Salida, CO

Pass Creek Lake

Lost Lake

Dead Horse Gulch

 

Mount Antero el 14200

Browns Canyon

Brown's Canyon in the 1800s

Looking down Gladstone Ridge at Sheep Mountain and Mount Princeton

Mount Harvard,
Mount Rejection and peak 13209

Cottonwood Lake

1. Salida has a super Walmart. A bike trail runs from the store to the river. Another trail connects to Poncha Springs along county 120. Campers use county 250 on the way to the Shavano TH and also the area around the Browns Creek TH off county 272.  Buena Vista has a City Market and campers use county 375 north of town. Highway 306 has campsites up from Rainbow Lake and more are up past Cottonwood Lake on a good dirt road. Posted 2026

2. PAHLONE PEAK el 12667 is an easy one way hike from Monarch Pass to Willow Creek. I spotted my cycle on FR222 at about the 9500 line and coasted down on my Zizzo to my truck and drove 16 miles to the pass. Then I walked the CDT to peak 12195 and took a left fork that goes toward the north saddle of that peak. The trail veers left about 100 feet above the saddle so I left it and walked an elk trail into the saddle then on up and left of peak 12205 and on to the summit. I descended the north ridge then went high right of peak 11848 and then over Metamorphic BM and down to N38 30428, W106 15185 to get thru deadfall. A trail at 30568, 14953 leads 400 feet to FR222 el 11400. It took nearly 6 hours and 10 and a half miles to get to FR222. I had another hour to my cycle and I shortcutted the road at the 10520 line. This is nearly all trails and tundra. Subaru types can make it to campsites on FR222 which is all easy 4wd but I didn't see it all. See the track I put on peakbagger. Posted 2026.

3. MOUNT PECK el 12208 is an easy one next to Monarch Pass. A motorized trail runs from the visitor center and forks in a quarter mile. Right is a single track and it's best for bikes but cycles can't turn around or pass on that. So I stayed left on the wider trail and it took me to the north saddle of the peak where powerlines run thru. I went on to the 11500 line and parked my XT225. Then I walked the CDT along the west side of the peak to the SE saddle then up and over. 90 minutes with 700 gain. Posted 2026

4. TAYLOR MOUNTAIN el 13651 has a road to el 12600. I went in on the eastern leg of FR228 which departs US 50 near mp 209. It turns rocky at el 10400 and improves at el 11300. Parking and camping is at el 12000 and I wouldn't take a 4wd beyond there. Cycles can go to el 12240 where loose rocks start and then OHVs can drive on rocks to the end. I walked up on tundra to the east ridge then up. 90 minutes and 1000 gain but I got my 125 to the 12600 line. Posted 2026

5. BILLINGS LAKE - the road in leaves Maysville and goes paved for  3 miles then another graded mile to Angel of Shavano CG. Camping is allowed beyond there and it's easy 4wd for 8 miles to the lake with no rocks in the road except for the last 7.99 miles. A TH is at the lake and I saw a Toyota Venza there. I rode my XT225 in the stock gearing but should have been lower. There are peaks around the lake that look class 2. Posted 2026

6. GREEN CREEK TRAIL - County 221 goes in and the trail starts at point 8577  as the topo shows. Subaru types make it in there. There are campsites. The trail is motorized but the only ride I would contemplate is a one way down from Monarch Pass on a mtn bike. And yeah baby, it would be bumpy. Posted 2026

7. PASS CREEK LAKE, PEAK 13472 - county 212 goes in to the TH el 9600 but not graded. I saw a Subaru at the TH so how hard can it be? The trail goes 3 and a half miles to the lake with 1800 gain. I stopped there but could see it would be easy to get on the north rim and then try for the peak. The trail is motorized but few want to tackle that rocky mess. Posted 2026 

8. MOUNT SHAVANO el 14229 has a trail the whole way and has been realigned above 12700. It's a wuss 14er. County 250 goes in and signs point the way to the TH el 9750. It's a bumpy road but Subaru types and ebikes can make it. Bikes could be used for the first half mile of the trail. 7 hours, nearly 10 miles and 4500 gain. There is camping along the road in but cattle were in the national forest part. Posted 2026 

9. MARSHALL PASS has a 19th century RR grade thru it that is now a dirt road. I made a loop by going south out of Poncha Springs on highway 285 to Mears Jct. A climbing lane goes that far. Then I followed the map thru the pass down to Sargents then thru Old Monarch Pass and back to town. That's a bit over 70 miles and Subaru types can do it. Posted 2026

10. UTE CREEK is on the north side of Salida. Graded county 175 goes up canyon making it easy to walk down the west rim one way. Logging trails from a century or more ago run along parts of the rim. There is a parking area at the 7600 line about a third mile past the end of pavement. I left my cycle there then drove on up 4.3 miles to BM 8924 and then walked over peak 9402 and peak 9382 and on to the east saddle of peak 8762. A trail runs down the south ridge of that peak and I left it to go down a ridge but should have stayed on it to N38 34810, W105 59155. The sat image shows it going down there but it's easy to go down without a trail. 3 hours, 5 miles with 900 gain. Super clean forest of pinyon and ponderosa pines. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 9402. Posted 2026

11. DEAD HORSE GULCH drains into Ute Creek. I went up canyon then back over the rim on logging trails. I parked on county 175 about a third mile past pavement where the topo shows gravel pits then walked a closed road to a trail at N38 34003, W105 58895. It soon merges with a main trail that goes to the canyon. I strolled up that easy creekbed and took a left fork that goes up to the east side of peak 8722. I used a logging road at 34568, 57780 to get around the peak to the south saddle then a game trail goes on to the ridge north of peak 8242. A logging trail reading 34117, 58379  runs down it to the start. 3 hours, 5 miles with 1200 gain and all easy. Clean forest. Lazy hikers could do an easy one way hike down Dead Horse with just a car and ebike.  Posted 2026

12. CAMERON MOUNTAIN el 10993 is mostly a tundra walk. I parked on FR182 at a  cattleguard el 9400. Then I walked thru the east saddle of peak 9912 and up to the right to another saddle el 9880 then up the ridge. Less than 3 hours and 1600  gain. Posted 2026

13. GRAPHITE RIDGE el 9965 is along FR185. County 175 goes up Ute Canyon then there are signs to follow. I parked at a fork on FR185A on the north side of the peak then strolled up. Subaru types can make it. FR185 goes on north to highway 285 and is easy 4wd. I put track on peakbagger showing the road. Posted 2026

14. H-44 BENCHMARK el 8200+ is east of Hecla Junction and a third mile NE of peak 8224. An easy loop can be done in clean forests. County 194 is graded from Hecla. I parked in 1.7 miles el 7640 and walked mine roads to get at the peak reading N38 38797, W106 03790. Then I went to peak 8224 and then NE down to county 194 where it meets the river. I then had a half mile back to the start. 2 hours and 700 gain plus some easy gain on the road at the end. Posted 2026 

15. BROWNS CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT - I made a loop walking up canyon on the RR tracks and then circled back east. FR184 is easy 4wd (opens April 16} and ebikeable out of Turret to a closed road running north of point 8535. It's better to go on another mile and park in Green Gulch but a flood chewed it up. I walked the closed road to the canyon running south of peak 8326. Just past the peak I got on the left bank at N38 39185, W106 01705 el 8100 then down a ridge to the east saddle of peak 7870. And then back down to the creekbed which is smooth gravel. I went on down to the tracks and walked up canyon to 42572, 03130 (just south of BM 7555) where a trail goes up along the left side of a canyon to a mine. It goes on a bit more then it's easy to walk the creekbed to cabin ruins. I turned right there reading 42691, 02566 and went thru a saddle at 42632, 02390 to get into a canyon to take me along the west side of peak 9082 and into Spring Gulch. I had some light brush there for a quarter mile then got on the left bank at 41693, 01168 and went bank to bank up canyon to the road then back. 7 and a half hours, a bit over 13 miles and the gain is mostly easy. I did this in shorts but Spring Gulch is borderline. Real men can do it. A shorter drive is to go in from Hecla Jct then wade the river at the north end of the campground. In low water of course. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 9082. RUBY MTN TH - later I came in that way following the track Hall put up for peak 9082. It's a graded road to the TH and the trail goes up into a saddle and splits. Left is the main trail and a shortcut trail goes over into a canyon and down to the edge of private land. If landowners block that, there is an easy detour by climbing out of the canyon from the 7680 line to 44836, 03935 then level off to the main trail. Drop down a steep trail at 44683, 03929 that meets the main trail again at the flats. I followed the main trail to 43438, 02012 and dropped into Cottonwood Creek and walked it to the trestle. Near the mouth it's easy to walk the right slope above boulders. Then a trail runs on the bank of the river back to meet the main trail. It gets rough but not bad. I did all in shorts but lower Cottonwood Creek is cluttered but there is always a passage. That took 4 hours, 8 miles and mostly easy grades. I measured that it would be 8 miles from Ruby Mtn down thru Browns Canyon to the campround at Hecla. Posted 2026 

16. MOUNT ANTERO el 14269 has a jeep road to el 13700. Some drive the whole thing but most drive part way. The most interesting hiking route is up the trail in Little Browns Creek then back on the north rim of it. County 272 goes in to trail #1429 like the  topo shows. Cars make it there. The trail is maintained with signs and it tops out at the jeep road el 12800. The last stream was at 12600. The jeep road goes on up to a saddle el 13700 then a trail goes on to the summit. Then I just walked the east ridge to N38 40452, W106 13918 el 13650 where I could see the route down to the tundra. I went down on rocks but not sliding to 40413, 13757 el 13200 where I could go right of center on easy dirt and scree to the tundra el 12900. It took 100 minutes to get there from the summit. I went on down the ridge in an easy forest to point 11575 then point 10913 and hit the trail at 39887, 11275 el 10200 and strolled back. 9 and a half hours, 14 miles with 5500 gain. No brush and minimal deadfall. There was no sign of humanity on the descent ridge but maybe a cairn at el 12700 but I didn't check it. Some descend down Browns Creek but that's over 20 miles. And it gets horse traffic so take a clothespin. Posted 2026

17. MOUNT PRINCETON el 14197 has an easy 4wd to el 11800 but it has long segments with no room to pass. County 322 is paved to the lower TH el 8900. Some drive on to the towers el 11000. Ebikes should make it that far. Some campsites are on the west side of peak 11024. The upper TH is at N38 44667, W106 12923 with minimal parking room and hard to turnaround. Jeeps can go on to the end of the road where there is room for a dozen to park. The trail goes to a fork at 44699, 13823 el 12750. Left is easiest and it goes up to the ridge then various DIY trails go to the summit. It took me a bit over 2 hours to get there from the upper TH where I parked my 125. With a 4wd I would drive up before dawn then on the drive down have someone walking a half mile ahead to warn uphill traffic. The switchbacks have room to pass. Posted 2026

18. MONUMENTAL PEAK el 13369 is an easy loop from the trail at Chalk Creek Pass. Cars can make it to St. Elmo then Subaru types and ebikes can get to Hancock. 4wds can go on a mile and a half more to Hancock Lake but there is a rough spot at the last half mile el 11400. I parked there and walked to the pass then up on stable talus to el 12650 where tundra starts. I went on up the ridge over peak 13254 and on to Monumental. I could see an easy tundra ridge running NE down that peak. I walked it to N38 35800, W106 21292 and on down to a faint mine trail below the 12400 line and went right on that to get down. Then I just strolled along the left side of ponds to get back to the trail. 4 and a half hours, 6.5 miles with 2500 gain. No brush. Posted 2026 

19. MOUNT HARVARD el 14420 has a trail up from the end of FR365 el 9850. The last 4 miles is not maintained but Subaru types make it and cars could get close and ebike it. There are campsites along the road. At 11500 there is sign for the Columbia trail. The summit of Harvard has some class 3 talus. On the descent I left the trail at el 12750 and walked tundra to Bear Lake then down tundra in a drainage east of the lake to get back on the trail. 9 hours, 14 miles and 4500 gain. Now I can brag I went to Harvard. Posted 2026

20. COTTONWOOD LAKE has a graded road in from highway 306. Camping is allowed past the lake. 6 miles in the road goes easy 4wd. Then FR348 goes left up to the rim. I was told it is public but not easy. After that is the Green Timber Gulch TH. It goes to peak 13078. It took me a bit over 2 hours and 2800 gain to get to the summit. The main road goes on to a mine el 11900. FR349 is easy 4wd to el 12500 on the south ridge of peak 13218 like the topo shows. It's a tundra walk to that summit. Posted 2026

21. MOUNT YALE el 14194 will likely be the best 14er I ever do. The standard trail goes up from highway 306 at Denny Creek. The last fifth mile to the summit is talus with cairns. When I saw the easy tundra down the east side I could'nt resist. A rough trail goes down the east ridge over peak 13420 but that peak looked tedious so I dropped off the trail into the basin and to springs at N38 51065, W106 18352 el 12800. It's obvious from there to walk tundra and a couple of short talus fields to get back to the trail on the ridge at el 12000.then on to the Main Range Trail and down it to the Avalanche TH. A camper there gave me a ride back. 7 hours, 10 miles and 4300 gain. Using an ebike for the shuttle is risky as there is no shoulder. But bikes ride the highway anyway. Posted 2026

22. PTARMIGAN LAKE has a good trail at mp 4.9 on highway 306 with the option to keep going to the pass then to peak 13038. It's easy tundra from the pass to the peak. I stayed right at N38 46643, W106 22058 to pass a talus pile along the way. There is more easy tundra  on to peak 13209. I retraced back to 47060, 21422 and dropped down an elk trail then left on tundra to 47355, 21777 el 12040. There I went down along the edge of trees and then into the trees but not far from the edge. I went to 47458, 21858 el 11600 then to 47450, 21921 and then had a tenth mile of deadfall before a logging road that leads back to the trail. 6 hours, 9.6 miles with 2600 gain and nearly all easy. No brush or talus. This hike and the one below are the most enjoyable hikes I did out of Buena Vista. I put tracks on peakbagger under both peaks. Posted 2026

23. GLADSTONE RIDGE is an easy one way hike. I camped next to the Avalanche TH on highway 306 then rode up to the Ptarmigan Lake TH and walked the trail past the lake into a pass on the ridge. Then just walked the ridge over peak 13209 and down the ridge on spotty elk trails. Below peak 12100 at el 11900 there is a major elk trail running right of center on down past the west sadde el 11300 of peak 11858. It likely goes thru the south sadde and would be easier, but this time I went over the peak then down to a ridge at N38 48143, W106 16835 el 11400. The ridge becomes a wide slope and I hit an elk trail at 48250, 16494 el 10520, maybe the same trail. I went a short way down that to a fork and went right down a ridge to a teepee at 48373, 16273 el 10050. As reported by Whiley Hall a smooth manmade trail goes on down to the bridge at the Avalanche TH. Loggers are likely the ones who built the trail and Teepee. 8 and a half hours, 12.7 miles and 3700 gain and the only steep part is going up peak 11858 which is optional. I'll save an hour next time by going around that peak. It's all trails, tundra and easy forest. Hardly any deadfall. I did it in shorts. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 13209. Posted 2026

24. PEAK 12792 is south of Cottonwood Pass. A one way hike can be done over the peak then down to Lost Lake and out on a trail. Highway 306 is paved out of Buena Vista to the pass. Leave an ebike at the Lost Lake TH at mp 2 then drive to the pass and walk the CDT over a peak that is nearly 12600. The trail goes up along the east side of peak 12792 where an obvious tundra ridge drops to the lake. I went on up the trail to do the peak then down to the lake. A trail goes out to mp 2 but I didn't have a shuttle so I walked a closed road shown as a dotted line running north toward the pass. I should have got on it at N38 48321, W106 24811 but missed that and had to cross a boggy meadow. The road goes on north past a pond then makes a hard right to the highway. But I kept going north and used an old road into the pass that is visible at the start. Nearly 3 hours, 5 miles with 1400 gain. I did OK in shorts but was weaving brush at that last mile. Posted 2026 

25. WEST BUFFALO PEAK el 13326 -  a good loop goes up Fourmile Creek then back on the west rim. County 375 goes to the TH el 9440. Subaru types make it there. There was no sign against riding a two wheeler another mile up the smooth road to the upper TH. So don't ask don't tell? I walked the trail from the lower TH to the saddle el 11400 then zigzagged up to a faint trail at N38 59639, W106 07664 el 13000 that leads thru rocks to the summit. A spring is along the way at 59596, 07895 el 12700 but would need filtering. I retraced back to the saddle then over to the west rim. Some minor deadfall along there turned out to be the worst of it for the hike. I went to an elk trail at 59368, 09611 and just strolled on to peak 11430 then down the ridge in an easy forest to a mine road on the topo at N38 57901, W106 08787 that leads to the upper TH. Nearly 8 hours, 13.3 miles and 4100 gain. It's all trails, tundra and easy forest, no brush. That's the best forest hiking I can recall in the state. Next time I'll do the loop but skip the peak. If doing both peaks I would start from road 431 el 10400 and go counterclockwise and down to the NE saddle of East Buffalo Peak then down to a logging road and hope deadfall isn't bad on it. Posted 2026

Hotchkiss to Gunnison, CO

Zoe and Dylan on Carbon Peak. They were married there in 2020.

Bear cub on the Gunnison rim

1. Hotchkiss has a Family Dollar and City Market. Gunnison has a City Market and a Walmart next door, but not a Super with full grocery. Safeway there has no self pay and that's a deal breaker. Snow was nearly all gone and I only found mosquitoes around Crater Peak. Posted 2026

2. CRATER PEAK el 11327 is an easy one with game trails most of the way. Near mp 17 on highway 92 is where county 3100 goes north. There is just one main road to follow into the forest. The first 5 miles is paved and cars make it to a fork at Wash Tub Reservoir then it's 4wd to Goodenough Reservoir. The road steepens at the 10160 line and I didn't think it worth it to take a 4wd beyond there but some hikers might disagree and park at the 10480 line. From the 10480 line, aim for a faint road at N39 02373, W107 41073 then to a lakeshore at 02497, 41018. Just past the lake I went up a clear strip to a game trail at 02713, 40652 and then in 350 feet went right on a  fork to get on the main ridge. Trails run the ridge then just before the summit I leveled off in a clear strip right of center. That ends then easy on up. It takes an hour or so with 1000 gain to get to the summit from the 10480 line. Ebikes should work to the 10160 line. Posted 2026

3. CRATER, DARLINE, HATTEN - all these peaks can be done as a good loop. I went up from Willow Reservoir to Darline then on the crest to peak 11030 but hit dense deadfall just before that peak. I aborted there. The preferred loop would be to go up the SW ridge of Hatten then on to Darline and then down the ridge to the dam at the NW corner of Willow Res. And then walk the faint road back to FR128. Deadfall is not bad on that part. Going clockwise is a must as the east face of Hatten is steep as hell. I put a track on peakbagger with notes. Posted 2026

4. MOUNT GUNNISON el 12719 has a trail to el 10100 then easy terrain after that except for a tenth mile of talus. The Minnesota Creek Rd goes out of Paonia to a TH and shady camping at the SE end of Beaver Reservoir. I could have drove a Subaru there. The USFS topo correctly shows the trail goes to a junction at N38 48402, W107 25923. I went left up along Hoodoo Creek to a clearing at 48125, 24157 el 10100. I headed up the clearing into the trees at 48107, 23992 and weaved to 48148, 23786 where the talus starts. Going down to the creekbed might be best but I stayed high on the edge then across to elk trails on the high left bank at 48262, 23718. It's easy walking to the 11200 line where it works to get back to the creekbed and then I walked the easiest tundra the rest of the way. At el 12000 I could see tundra spiraling up the south side of the summit. I walked it to 48586, 23185 el 12400 and could see the rest. 8 hours, 12 miles and 4800 gain. A good basecamp is along Hoodoo Creek at el 9650. That's the last stream I saw. Posted 2026

5. BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON - the north rim is accessed south of Crawford. At mp 34.7 on highway 92 is where a paved road goes 6 miles or so to BLM land. Some sunny camp spots are there with Verizon signal. The road goes on graded for another 5 or 6 miles to the rim. A trail at the ranger station goes along the rim then up to Green Benchmark el 8563. It's 3.3 miles to the BM with about 1000 gain. Posted 2026

6. BALD MOUNTAIN el 11787 has a trail to the top as shown on the USFS topo. The road to Bald Mtn Reservoir leaves highway 92 at mp 43.5 and goes 16 miles. Subaru types and ebikes can make it. The trail goes on to peak 11841 but gets fuzzy as it climbs out of the deep saddle. I picked it up again at N38 40094, W107 25204. I came back over Bald then staight down to 39459, 24417 to get back to the start. Easy terrain with deadfall easy to navigate. That took nearly 5 hours, 5.5 miles and 2200 gain. Good camping at the reservoir. Logging may resume and the road is only one lane wide. Posted 2026

7. MOUNT GUERO el 12052 can be hiked from the same TH as Bald Mtn. The USFS topo shows the trails from Bald Mtn Reservoir down to Curecanti Creek then up to a junction with trail 8861. Going on to Curecanti Pass then up does work but has a lot of deadfall. It's best to take trail 8861 to the pass then up tundra to el 11200 where small talus starts. At N38 42846, W107 22897 el 11440 there is a pathway running left of center. It comes back to center then it's best to stay on center to avoid shifty rocks. This takes 9 or 10 hours, 14 miles with 4200 gain. 1600 of the gain is on the way out. The trails are in decent shape and easy to follow. Posted 2026

8. SPRING BENCHMARK el 8894 has a trail. It starts at a restroom at mp 48.4 on highway 92 el 8640. It goes a hilly mile and a half to the rim el 8600 above Crystal Reservoir. A left fork along the way goes up to the peak. Posted 2026

9. OREGON BENCHMARK el 10029 is on the east rim of Curecanti Creek. FR720 leaves highway 92 at mp 65 and goes 8 miles to a TH at the end. Subaru types can make it. Cars can make it to the first good campsite 2.5 miles in then bike the rest. I parked at about 6 miles in at a sunny campsite el 8520 then walked a clearing to trees then another clearing at N38 33537, W107 21871. I leveled off to the right and on to 33531, 21775 then in a few feet moved left to a ridge and up that. At el 9550 there is a knife edge. Walking the top is easy but low left would likely work too. At 33481, 21559 el 9600 I hit an elk trail and there are 2 ways to go. Easiest is to walk the trail on to the main ridge south of the summit then up. The other way is a trail at 33443, 21521 that goes a few feet thru a saddle then down a little and on to a drainage that leads up to the summit. That is steeper. 3 hours and 1500 gain. Deadfall not much of an issue but wading the creek at the start might be early in the season. No cattle for decades. Peakbagger has never heard of this so I put a track up under the next peak to the south. Posted 2026

10. PEAK 11725 is on the west rim of Soap Creek. At mp 71.8 on highway 92 there is a sign for the creek and a graded road goes as far as Soap Creek Cg. It's 4wd beyond there with a steep hill near point 7994. That's the worst of it. The road goes on to a fork at FR721.3G and that road goes to the Coffeepot Creek Trail. Ebikes could make it there. The trail starts off to the right of what the topo shows at N38 39528, W107 19252. At el 10150 there is a trail junction and the right fork tops out at el 10300 on the south ridge of the peak. I went up the ridge then at a crag used a game trail at 40753, 19530 el 10800 and walked up a grassy slope right of center then back to center at el 11200 and on up. 5 hours, 3100 gain and 7 miles. LONG VERSION - stay left at the fork el 10150 and go on up to peak 11942 then run the ridge to peak 11725 and down the south ridge. That looks like a good one. Posted  2026

11. PINE CREEK TRAIL is one I didn't do. It's below the Blue Mesa Dam on the south side of the river. It shows on the sat image and goes down to the river then along the bank to what?

12. CEBOLLA BENCHMARK el 8926 is on the south side of Blue Mesa Reservoir. I parked my truck at a pullout at mp 136 next to the lake bridge near point 7576 then rode my cycle west a half mile to county 26. I went up that for 3 and a half miles to powerlines then left on good high clearance for a mile and parked at a steep hill. I walked up the hill to point 8798 and then ran the ridge over the peak then down to point 8031. I went north there to powerlines then walked along those to Fourmile Gulch where dropping left or right goes down and then I crossed a fence at N38 27845, W107 15262 to get to the pullout. 3 hours, 6 miles and 850 gain. A car and ebike gets this done. Best done late in the season when the lake has receded from Fourmile Gulch. County 26 goes on to highway 149 and that drops into the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. A good road goes down that and the last 5 miles is on a RR grade. Good for two wheelers and there are campsites but not much to do. Posted 2026

13. RED CREEK has a decent road for nearly 16 miles to a TH at the head of Sixmile Gulch el 11450. It starts at mp 138 on US 50. Campsites start in half a mile. Subaru types can make it to the end. This looks like the closest access to the high peaks. Posted 2026

14. WEST ELK PEAK el 13035 is best as a one way hike from Red Creek TH to Mill Creek TH. But those THs are 55 miles apart. I parked my cycle at Mill Creek then rode my Zizzo mostly downhill to Gunnison and took my truck on to the Red Creek TH. The bike ride is half the fun. The next day I started out over a low ridge to the trail that goes to the south saddle el 11877 of Middle Baldy Mtn. Then I went up on the far right to avoid brush and on over the Baldy peaks to N38 42272, W107 11285 at peak 12968. I dropped a little then took an easy angle up to the east ridge of that peak where a hiker trail goes on to West Elk. I retraced down the trail to el 12600 then dropped into a basin at the head of Mill Creek and picked up the trail again at the 12000 line and went on down to my cycle. 8 hours, 13 minutes and 16 miles with about 3000 gain. Facebook has a message board for Gunnison where a bored housewife or retiree could be recruited to drop hikers off at the Red Creek TH. Another option is two parties hiking in opposite directions and each drives the other's vehicle back to town. But who gets to start at the high TH? Well, you do since it's your idea. SHORT VERSION - go as far as North Baldy then drop into Mill Creek. Posted 2026

15. PEAK 11790 is west of the Red Creek road. I hiked over it to retrieve my vehicle at the start of the West Elk Peak hike that I did the day before. I parked on the Red Creek road where a road goes up West Red Creek. But that is now an elk trail then cattle trail. Just past the 10000 line the trail runs on the left bank in a long clearing. I went on to FR723.F1 and up to the rim then on over the peak to the TH at the end of the Red Creek road. 3 hours, 15 minutes and 6.6 miles with 2200 gain, nearly all easy. This is on trails, closed roads and tundra. I wore shorts. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted 2026

16. SOUTH BALDY and MIDDLE BALDY el 12709  have trails and tundra the nearly the whole way. From the Red Creek road TH I started out over a low ridge to the trail that goes to the south saddle el 11877 of Middle Baldy Mtn. Then I went up on the far right to avoid brush. I came back to the saddle then over South Baldy and down the south ridge to a hiker trail at N38 39624, W107 11888 el 11950 that leads to the main trail. 5 hours, 6 miles with a bit over 2000 gain. Just doing South Baldy would be a lot shorter. Posted 2026

17. DIILLON MESA el 9412 is a part of the west rim of Red Creek. The Dillon Pinnacles trail starts near a bridge (low water allowed me to park a quarter mile closer) on US 50 and goes up Dillon Gulch as the topo shows and on past a spring then it bends left toward a saddle north of peak 9017. It fades along there but it's easy to walk low right up the ridge and on to survey junk at peak 9412. Walking back down the mesa is easy then there is a way down at N38 28737, W107 14983. I went down and left a little then to a game trail at 28756, 15061 el 8400 and walked it down. 4 and a half hours, 9 miles with easy 2000 gain. I couldn't find the spring. This is pristine and no cattle ever and no brush. Every other BLM mesa around Gunnison has been run over. ONE WAY VERSION - ride an ebike up the good Red Creek road and walk the trail up Lion Gulch to get on the rim and walk it down to the lake. WEST RIM - I went back later and walked the trail to the rim then over peak 9017 and down to the rim over the pinnacles. I got back down to the trail on a sheep route at 29277, 15663. That took 3 hours, 20 minutes and 6 miles. Posted 2026 

18. TENDERFOOT HILL el 9249 is on the east rim of Red Creek. I parked at the Dry Gulch campround at mp 140.3 and walked an old road north up to el 9700 as the topo shows then cut over under peak 9843 and came back over Tenderfoot then on to point 8726. I dropped off the rim on a trail there at N38 29450, W107 11853 then down to a gap in brush at 29320, 11425 to get back on the old road. 5 hours, 10 miles and a bit over 2000 gain, all easy. I wore shorts OK. No cattle for decades. Posted 2026

19. STEVENS CREEK is state land and requires a SWA pass. Those are cheap for old coots. Fishing and hunting licenses also allow access. A short loop up canyon and back on the west rim is easy. The road in starts at mp 145.8 on US 50. There is a pullout 1.3 miles in that Subaru types and bikes can make. Then it's nearly a mile to walk on to a fork and go left up a bad road to a trail at N38 31179, W107 07152 el 8700. That trail leads to the rim top then it's an easy stroll down to a trail at 30120, 06807 and it goes down to a saddle. There is one more little peak and I counted 9 cairns on it. Did paleface build those? 2 and a half hours, nearly 5 miles with 1200 gain. Posted 2026

20. WOLF CREEK BENCHMARK el 8800+ is on the west side of highway 149. The only road in I could find starts at mp 112 and follows powerlines. It has a bad spot 2 miles in. Rigs with lockers make that. 2 and a half miles in there is a fork and the left one goes up to the summit as the topo shows. The main road goes on and drops steeply down to the powerline road and that goes back. This area is for riding and ebikes work on most of it. Cell coverage makes it easy to navigate the maze of roads. Posted 2026

21. IOLA BENCHMARK el 8754 is on the east side of highway 149. A south to north one way hike can be done using the highway. I parked at mp 115.2 and rode my Zizzo up to mp 108.4 el 8550 then coasted down a BLM road for 1.3 miles to a fork. I walked the left fork along the west side of peak 8721 then up into the north saddle where there is a gate. I just kept going north over the peaks. On the descent into the saddle el 8511 there is a trail right of center. The next peak has a strange excavation and I just kept going down the main ridge to mp 115.2. 3 hours, 17 minutes and 6.5 miles with a bit over 1000 gain for the hike part. No brush. The 7 mile ride took an hour but would be easy with an ebike. The road up Willow Creek on the east side would be an option. Posted 2026

22. BEAVER CREEK has a good trail. It starts at a picnic area at mp 150 on US 50. The trail goes along the west side of peak 8290 then it's easy to go up into the north saddle of that peak then walk the pristine ridge back to power lines el 7700 then drop back to the trail. 2 hours and 800 gain. This is so easy it makes pie look hard. Carry a sack of bricks to make it a challenge. Posted 2026

23. HARTMAN ROCKS RECREATION AREA is on BLM land on the south side of Gunnison off of county 38. Designated sites are free to camp in for now. Restrooms are available. Smooth trails for two wheelers crisscross the area, some motorized. The entrance road is steep but cars make it. It's too close to town and I was buying ice cream every day. How far do you have to hike to burn off a Ben and Jerry's? Whiley Hall has put tracks up on peakbagger for every peak around town so there's no chance of running out of things to do. Posted 2026

24. SIGNAL PEAK el 9042 is on the NE side of Gunnison. A  decent road goes nearly all the way. It leaves US 50 at mp 159.3. Just follow the sat image up. Subaru types can make it or park at the BLM boundary and ride an ebike 3 miles up. Posted 2026

25. FLAT TOP el 10572 is a short hike north of Gunnison. FR829 goes in from county 730 at mp 8.1. It's easy 4wd but embedded rocks make for slow going. Two wheelers can thread all that. I just went on to FR955.1E and that ends at almost 10400 about 5.5 miles in but deadfall stopped me a little short. There is some talus and deadfall to deal with on the hike to Point BM but no big deal. It's pristine on top. Posted 2026

26. CARBON PEAK el 12079 is north of Gunnison and has a trail the whole way up the NW ridge. County 730 goes along the west side to FR730.1B.  Cars might get that far. 4wds can go right a third mile and ATVs can go more. The road shrinks to a foot trail like the USFS topo shows and in less than half a mile an obvious fork goes up a ridge all the way to the summit. 5 hours, 9 miles with 2600 gain. I saw a couple with mtn bikes near the summit but I wouldn't do it. Posted 2026

Sids Mountain Area, Utah

Pancake rocks near Saddle benchmark

Oddball rattler on Indian benchmark. It ignored me.

I named him Alfred E. Neuman. " What, me worry? "

1. I went in from exit 131 on I-70. I followed  the graded road to Buckhorn Draw for a dozen miles and set up camp. A good Verizon signal from Cedar Mtn rains down on the area. The best water I found was a stream 3 miles up Buckhorn Draw near a spring on the topo. Then I returned to I-70 and went to the Moore cutoff and on to Ferron and out on the Dutch Flat Rd. Ebikes would work on every road I traveled except Kimball Draw. Posted 2026

2. SWASEYS LEAP is on the topo south of Mexican Mtn and the site where Sid Swasey allegedly jumped his horse 14 feet across the river. The road in is easy 4wd except one spot a couple miles before the end. I went in off the Buckhorn road at Sinkhole Reservoir. There is a fork at peak 6216. Left has better views. Right is better and Subaru types might make it to the fork at peak 5860 and then ebike the rest. The last 4 miles from there is rougher and the bad spot is at the 5440 line. It's just some minor steps. The road is closed south of peak 5102. I walked it then cut a huge loop by crossing a wash at 38 59473, W110 29063 and then across the next one at 59569, 28904 and on to the road where it says 4wd on the topo. I took one more shortcut at 59705, 28621 then the road ends over the Leap which is where the topo shows it at 59400, 27998. The easiest way down is to go right down a trail then come back along the cliff base. That looks like the way stock were taken. It took a bit over an hour to walk the 2 miles one way. Easy hike. I can't think of another river with rims 14 feet apart.  I put a track on peakbagger under Jackass Benches. Posted 2026

3. SIDS DRAW MESA is what I call the long skinny one on the east side of the draw. An easy one way hike can be done. I parked on the graded Buckhorn road near point 6694 and headed for the west side of peak peak 6626 to get on the rim. I crossed a fence there then had to cross back so maybe should have just followed it. I walked the nearly pristine rim then turned right just before point 6347 (it would likely work just to keep going down the rim ) and down to point 6126 where I had spotted my cycle. I had a 4 and a half miles ride back. 2 and a half hours, 5 miles and nearly all downill. Great pj forest. A car and an ebike gets it done. This is so easy it makes pie look hard. Posted 2026

4. SIDS DRAW - I parked at Sids Reservoir and went up canyon then back on the west rim. There are cattle trails that cut the bends then at the 6040 line I entered a shallow canyon. Cattle don't go in because they can't get thru but hikers can. When it opens up there is a trail on the right bank and I strolled on up almost to point 6442 where I could easily go up and over peak 6461. I went on to the rim at N38 55985, W110 39610 and walked it down to 57192, 40166 where I could drop down a ridge to the flats. A trail along the base took me back. 4 hours, 9 miles with 200 noticeable gain. Another great pj forest on the rim. Posted 2026

5. COTTONWOOD DRAW MESA is what I call the one on the east side of the Buckhorn road. It can be done as a one way using the road for a shuttle. or a loop from Three Coves Reservoir which is what I did. The road into the reservoir is easy 4wd and ebikeable. I parked there and walked the road a bit more and then thru a saddle to N38 58744, W110 37585 where I could look up a canyon and see it goes. It's best to stay on the right bank to a fork just below the rim then take either fork. I then just strolled to point 6045 then down a slope at 58934, 39352 to get back. 3 and a half hours, 7 miles with 300 noticeable gain. There are two worlds here. Pristine on top and decimated by cattle on the flats. Posted 2026.

6. LOCKHART MESAS - the west side of the Lockhart road is lined with mesas. I made a loop on two close to the river. The road is easy 4wd and I parked south of point 5647. Then walked to a game trail at N39 00205, W110 36062 that took me to the top. I went on down to a saddle at 01417, 35624 then down a trail there into a wash that leads to a main wash separating the two mesas. I took a short trip down to the river then came back and took the fork that goes to the south saddle of peak 5370. I walked the mesa to the north saddle of point 5546 and took a trail down to the road and then back. 3 hours, 5 and a half miles with 400 noticeable gain. Returning in the wash between the mesas would be even easier. Cattle impact is light. A minor fall blocks them from coming up the main wash. Posted 2026

7. OIL WELL DRAW - a high clearance road goes 2.5 miles from the Buckhorn road out on the north rim to a campsite with a view at point 5925. Loop hikes can be done from there. The easiest route down the draw would be walk one way from the Three Coves Reservoir road to the river then wade across to an ebike spotted on the other side. That would be about 8 miles. Second easiest is a loop which is what I did. I coasted from camp on my bike to the Buckhorn road then down to the draw and took the road to Three Coves Reservoir. I dropped off the rim at N38 59342, W110 39472 and strolled on down canyon. Boulders are east of point 5656 and cow shit beyond there was greatly reduced. A narrows about a tenth mile long is NE of peak 5753 and blocks all cattle for a ways. I walked around potholes in there but one would need a knee deep wade.  Instead, I went up on the right for 30 feet to a shelf to pass it. I went on to a left fork at the 5240 line reading N39 01020, W110 36903. I went 100 feet up it then up to the right rim and walked up it a quarter mile to a hard packed cow trail. I went on to 00967, 38254 where I could see a route up on the left then on top I could see the rest. 3 and a half hours, 7 miles and 500 noticeable gain. Easy walking on a lot of slickrock. A shorter version would be to drop down from camp and pick up the loop there. No shuttle needed. RIM LOOP - I walked the rim to the river then upstream to a wash and back. From camp I went north down a drainage then to N39 00789, W110 38244 to get down into a canyon. I went down that and soon had a cow trail on the left bank (the same one as the first hike). I turned left up a fork south of point 5534 to get on the final rim to the river. A 1933 marker is above the river at 02287, 36307. I got down a steep slope at 01751, 36506 and then down the wash to the river. I went upstream to the next wash which is west of point 5269 and that's the best to return in. But I went one more wash and back. It has a trail south of point 5585 reading 01533, 39301 that goes up to the rim. But that's a dozen miles total and so the wash west of point 5269 is more practical for the return. For that I estimate 5 hours and 500 noticeable gain. Cattle impact is moderate and they were gone May 6, 2026

8. SADDLE BENCHMARK el 7562 is just north of I-70. An easy 4wd road goes under I-70 and on to the west side of the peak. The topo shows it ends but no it's a rough jeep road down to Cane Wash where it gets easy again. I came in that way from Oil Well Flat and parked on the north side of the peak then up a ridge at N38 53806, W110 45348. It tops out at 53646, 45357 then it's a stroll to the summit. 90 minutes, 600 gain. Back on the road, I went back a little to a smooth ATV trail that goes to peak 7028 then on around a spire. That trail is highlighted on the sat image.  From there it's an easy walk out to the peak that has a long skinny neck. I dropped down a cliff at 54546, 45120 to get out there. It took an hour to get out there but I walked the ATV trail because I didn't see it. That's the more enjoyable hike of the two. Both hikes are class 2. I saw a Forerunner going down the jeep road and a new Bronco going up. Onyx rates it a moderate. Posted 2026

9. WINDOW BLIND PEAK is technical but there is a scenic traverse that sissies can do. Nothing harder than class 2. It runs along the plateau at about the 5800 line. I parked on the Buckhorn road at the canyon north of point 5850. And then should have spotted my bike at least a mile north but didn't know I was going to get thru. I walked up canyon to a mine road going up the rim on the right at N39 02555, W110 40393.  It's faint and goes nearly all the way to peak 5863. I just kept walking the easy shelf north around the point then SE where it got narrower but still easy. At one spot I had to go slightly higher to 03177, 39345 then back down to the rim of the descent canyon. I could look down and see how I would need to stay far right of boulders for an easy route down. At bottom a road goes left thru the south saddle of Assembly Hall Peak and on to the Buckhorn road. But with no shuttle I left the road at the 5240 line. That took 4 hours, 40 minutes and 9 miles. The only noticeable gain is the 300 at the start. And did take a detour to 5863. A shuttle will cut it down a mile or more. I put a track on peakbagger but the track doesn't run up the mine road at the start as I was following the Hall track. I'll put up another track for peak 6345 that shows it. Who'd a thunk there's a road up there? SHORT VERSION - there is a class 2 break in the rim east of peak 5863 at 03027, 40091. I went down there and hit the road a mile from the start. I had a bike there this time. 3 hours, 5 miles. And I took a side trip to the point west of peak 6345. I put up a track under that peak. Posted 2026

10. CANE WASH LOOP - I walked up river to Cane then up it to a trail that goes over Calf Mesa back to the start.  I parked near the river where the road ends at a crossing near point 5185. I could have drove a car there.  I followed a trail along the river then at 2.3 miles the river took it out. But I could go left under a boulder and on to Cane where pictographs are under an overhang. I strolled up Cane and it had an intermittent clear stream but tiny. The trail goes up on the mesa at N39 03380, W110 43894 then I stayed right of a sheer peak and on to the descent trail at 02976, 42581. It drops to a canyon that leads back. The last important trail is on the right bank at 04232, 41880 then I got to a fence and took a hard left along that to get on the best trail. 5 hours, 13 miles, easy grades. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 6362. Posted 2025

11. CALF MESA is huge with long tentacles. Faded uranium mine roads are all over the top. I used a stock trail out of the NE canyon to make an easy loop. I parked near the river where the road ends at a crossing near point 5185. I could have drove a car there. I walked south up the canyon west of Bottleneck Peak using a trail on the west side. The trail goes up a side canyon at N39 02952, W110 42422 and high on the left to the rim. Before going up I walked a fifth mile up the main canyon and found seasonal water at a cottonwood. Once on top I walked the rim to 02505, 42634 where I could drop in and go downstream a litte then up a right fork for a few feet to get out and on to a road that leads to mines on the rim near peak 6265. The road goes on north to a canyon where I dropped in at 03565, 41772. I went down to a huge boulder then stayed high on the left to get down. 4 hours, 20 minutes and 9 miles with 500 noticeable gain. I put a track on peakbagger under the peak. The south side of the mesa has a car converted to a winch at 01703, 42979. A decent class 2 route goes up the rim out of a little canyon on the west side and tops out at 02234, 43465. The road the miners made to get on top is north of that. Posted 2025

12. PEAK 6545 is on the north side of Calf Mesa. A class 2 route goes up the north canyon. I followed tracks by Grant and Hall on peakbagger.  I parked near the river where the road ends at a crossing near point 5185. I could have drove a car there.  I followed a trail along the river for 2 miles and then up the canyon west of peak 6095. Up canyon at the first main fork there is a fall blocking the right fork. I went past it to N39 04945, W110 43209 then up to the right a little and back to the lip of the fall. Then up canyon at about 04934, 43305 are huge boulders. I went high right on smooth ground to pass then turned south up a fork. At 04803, 43383  el 5800 I went right up a slope to a cliff base then left along it to a break. Then on to a steep ridge at 04530, 43318. Some use a gully to the right. At top it's easy on to west side of the summit dome and a class 2 groove at 04320, 43442. I took a side trip to peak 6325. An old cairn is along the way. Grant and Hall took under 3 hours for the direct round trip. Gain from the river is 1400. I put up a track on peakbagger showing side trips. Posted 2026

13. INDIAN BENCHMARK el 7143 is at exit 131. The road along the east side is easy 4wd and it bends left where an obvious ridge facing north goes up. I circled back on the rim thru peak 7138 then dropped back down at about N38 53692, W110 41029. 2 hours and 400 noticeable gain. I nearly stepped on a rattler on top. Posted 2026

14. MESA 7235 is SW of The Wikiup on the north side of the freeway. It looks like a deformed animal on the topo. From exit 131 the roads go west then under the freeway and along the west side of the mesa. A campsite with a great view is at the end of the road on the rim. A route may go up from there but I went up just before at N38 52787, W110 43643. I cirlced the rim for 6 miles. There is 200 gain to get up there then easy. That took nearly 4 hours. This is one of the best. No sign of hikers, likely because it's not in the peakbagger database. All roads easy 4wd. Subaru types might make it. Posted 2026

15. REID NEILSON DRAW is a good slot canyon. From exit 131 a road cirlces west for 6 miles to it next to peak 6824. Cars make it that far. Then a high clearance road goes a fifth mile along the draw to parking. I crossed to the far bank and walked down at N38 50175, W110 39196. I had to wade a dozen pools to get to Crawford Draw. All were less than crotch deep but one at Crawford was waist deep. The underwear needed a wash anyway. I went on down Crawford for 15 minutes to the canyon opposite Charley Holes and came back up there. That took nearly 2 hours and nearly 3 miles. It can be extended by staying in Crawford to some class 3 boulders NE of peak 6569 then come back. Lots of easy gravel. Wear wading shoes and take a stick to probe pools. Or better yet, take a friend and let them go first. What are friends for?  DRY VERSION - I went to Crawford Holes and down the far left channel. A few feet before the confluence with Reid Neilson I came to tricky potholes. I went left up a chute then back down to get past them. DRIEST VERSION - stay on the north rim of Crawford to the confluence then come down to the chute. Posted 2026

16. SECRET MESA is dotted with interesting peaks. A crossover is on I-70 at mp 120.5. A paved road goes north there to a sharp turn. I parked there and walked the obvious route on the topo to get on the mesa. The first peak has a route at N38 52545, W110 51916. It goes up to the right into a steep gully. I could barely get traction in there but the worst that could happen is sliding back down. I got on the main ridge then stopped at a tricky spot. Back on the mesa I went to 52399, 52801 to get at the peak west of peak 7087. It has a class 2 route on the north side. The next peak west looked to be class 4 minimum. Easy hiking here and pristine. Posted 2026

17. SAN RAFAEL KNOB el 7921 has a moderate jeep road to the base. It starts at exit 116 and goes into Devils Canyon as the topo shows. It goes upstream past a fork shown on the topo then it exits the creekbed but only the global topo on the peakbagger app shows it at that point. It goes to a fork near the 7400 line on the north side of the peak. A hiker trail runs on the ridge to the right at N38 48953, W110 51347 and goes to the only risky part at 48823, 51236. It's a 50 foot traverse on steep sandstone. A line could be set up between 2 small trees there. It's a one hour hike with 500 gain. I saw ebike tracks the whole way but there is a half mile of sand in the bottom of Devils Canyon. Posted 2026

18. KIMBALL WASH LOOP - the road into Devils Canyon from exit 116 can be followed for nearly 30 miles all the way west to the next exit. OHVs can go on north to the Moore cutoff to get back to exit 116 and that's about 40 miles. Jeeps and 4Runners can make the roads. Kimball has a lot of sand. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 7309 near exit 116. Posted 2026

19. DEVILS CANYON is best as a one way but nobody does it. There's nothing harder than class 2 except one class 4 spot  where the canyon enters a slot and that is easy with a hand line.  I-70 makes it easy to set up. A game trail goes in from the view area at mp 115.5. I took exit 108 and parked my camp trailer at the road to Clyde and Neils Pond. Then I rode my cycle to the view area and walked SE to a skinny point. At a saddle reading N38 50792, 110 55422 is where the trail cuts back to the right. I walked it north for 250 feet then down a ridge at 50832, 55446 and hit a stream at bottom. It soon dried up then I had to go up a little on the left to pass a 12 foot drop. I left cairns there as well as earlier parts of the route. Next, I hit the main canyon then had a short walk to a drop where the slot starts. The class 4 way down is in view there. It's sloping slickrock about 12 feet high. It's obvious I had to walk a trail on the right rim then come back on a lower shelf to get at it. I used a 3 inch gator hook and a 20 foot line to get down and had a pull cord to release the hook. I put a video clip up on that. Road Trip Ryan has details on the side canyons encountered below the slot. The one he calls number 6 drains from peak 7192. I went up that for a dozen minutes to a shoulder wide slot blocked by a fall. The next one I went up drains the north side of peak 6825. It reads 49425, 58991. I went for 7 minutes to a pool. I could have gone on. Then I went up the one east of point 6455. In 10 minutes I hit a 15 foot fall in the left fork. I didn't try the right fork. It's a natural looking canyon as far as the spring where tamarisk and horse shit starts showing up. A mile or so past the spring is the exit trail at 49316, 01850. I walked it out then into a firm wash at 49469, 01913 that leads to the pond. Walking straight thru with no side trips takes 6 and a half hours and 14 miles. The only gain is the 200 at the exit trail. Half a mile could be saved by spotting a 4wd at the pond. Rain a week before had left some small pools. The first was NW of peak 6850 then another a mile past that. Then the one in the side canyon. The spring was a trickle coming out of a wall. Horses can't pollute it but it would take all day to fill up. I don't think this is long enough to justify backpacking but I would wait for rain to firm the sand up and maybe go in the standard route from Justensen Flat. That would be an 18 mile walk.  2 miles could be saved by driving the easy 4wd from there to canyon bottom. At the end I would ride a mtn bike down to  retrieve the 4wd. Posted 2026.

20. PEAK 6007 is just north of exit 108 and makes an easy loop. I walked from the exit along the freeway to Bitter Seeps Wash then up into the fork south of point 5738. But first I had to go up thru a cliff at N38 51389, W111 04514. It's class 3 and 5 feet high. I stayed right  bending south of point 5738 into a red bowl. I saw an easy slope on the left to get out of the bowl and that's how I went after checking that there was no canyon route out. But it would be preferable to exit the bowl on the right and top out on a neck west of peak 6007 reading 51267, 04286. But don't top out any more west of that. I walked over the peak then looked for a way down to the east side road and that looked hopeless. But amazingly I found a cairn at 51314, 03975 that marks a way down. It's steep but soft and so I didn't think it risky. Then there is a slickrock rim to walk south to a point where a  route down is on the right and then left to a ridge at 50965, 03762 that goes down to exit 108. 3 hours, 5 miles with 150 noticeable gain. No cattle on the high ground for years and never any in the canyon around point 5738. Posted 2026 

21. REEDS MESA is NE of exit 108. It's dull but the canyons that drain it have scenic red cliffs. I went up the canyon north of point 5805 then down the canyon south of it. 2 hours, 5 miles and hardly any noticeable gain. No cattle for years. Cars can get close to this hike but the road on up South Salt Wash is a disaster. More red canyons are SW of the exit. I went up the one on the west side of the 12 on the topo. Soon I hit a main fork. Right goes into a narrows and is blocked, left goes to a large fall at the interstate. I tried a slope on the right but couldn't make the last 8 feet. I retraced back. 2 hours and 4.4 miles. Posted 2026

22. SAND BENCH has a pristine section next to Muddy Creek. Good hike but I l'll have to refine it and post it later.

23. MULLIGAN BENCHMARK el 5900 is along Muddy Creek at Lone Tree Crossing. I made a loop in canyons around it then over it at the end.  The road in from exit 108 is easy 4wd. I parked on the north side at a corral. The ridge 200 feet south of the corral would be my descent ridge. I walked up the canyon on the north side of the peak and came to a fall just past point 5618.  I went up to the right at N38 45799, W111 09566 to get past it and back down at 45759, 09685. I took a left fork there and goes to a trail at 45189, 10047. It goes on to 44997, 10355 where it drops into the return canyon. I went down to a fall and went right to get down then at a big fall I went right to 44667, 09603 to get down but saw an easier way down in another tenth mile at a point. I strolled on down past cottonwoods then up a canyon on the left at 44986, 08167 to get at the peak. It didn't look good so I walked the left rim of it and then on up the west ridge of the peak. Then I dropped south to a crack at 45530, 08266. I had to make a big step onto some shaky boulders then left down to the flats. There is another break in the cliff to the west that might be safer or just keep going and merge with the west ridge and come back around. I walked the flat east around a hill then up a little to another flat then started down at 45673, 07828 and walked a shelf to the last ridge at 45739, 07889 and bottomed out south of the corral. 5 and a half hours, 10 miles and 600 noticeable gain. 500 of it is the peak which can be skipped. There is nothing harder than class 2 that is mandatory.  Hikers just doing the peak should pick up the route at 44986, 08167 which isn't far from the main road near point 5485. No cattle for years but the open ground is trampled by horses. Posted 2026

24. EAGLE CANYON - an OHV trail goes down canyon to a fall at the 6400 line. The next big side canyon below that coming in from the east is Forgotten Canyon. A hiker trail goes into lower Eagle Canyon down a canyon on the east side of point 6396. The road in leaves the Moore cutoff at mp 16.7. It's 5.3 miles of easy 4wd to a closed road at N38 54216, W110 55567. It ends in 500 feet then a trail goes on to a point and drops left at 54469, 55590 then there are some minor drops that are easily passed to get to the main canyon.  I went up past Forgotten Canyon to a flooded slot north of peak 6860. Not interested in wading just for the last little bit, I went up 20 feet and walked a trail on the rim. I passed a 1972 survey marker then could see the fall. I kept going on class 3 to 52851, 54390 where I could go low or high. Low has 10 feet or so of exposure and would be safest. I went high and got thru to the OHV trail but that has fatal exposure. This part is strictly for those wanting to test their mettle. It just sloping slickrock that you have to judge.  I won't do it solo again. Real climbers would stroll right thru. On the return I went up Forgotten for 7 minutes to tedious boulders and made a U-turn. Figure on 2 hours to get to the fall or the rim viewpoint I went to. It's nearly 5 miles one way and nothing harder than class 2. Sand wasn't bad as no recent hikers had been ahead of me to churn it up. Posted 2026

25. LOOKOUT POINT is along the Moore cutoff. At mp 12.4 a graded road gets close with good camping on slickrock and a Verizon signal. The summit has a 6 foot cairn and needs a new jar. Posted 2026

26. TWIN PONDS BENTONITE HILLS is an area below the south end of Molen Reef with a lot of loop possibilities. The road to the ponds is easy 4wd. To get on the high peak west of peak 6012, I walked west from the ponds up a canyon to a main fork west of peak 6014. Right is a bouldery mess. I went left then up a drainage at N38 52275, W111 07300. I got to the rim then on to the high point and on down the rim to 51709, 07973 where cairns marked a way down. But that would be a short hike so I went on to a wash at 51617, 08287 that took me to a bigger wash then up that to get under Emery BM. I went north to a deep canyon then walked an old road on the left rim to 52989, 08186 where I could drop into the canyon. I walked it out then thru a canyon at 52769, 06884 to get back. 4 hours, 8 miles and 200 noticeable gain. No recent cattle but they don't affect the bentonite anyway. SOUTH FERRON RESERVOIR CANYONS -  I went up the canyon on the east side of peak 6365 intending to cut thru the north saddle but the saddle is impassable. I backed up a little then up a rock slide at 54603, 05677 to get on the rim then down into the west canyon at 54696, 05935. That loop took 2 hours with 300 gain. The ascent canyon is best and  cattle can't get into it.  Posted 2026

27. EMERY BENCHMARK el 7126 is on the south part of the Molen Reef and might be the high point. A one way rim walk starts on the jeep road east of peak 6206 and ends at the Moore cutoff. I left a bike at mp 6 on the cutoff and drove around to the jeep road. It's near the Rochester Panel TH. I walked it up like the topo shows but it fades at the 6900 line. Newer roads from there would be longer so it's best to walk the route of the road as shown on the topo or just head for the BM. At the rim it's simple to the BM then at point 6908 there is a big dip. I went left of some hills and back to the rim to get up to a road. Then at N38 53992, W111 07321 I went down a cliff and on to peak 6930. I went along the right side of it and on down the rim past peak 6445 and then there is an old road running down the rim to the old Moore cutoff. 5 and a half hours, 12 miles with 1500 gain and nearly all easy. The bike ride back is 9 miles or so.  No cattle for years. Posted 2026

28. CEDAR RIDGE BENCHMARK el 6688 is on the Molen Reef north of the Moore cutoff. A one way is best from the cutoff to Short Canyon. A high clearance road runs north from the cutoff along the east base of the reef to a road into Short Canyon. It's not worth going more than a third mile on the latter road due to many micro dips. Then just ride a mtn bike back to the cutoff and up to the gap NW of peak 6305 and head for the rim. I went to N38 56696, W111 06626 and followed a draw to the rim and on past the BM. I dropped down into Short at 58338, 05159 . The hike is 5 or 6 miles long depending on where the vehicle at the end is spotted and 400 easy gain. Figure on 3 hours for the hike. The bike ride is 6 miles. No cattle for years and few made it to the rim and none made it to the north end. Posted 2026

29. DUTCH FLAT ROAD - this is a maintained road out of Ferron for 15 miles to a camp area at Bellevue Flats el 5545. Cars make it there when dry then it's easy 4wd on various forks. A good Verizon signal covers the area. A flowing well is about 5 miles along the road below the Red Ledges at N39 06214, W110 52021. Cottonwoods are about a mile on the road into Coal Wash and some water was there.  I filtered all. A loop drive branches off just before the fork at point 5861. Stay right at main forks and it comes back to the Dutch Flat Rd in 6 miles east of peak 5729. Subaru types and ebikes can make it. Good bentonite hills. Posted 2026

30. FERRON BENCHMARK el 6371 is 9 air miles SE of Ferron. A 4wd road goes most of the way up. I walked it then looped back to the south. The graded Dutch Flat Rd goes out of town to a fork el 5861 just before Cinderella Reservoir. Go south on high clearance for 2 and a half miles to a gate. A tenth mile past the gate is where the 4wd road goes left up the mountain. I went a quarter mile on it and parked.  It tops out on the rim just north of the summit. I walked south from the summit past peak 6325 then on to the broad peak east of peak 6216 then I headed back. 3 hours, 42 minutes and 8 miles with 1100 gain. Posted 2026

31. EAGLE BENCHMARK el 7042 is north of Secret Mesa at the head of Wood Hollow. It's easy up the north ridge then south into a canyon to get back. The road from Bellevue Flats el 5545 is easy 4wd for 10 miles to a road going east to a stock tank near point 6458. But that road is gone so go another tenth mile or so then left on another road and park west of point 6458 and then walk to it and on to the north ridge of the peak. Once at the peak, I kept going to east to peak 7073 just past an arch on the topo. But I never saw an arch. I went over the peak then back around the south side. It's safer to go around the south side then up the east side. I retraced a little then down a draw to get into the south canyon. I could see that route down as I was walking from the BM. I walked the canyon down to the 6600 line then left up a side canyon to get out then back to the start. 4 and a half hours, 8 miIes and about 1000 gain. No cattle beyond point 6458. I put a track on peakbagger under peak 7073. WOOD HOLLOW - I did it as a separate hike but could be combined with Eagle BM. I parked on the road at the 6200 line and walked to 56703, 54747 then on to the canyon and up the fork leading to point 6464. Just before reaching it I went SE on the low ground to the rim and walked it to the end el 6980. I descended to 54728, 52828 where I could see routes into the canyon. I walked it back but could have gone to peak 7073 and Eagle BM and walked the north ridge back. That took 5 hours, 9 and a half miles and nearly all easy grades. The canyon is in pristine condition.  Posted 2026

32. McCARTY CANYON is a rarely visited one. I went up the east rim then back down the canyon.  It's easy 4wd from Bellevue Flats to the Little Wedge. Just past point 5686 the road bends north. A wooden fence at the bend marks the TH. I walked the trail down then to N39 03254, W110 51780 to get across Salt Wash. I walked the bank a short way to a stock trail that follows the rim to the mouth of McCarty just above a fall. I went across to the east rim and up to point 6195 then dropped a little to walk slickrock. I went around the rim to a class 3 entry SW of peak 6522 reading N38 58731, W110 49219. It's 5 feet down to a rest then another 5 feet. Then I went right along the cliff base for 200 feet then down a ridge to bottom. Soon I came to a drop and went along the left for 250 feet then took an angle down. Just before the 5920 line I came to 2 waterholes, one with tadpoles. I went on down to a 1910 Ferron inscription at N39 01013, W110 50813, The next left fork past that has ponderosa pines. And then I came to a big waterhole where the creekbed bends east north of peak 5808. That lasts for weeks. In less than 10 minutes I was back at the trail and out. 9 hours, 20 minutes and 16 miles with 1500 gain and nearly all easy. No cattle in the canyon for decades and none on the rim. SHORTCUT VERSIONS - It looked good going to peak 6253 then peak 6226 then take a line at peak 6014 to get down. Going west from peak 6206 looked possible. On the west rim going north from peak 6208 leads down. I interrupted sheep coming down that. I didn't do any of these but just looked at them with a scope as I passed under. Posted 2026

33. MESQUITE WASH runs parallel to McCarty Canyon. An easy 4wd road runs up the west rim but is closed at the 6000 line. It shows best on the global topo on the peakbagger app. I walked it nearly 3 miles to N38 58964, W110 51334 then dropped down into the canyon. I hit bottom and walked parallel to the rim in a wide drainage and came to a minor drop at a big pine. I likely could have gone down the drop and made it to the main canyon, but I stayed high on the right to a class 3 drop at 58630, 50744 that got me down. I went up a short way to a fall NE of peak 6486. A cottonwood is sprawled over a large pool. Cattle don't make it that far. I went down canyon to another large pool and then I had cow trails to follow down to the exit canyon. I walked slickrock on the left side of it reading 59630, 51499 then near the head I took a left fork and topped out on the rim at 59263, 51480. 5 hours, 9 miles and the only strain is the 400 feet out and it isn't very steep. There are more ponderosa pines here than anywhere I've been in the Swell. Light cattle impact and none recently.  Posted 2026

34. THE RED LEDGES run for miles. The best part is near the river. A short loop can be done or a longer one way by going up Red Wash and on past Wilson BM. I did the latter. An easy 4wd road runs from Bellevue Flats below the rim to the river. I left my bike near the 15 on the topo and went on a bit over 2 miles to a flowing well. At the next wash I went left up it to a cow trail at N39 06410, W110 52291 and walked it to the river. Then to Red Wash and had firm walking up to a main fork. I went left then left up the fork on the north side of peak 5688. It's easy into the saddle but cattle can't make it. I went up the peak then the mesa to the north. It has a DIY gate at the NW ridge reading 07318, 52944. That would be the way down for the short loop. But I retraced back to the canyon then up it and got on the rim at 06399, 53095 and on to the BM. Then on to 05055, 54172 to get down. 5 and a half hours, 10 miles with 500 noticeable gain. It might be better to park at the river for the short loop. Posted 2026

35. SWAZY BENCHMARK el 6610 is the high point of Sids Mountain. A stock trail goes most of the way. The TH is a quarter mile south of point 5698 on the Little Wedge road. A wooden fence marks the spot. An old road goes down to a rim where a trail drops down at N39 03650, W110 50909. It goes along the stream and right away there is a good petroglyph panel high on the left on dark varnish. More are to the right. The stock trail climbs up at 03886, 50413 and goes up to 03833, 50233 then up a broad ridge. On top various cow trails can be followed to the Kofford cabin at 02287, 47670. I walked on south of the BM to a view on the rim of Virgin Canyon. Then to 02688, 46648 where I could get up to the BM. Then I headed for a petroglyph panel at 02743, 47392. Another one is a tenth mile past that then another a fifth mile on. I went on down canyon past potholes with tadpoles. A cow trail goes on a bit more to a waterhole with big tadpoles. On down from that is the biggest waterhole at 03194, 48055 just above the 6000 line. No cattle there. I went on down canyon then left on a faint trail at 03790, 48965 then to 03628, 49439 where I could get thru a minor cliff then on back to the trail. I took a shortcut at 03850, 50158 to cut a loop in the trail. 8 and a half hours, 15.5 miles and about 2000 gain. Long pants are needed along the stream in Salt Wash. No wading that day. This hike is taken from the Steve Allen book with rock art locations provided by Road Trip Ryan.   Posted 2026

McCarty Canyon

Bentonite hills

Mountain Lion Defense

•  The death of Kristen Kovatch near Estes Park, CO was the straw that broke the camel's back. At best, she had a nail file for defense. The two California men in 2024 jumped up and down and threw everything they had at a lion. And it kept coming. I went on Amazon to find a knife to be easily carried on a backpack strap. I had a million dollars worth of knives in my cart before I came upon the Cold Steel Mini Leatherneck at barely over 20 bucks.  The double edge blade is agnostic. It can rip in either direction. I would instinctively stab rapid fire in soft tissue, the neck if possible. A 3 or 4 inch blade isn't going to instantly kill a lion, but how many stabs can he take? I would only need one poke from that nasty little blade and I'm heading for the tall grass. I've had this on a couple of hikes and forgot is was there. It will be a permanent fixture except for some barren desert excursions. I have not seen any tests on it to see what it would take to break the blade. 
• List of fatal attacks in North America