes to the ranch with the grave of Annabelle Marsing along the way. A lot of structures still stand. It's 3 miles and 90 minutes to walk to the ranch. There is 400 noticeable gain on the way out. On the ride out I climbed Cinder BM and put a track on peakbagger. Jeeps can make it but the next flood may change that. No cattle for years. Posted 2025

18. PRICE RIVER RIM TRAIL - this trail goes down to the river from the west saddle of peak 5931. A good loop goes down the canyon to the east then back up the trail. The graded Gas Field Rd goes south from highway 191 at point 5634 and goes under the RR tracks at a T. Go left a little then right on a good road running south of point 5505 and on to a T at point 5525. Then south to point 5834 which is where I parked. I walked east on the road for nearly half a mile to a fence then walked the left side of that to the rim at N39 24605, W110 33702 then down and had a smooth walk to the river. A trail runs up river close to the slope to the exit trail at 23441, 34825. At the rim a bike would save a mile back to the start but I didn't bother for such a short hike. 2 and a half hours, 700 gain. There would only be 200 noticeable gain if reversing this. The road goes on to the north ridge of peak 6205 and it's a good stroll up that to the summit. 4wd needed beyond point 5525 but nothing major. The Buried Forest hike is not far in from the highway. Signs point the way and it's a one mile hike to peculiar concretions. Posted 2025

Marble, CO

 1. HUNTSMAN RIDGE, HUNTSMAN MOUNTAIN can be done as a long loop. A paved road goes up Coal Creek from Redstone to the TH at private land but hikers and bikers are allowed thru. The trail is a road that goes 1.2 miles to a fork with buildings and a spring near point 8535. I went right up to the peaks then came back on the left fork. But it would be easier to walk the left fork up all the way to the crest west of peak 11298 and on to the peaks then down. I put a track on peakbagger under Huntsman Ridge that makes it obvious.  8 hours, 15 miles with 4350 gain but rarely steep. Riding a bike the first 1.2 miles on the smooth road would help. The USFS topo shows these roads best. All the roads have mtn bike trails or cow trails and hardly any deadfall. I saw dirt bike tracks nearly up to the crest at peak 11298. Domestic sheep graze the high peak so there must be a decent way up from the west. Posted 2025

2. PEAK 11035 can be reached from McClure Pass using a steep but not eroded ATV trail.  It starts just east of the pass and ends at el 10500 then a trail goes on to the summit. From the summit I followed a trail down the east ridge to the east saddle of peak 10377 where I lost it. I kept going down the ridge to the trail east of point 9250 but that's fake. I used game trails along the route of the trail and hit a real trail at el 8600 and walked it out to the Coal Basin TH. That took me 6 hours, 11 miles with 3000 gain from the pass. I got lucky on the descent route but that's for crazy people. I only had some light brush and deadfall didn't show up until I got on the lower trail at el 8600 and it wasn't bad. A better plan is to drop north around peak 10377 to the logging roads and walk those to the lower TH. I can see cow trails or some such on those roads. The USFS topo shows everything best. I put a track on peakbagger under Huntsman Mtn because it would be a route for that peak but only for hikers with ATV. Posted 2025

3. MARBLE has a paved road to it from highway 133. A good dirt road goes up from town to a marble mine. Along the way are THs for Raspberry Creek and Yule Creek. There is a 4wd road that leaves town and goes to the town of Crystal where there is a historic mill. It's 5 miles of 4wd to reach it and will be clogged on weekends . I saw mtn bikers riding the road but it's out of my league. Some restaurants in town but nearest gas is Carbondale. Posted 2025

4. CHAIR MOUNTAIN can't be reached from McClure Pass. The road that goes up from the pass turns private at the 9800 line. A gate can be seen there on the topo. But there are campsites to that point. Posted 2025

Gypsum, CO

 1. Gypsum has a Family Dollar and a supermarket. Eagle has a City Market. One sunny camp area with Verizon is on the Cottonwood Pass Rd at the edge of town. FR412 is a  good road that goes up Gypsum Creek to campsites but they are miles up. Posted 2025

2. HARDSCRABBLE MOUNTAIN el 11166 has roads most of the way that Subaru types can make. I followed FR412 to FR413 then at FR441 there is a campsite where a trail runs NE up a clearing to the summits. The east summit has the best view. The main road goes on down to Eagle but I didn't ride it. Posted 2025

3. HOOSIER BENCHMARK el 11503 has an easy 4wd road most of the way. The Cottonwood Pass Rd leaves town and goes over a lower pass then across a creek and up to an OHV TH. Just before that is where FR514 goes left and up to the crest next to the peak. The road gets very rocky beyond there and I didn't last long. Posted 2025

4. RED HILL el 8164 is a loop ride that ebikers make. The paved Cottonwood Pass Rd tops out just past mp 5. Then a rutted road goes right and there is a cell signal to navigate the roads that go to the peak and also peak 8410. The main road goes back to the camp area on the Cottonwood Pass Rd which is where I started on my 125. 16 miles, few rocks. Only go clockwise. Posted 2025

5. BIG RED HILL el 8446 is north of town. Trail Gulch Rd goes north from the freeway exit to road #50. That road goes east to a fork NE of point 7784. I went left there and stopped at a steep hill west of point 7807 but could have gone on then walked the easy looking SW ridge of the peak. The east side of the peak is blocked by private land. Easy 4wd as far as I went and ebikers go out there. Posted 2025

Kremmling to Silverthorne, CO

This shows what is still open in the Piney Peak area.

One way around that is to stay up all night.

It's the life of Riley on Buffalo Mtn. Just lay around all day and do nothing.

  Kremmling has a Dollar General and high priced supermarket. Frisco has a Walmart. There is plenty of BLM land around Kremmling to camp on with cell signal and I never had a signal again but for hikes. Forest roads at Elliott Ridge and over into the Piney Peak area have spots and then the turnoff for Williams Peak has some. FR141 and FR142 at Bills Peak have some. The closest to I-70 is the Rock Creek Rd at mp 109.2 on highway 9. There are designated sites in there on a left fork but bad for trailers and cars though I saw cars in there. Posted 2025

1. WOLFORD PEAK el 9182 near Kremmling has a road all the way but is gated at el 8485. Paved county 22 goes north at the east end of town for about a mile to road 224 as the sat image shows. That,s a maintained road to a fork just before point 8035. I could have drove a car that far. A 4wd road goes west to the gate near point 8485 then it's a 20 minute walk up. The cell tower on the summit saturates campsites in the area with a Verizon signal. 5 bars, baby. Posted 2025

2. JUNCTION BUTTE el 8764 is south of Kremmling. Graded county 33 runs along the north side then at mp 2.5 a high clearance road goes south along the east side. Soon a fork goes right and heads straight for the south ridge. Or stay left on a better road to point 7716 then go north to el 7850 where the road meets with the other fork and is closed beyond there. But it can be walked up to the south ridge where it fades in rocks but easy to walk to the summit. I took a direct line back down. 90 minutes, 900 gain. The roads are good for 2 wheelers. Posted 2025

3. MERIDIAN PEAK el 12426 is at the north end of the Eagles Nest Wilderness. A trail goes the whole way on an old road on Elliott Ridge. Turn off highway 9 at mp 128.5 and follow the paved then graded Spring Creek Rd to the forest boundary in about 6 miles. Subaru types can make the remaining 6 or 7 miles to the TH at Blue Lake el 11150. The topo is correct on the roads. The trail is on tundra most of the way and there is one big dip in the ridge of 250 feet. 5 and a half hours, 12 miles with nearly 2000 gain and all easy. Posted 2025

4. PINEY PEAK el 11573 -  FR401 comes in from the north and is graded to Slough Grass Lake. I came down from Elliott Ridge on FR202 which is easy 4wd. Subaru types can keep going on FR401 to FR442 at George Lake. Then it's a rocky mess on FR442 to FR784 and up to McCord Pass. I parked my 125 at FR784 and walked it to the pass but could have rode as I found out. From the pass I walked a closed road past a barrier and saw a way thru the trees to get on the ridge and up to the peak. I ran the ridge to peak 11385 then came back until I was .15 mile from a logging road at N39 48444, W106 29180. I took a gentle angle down to it and on to Piney Peak Spring. Just a dry trough there. I followed the logging roads back to the pass. I rode out on the road down 3 Licks Creek but that's a disaster. I saw God turn back on that. GRAND LOOP VERSION - walk the road up 3 Licks Creek to the pass then run the ridge to peak 11385. I saw a way off it to the old road past Chimney Rock then keep going to the eastern leg of FR441 which is still open as a map posted at a kiosk indicates. Walk that leg back to FR401 with an ebike waiting. I measured that on the computer as 14 miles for the hiking part.

5. WILLIAMS PEAK el 11617 has a rocky 4wd road most of the way. Turn off highway 9 at mp 127.5 and the road goes up to the crest and runs for miles like the topo shows. I parked at the south saddle of the peak and had no trouble to the summit. The road smooths out on to Williams BM and it has a better view. I parked at the NW saddle and walked right of center on tundra to the summit. Then kept going on the easy crest to peak 11145 at N39 50367, W106 08643 and then down to the road at 50495, 08887. A trail goes on from the end of the road maybe to Ute Pass. I walked the road back. The spring on the topo had a good flow and was the only water I saw. The Williams  Peak Trail had a sign saying 6.7 miles to the lower TH. That hike took 3 hours and 7 miles. Easy one. I saw jeep tracks near the end of the road but there are long segments with no turnaround. Posted 2025

6. GREEN MOUNTAIN el 9418 has a faint road going high up the south ridge as the topo shows. Turn off highway 9 at mp 127.4 and go south on easy 4wd for about a mile then go right to logs blocking the road at just over 8000. The road goes up and fades but reappears again next to point 8525 reading N39 53802, W106 19556. It goes on to 53593, 19431 and on to the south ridge then it's easy to the summit. 2 hours, 1300 gain. Ebikes work here. Posted 2025

7. UPPER CATARACT LAKE is a scenic one. The paved Heeney Rd runs along the south side of Green Mtn Reservoir. At mp 5.5 a good road runs to the Surprise Lake TH. The trails leading to Surprise Lake and on to Upper Cataract are about like the topo shows and signs were up. 6 hours, 12 miles with 2600 gain, not steep. The first 3 miles are smooth. The only camping near the TH is a high priced campground. But if you're a cow you camp for free and when you gotta go you don't have to use the restroom. Posted 2025

8. UTE PEAK el 12303 - a one way hike can be done on a trail from Ute Pass over the summit  then down the Acorn Creek Trail to a second vehicle. Turn off highway 9 onto Ute Park Rd at about mp 112.1 and stay left at the first fork then right at the second to the Acorn TH. I left my truck there then rode my cycle 8 and a half miles to the pass and walked the trail. There is only one trail up. All the others on the topo are fake. At the summit I just kept going down the main ridge to the Acorn trail at N39 46232, W106 04277 el 11300  then walked it down to my truck. 6 and a half hours, 10.4 miles with 3300 gain.  Highway 9 has a wide shoulder for ebikes and the Ute Pass road has light traffic and is paved. Posted 2025

9. BILLS PEAK el 12703 can be done as a loop up the trail along Kinney Creek then down to Horshoe Lake and back on that trail. Drive over Ute Pass then past a huge mine to mp 9 then follow signs to the Kinney TH. Cars have trouble with the last 3 miles but could ebike it. Subaru types make it all the way. The trail goes roughly like the topo shows. The trail forks south of point 10785 which is where the loop begins. Left goes up to the peak. I stayed on the trail until I could get on the south ridge of the summit then went up. I resumed on the trail to N39 50933, W105 57973 el 12400 and leveled off to get on the ridge that circles the lake. An obvious elk trail SW of the lake is the way down. It reads 50545, 59056. I picked up the main trail on the east shore of the lake and walked it out. 6 and a half hours, 11 miles with a bit over 3000 gain. The first 2 miles are in a burn area that ends just before the fork. The main road goes on under a mine conveyor then FR142 is a good one lane road that  goes over 4 miles to a TH with campsites along the way. It's a good road for two wheelers. Posted 2025

10. BUFFALO MOUNTAIN el 12777 is west of Silverthorne. The TH is at the end of Ryan Gulch Rd but the two dozen spaces fill up every day. So start crazy early or ride an ebike from Target. A bike path runs along Ryan Gulch Rd. The trail goes steep and rocky for 3 miles to the summit. The important thing is where the talus starts the real trail goes right and fake trails go left. A family of goats resides here. 5 hours, 6 miles with 3000 gain. Two cars were waiting to take my space when I returned. They had to shoot it out. Posted 2025