Craig, Colorado
- The main attraction around Craig is the Elkhead Mountains north of town. But it's for late season only when mosquitoes have thinned out.
- COUNTY ROAD 27 is the main road that I accessed all the hikes from. Big rigs go up that. It leaves highway 13 at mp 102.8 and goes into the forest as FR110. Camp spots are along there with a Verizon signal. I took a good loop ride by following the FR110 all the way thru to county 82 at a T. I went right and stayed on the main road to Hayden. That's 60 or 70 miiles of dirt road that a Subaru type car can make. It took me a bit over 3 hours. Columbus Mtn would be one hike to try along the way. The Sawmill Creek Cg is no longer in use. And for good reason. It's a lousy spot. Posted 2024.
- FREEMAN RESERVOIR has a good road all the way. It leaves highway 13 at mp 103.2 and goes 9 miles to the lake. Trailheads are there but I didn't see much use for them. The lake has a day use fee but federal passes are accepted. Posted 2024.
- BLACK MOUNTAIN el 10845 is the high point. A loop can be done on the trails shown on the topo. I parked my Toyota at The Dike TH then rode my cycle a bit over 3 miles to the standard Black Mtn TH el 9800 and went up trail #1185 to the reg at N40 46969, W107 22147. Then on to a fork at 47483, 23425 and went left down to a T at trail #1144. I went left a short way to another fork but no sign except one pointing to Freeman Res. Trail 1144 goes left there on a grassy old road reading 46353, 24954 and that leads to The Dike TH. 5 and a half hours, 11.2 miles, 1800 gain says the app. The topo shows the trail junctions accurately. It would shorten the hike a lot by ending at Freeman Res but a long shuttle. This is best when colors are turning late in the season due to vast numbers of Aspen along trail 1144. Posted late June, 2024.
- BLACK MTN, OLIPHANT, WELBA - all can be done in a loop with a 6 mile shuttle. I parked on trail #1144 at the Roaring Fork TH then rode my Zizzo to the Black Mtn TH. I walked the trail over the mountain then down the north side and circled to the saddle between Black and Oliphant. But I likely could have gone directly down to the saddle from point 10628 in grassy drainages and saved time and maybe 2 miles. If that doesn't look good, then walk the trail down the north side like I did and leave it at N40 48057, W107 24062 then to 48226, 24016 then to a logged area at 48307, 23939. I leveled off there to the road on the topo then took it to the saddle then followed the topo over Oliphant and then down to trail #1144 and up to Welba. The reg is at 49956, 23267. I retraced back to the trail and walked it out. 8 hours, 20 minutes, 3000 gain, 15 miles. Easy terrain, deadfall only a minor nuisance. Another loop can be done from the Willow Creek TH. That measured out on my computer to be about the same mileage but wouldn't need a shuttle. But that would be the way to go for just Oliphant, Welba and even Buck Point. Posted 2024.
- BEARS EARS PEAKS el 10582 has an easy 4wd road (FR1161C ) on the north side to el 9800. Cars can make it to a 4-way at el 9700 then ebike the rest. At the end of the road I stepped directly up to a grassy strip and walked to N40 46817, W107 14827 el 9900 then stayed along the left side of talus to the summit. 80 minutes, 800 gain. It goes parabolic and it better be dry, baby. I dodged most of the talus this way. The topo shows the roads. Posted 2024.
- SAWTOOTH MOUNTAIN el 9565 is approached with the same roads as Bears Ears. From the 4-way el 9700, go north on FR159 for nearly 2 miles to the Sawtooth ATV TH. The road is high clearance and mtn bikeable. The trail is closed to motorized use until July 1 but is so bad I wouldn't ride it anyway. I walked it to Sawtooth Park then on to a clearing at 48943, 15746 and then into the trees expecting to be turned back by deadfall. But nope, it was easy . I went to 48982, 15669 then 49018, 15625 and then 49035, 15560. I came to a game trail at 49051, 15484 that took me onto the spine. I went a few feet up that then veered right of center and had it easy to the summit. 3 hours, 1000 gain. A hiker with just a car could try coming in from one of the THs to the west. It might be bikeable late in the season when ATVs have smoothed it down. This is one of the better hikes thanks to the lovely Sawtooth Park. Posted 2024.
