Rawah Wilderness Area

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. National forest visitor center is at mp 88.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Craig, Colorado

1. The main attraction around Craig is the Elkhead Mountains north of town. But it's for late season only when mosquitoes have thinned out. 
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6.  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.
7. 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.
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Westwater Canyon WSA, Utah

Caves in Star Canyon

A tiny stream at Marble Canyon

The old gate at Fish Park

2. I put a track on peakbagger under Steamboat Mesa showing roads and stock trails. DS Road goes west out of Glade Park for 20 miles to a T at the end of pavement. Left is a good road all the way to Red Gap with lots of camps along the way and many with a good Verizon signal. It turns easy 4wd there with embedded rocks making for a bumpy ride. Right at the T is a good road like the topo shows. LOOP VERSION - a loop can be done around Big Triangle using the two good roads and the jeep road down Ryan Creek that branches off near point 5768. I went clockwise and hit the only really bad spot where the road drops to the creek at point 4944. I let my 125 skid down that but I couldn't get back up. Luckily, I didn't have to. The creek has easy fords and lots of cottonwoods but also cattle. I just followed the topo around back to the T. It's nearly 25 miles and ebikeable. I could have drove a jeep down Ryan Creek. The last water was where Coates Creek crosses the main road at point 4270 but that is subject to being cut off by ranchers as it was a few days later. Ryan Creek can't be cut off. Posted May, 2024.
3. STEAMBOAT MESA el 6692 - I took a long loop ride to that using maintained roads from the end of DS Road at the T. The best road is the one going right at the T as the topo shows. It goes to a fork el 5250 near 1-333 on the topo. Left is easy 4wd back to the T. Right is maintained but a litte rougher. It crosses Granite Creek where there is a good stream and cottonwoods. The road goes on to the base of the mesa then a steep 4wd goes up but it had been recently bladed. I rode to the far end of the mesa where there is a camp spot with a great view and a Verizon signal. I stopped by Steamboat Benchmark and then took a walk to the high point at N38 47308, W109 04303. I rode back to the fork el 5250 then took the easy 4wd road back. It added up to 77 miles and 9 hours but that includes a detour I took to Scharf Mesa. I put a track on peakbagger. Posted June, 2024.
4. STAR / MARBLE CANYONS LOOP - I went into Star on a stock trail then down the river on a game trail then out Marble on a stock trail. I parked on the main road at the jeep trail east of Coach BM then coasted 2 miles down the main road to the TH at a pullout east of peak 5897. I went up over the rim then down into Star at N38 56868, W109 06415. I strolled down and came to a minor fall at el 5400 with a tiny stream. That dried up el 5230 then I took a game trail on the right bank at 57320, 08515. It fades in half a mile so I drifted down to the creekbed and came to another tiny stream in a side canyon at 58025, 08851. Then I went up higher to a game trail at 58199, 08945 and on to 58455, 09101 then the trail fades where the canyon opens up. I walked to the river rim at peak 5046 and had a good trail again. At Funnel Falls there was a tiny stream south of point 4641 at the top of the falls. The next drainage had a stream but brushy. I had to skirt it by way of point 4690 then the trail took me to Marble where a stream was running down bedrock at the mouth. I could see that on the sat image. But it gets brushy all the way to the fork at el 5200.The left bank works at first then a game trail on the right bank at 59661, 07138 el 5000 skirts a lot of it. The trail comes back to the stream then I was just guessing which bank to use. At the fork el 5200 it cleared up and I went on to the stock trail at 58406, 06043 el 5500. It is at the skinny point SE of peak 5930. It goes up to a cliff then left and up the left side of a bowl to 58330, 06154 where it levels off and on to the jeep road that leads to the main road. 8 hours, 14 miles, and the 800 gain at the end on the trail and jeep road is the only big strain. That could be ameliorated by reversing this but would mean pedaling uphill on the bike shuttle. Marble had cattle decades ago but not Star. There may be more of the stock trail on the canyon floor because cattle can't go down the creekbed. Posted May 27, 2024.
5. MARBLE CANYON RIM LOOP - I went down the west rim to the mouth then east thru the big gap at peak 5482 then on to the second canyon and out in that. I parked on the main road at the closed jeep road east of Coach BM and walked to the end of the jeep road where a stock trail starts. I walked it to where it drops then stayed level on a game trail to a class 3 chute south of peak 5930 at N38 58388, W109 06229. I went up to the next level then right a little to get on top. Point 5458 was my objective but first I detoured to the rim for a view then on to a slickrock drainage at 58980, 06868. It had potholes with water then at a minor drop was a hole 2 or 3 feet deep. I veered away there and on to point 5458 and down to the break in the rim at 59639, 08081. I went down weaviing a class 2 route and hit bottom then walked a game trail to Marble where I tanked up on water. I soon got on the left bank and on up to a trail at 59826, 07206 that led me to a view of the big gap. I went thru it and on to the second canyon I call Tadpole Canyon. I dropped to the creekbed at N39 00065, W109 06179 ( this is the only coordinates with N39 ). I went up using the left bank when it got choked. I found puddles at 59989, 06024 then walked the left bank nearly a fifth mile then dropped back to the creekbed. I had to deal with a few boulders then climbed left to the next level at 59338, 05235. That level was an easy stroll to the main fork at the 5800 line. I took the right fork staying low on the left bank or in the creekbed and came to a shallow pool with tadpoles at 58851, 04584. I climbed out there to the rim topping out east of peak 6121 then walked up to the main plateau where private land starts. I walked trails west of a butte on BLM land then headed for a closed BLM road at 57894, 04004. I was on private land for the last quarter mile to that road. I stayed right at forks on the road back to the start. 9 hours, 14 miles, and not much strenuous gain. It would have added a half hour if I skirted that last bit of private land. I hauled long pants and never wore them. The few patches of light brush didn't last very long. Posted May 31, 2024.
6. STAR CANYON LOOP - I made a loop in the south fork using the north rim. I started on the closed jeep road east of Coach BM but later discovered it's better to use a stock trail west of the BM. It starts along the road east of peak 5897 at N38 56791, W109 06341. It tops out then it's a short walk to the rim of Star Canyon where a game trail runs along the rim skirting a big fall. It should be easy to walk north to the base of peak 6056 then go right to a break in the cliffs at 57714, 06419 then left up to the rim at 57662, 06462. I strolled down to a drainage at point 5377 not expecting that to go but it does. I dropped in at 57471, 08221 and down slopes. At the last cliff band, I approached on the left bank then into center and on to boulders then used the easy left bank to get to the floor. A sheep trail runs around the bend on the left bank and hits the creekbed. At el 5230 I came to a tiny stream and at el 5400 is a minor fall with a tiny stream. The water soon ends and I went on up staying in the right fork. There is a break on the right rim at 56868, 06415 to get back to the stock trail. A trail goes into it from the right along the cliff base. Another break is farther up at 57010, 06153 but would be longer. That should take 5 or 6 hours. Strenuous gain is about 600 feet. All class 1 and 2.  I had scattered light brush for less than 100 yards. No sign of cattle in the canyon, ever. I could have drove a car to the TH. Posted May 23, 2024. 
7. STAR CANYON RIM 4WD ROAD -  the huge pleateau west of Star Canyon mouth is part of the WSA but everyone will keep on driving it unless an impregnable barrier is erected. It's a good road to the river by way of Cane Spring and just before the river is where the 4wd road branches off as the topo shows. At N38 57302, W109 12267 there is fork on the right that bypasses a rough spot. At 57403, 11729 el 4800 there is a break in the rim where ranchers took livestock down to Star Canyon eons ago. Sandstone speed bumps make for slow going then at point 4939 it smooths out. At nearly 7 miles there is a T at the rim. Left is a crappy DIY road and right goes to point 5614. I could have hiked down to Star from there. Some ebikes should make this. One hike option would be to walk up the road then back on the south rim. Posted 2024.
8. MARBLE CANYON CENTER RIM - this is a skinny peninsula dividing the upper forks of the canyon at point 6041. I started on the closed jeep road east of Coach BM then left it down a slope at N38 57407, W109 04876 and followed game tracks skirting gullies to a main trail at 57746, 05056 then to another trail at 57925, 04947. That faded then I just headed left of peak 6211 and on out to the end of the peninsula. There is a class 2 break in the rim at 58568, 05708 and I didn't see any more cliffs below. But that's a hike for another day. I retraced back out. 4 hours, 7 miles and maybe 200 strenous gain. Easy hike with good views. 15 minutes in there is a minor arch on the left that attracts hikers. Posted 2024.
9. COACH BENCHMARK el 6496 has a class 2 route up the NW side. Use the stock trail west of the BM. It starts along the road east of peak 5897 at N38 56791, W109 06341. It tops out then it's a short walk to the rim of Star Canyon where a game trail runs along the rim skirting a big fall. Go up canyon until it gets cluttered then get on the right bank and soon a wide dry fall el 6120 blocks the way. Bypasses are to the left and right, but left is easier with a view of the route up. Go up steep slopes at 57052, 05610 to the break at 57002, 05599. 3 hours, 400 noticeable gain.  I could have drove a car to the TH. Posted May, 2024.
10. BIG TRIANGLE el 5700 has an easy 4wd road most of the way. It branches off the main road ( BLM 350 ) north of point 5835 at N38 54524, W109 05904. It goes nearly 2 and a half miles and tops out north of the summit as the topo shows. It's smooth that far but gets bumpy. Horsethief Spring had a small flow. Cattle were here decades ago but it's hard to tell now. This is mainly an excuse to take a ride on a two wheeler. Posted May, 2024.
11. LITTLE TRIANGLE offers a good rim walk. I parked at the east end in a  canyon south of point 5682. If I had an ebike I would have spotted it another mile or so SW at a bad hill near point 4944. I walked up the canyon a third air mile and saw an easy break in the rim on the left. I got on top and followed the topo but had to stay near center to N38 53515, W109 07812 then at point 5456 I was able to wak the rim with a view into Renegade Creek. It had a stream lined with cottonwoods but too much brush to be any fun. I walked as far as peak 4842 then cut to a trail at 53559, 09795 then on to 53254, 09573 where I dropped to the road. I shortcutted a bend in the road using a cow trail on the left bank then on back to the start. 3 hours, 40 minutes with less than 1000 noticeable gain and most of that was on the road walk. I could have drove a car to point 5768 using BLM 350. Posted 2024.
12. FISH PARK has one public road in. Take DS Road to mp 9.9 and turn on the graded Little Delores Road. Go 2 miles then left on a 4wd road that is easy for jeeps and ebikeable. It goes to a maze of forks at tubs el 6796. Turn back sharp on the fork that is most to the right. It goes to Fish Park. I went south there on the main road then at private land I turned west along that then north and parked short of point 6282. I walked the rim to point 6123 and to a neck where a stock trail goes across. I went on to the end of the rim then came back across the neck and up the drainage a short way to a pothole with green water. There, I climbed up to the right to a faint road and walked it back. 3 hours, 20 minutes, easy. The ride in and out on my 125 took 3 hours. It's about 11 miles to the park on the 4wd road. I posted a track for the road and hike on peakbagger under peak 6560. Whiley Hall posted a track that showed me the way in on the road. Peak 7280 is another one she did along the road in as well as Beth Lakin. No cattle for years but there were some around the tubs. Posted 2024.
13. TOMS CANYON is along the Little Dolores Rd. A game trail running down it makes it easy. The mouth is blocked by private land, but a game trail goes thru the north saddle of peak 6463. I went in just south of point 6521 then came back on the rim via the saddle. Take DS Road to mp 9.9 and turn on the graded Little Delores Road. Go 2 miles then left on a 4wd road that is easy for jeeps and ebikeable. It goes up on the rim then a road goes hard right to point 6521. I dropped in on a game trail at N38 59326, W108 57272 then down to the last cliff at 59223, 57425. Animals are going down a few feet to the right and that should be easier. At bottom I walked a trail thru tall grass then it cleared up in a quarter mile. At el 6050 is a minor drop that had a tiny stream. There I got on the right bank and hit a good trail and went on down almost even with point 6297 then came back and up a game trail on the NW ridge of peak 6463. That took me to the north saddle then I went up the ridge to the 6320 line then cut right to N39 00258, W108 57522 el 6050 to a trail that put me on a shelf. When that fizzled I dropped to a lower shelf then had it easy on back to the rim road. 3 hours, 400 noticeable gain. A hiker with just a car could come in at the saddle and do the loop and it wouldn't add more than an hour. The rim road keeps going past point 6521 and down to the main road but is tougher. Posted June 10, 2024.
14. 16.5 ROAD goes south out of Glade Park and thru the national forest then loops back to DS Road.Then it's 13 miles east back to Glade Park for a total of 40 miles or so. The part inside the national forest is rarely graded and not good for a car but there are a lot of camp spots with a cell signal. JS Road forks left just inside the forest boundary and goes to an ATV trail and that goes along the high ridge and back to 16.5 Road. That's a 16 mile loop and good for all two wheelers. I put a track on peakbagger under Pinon Mesa high point. There are some mountain bike trails in the area and shown on newer maps such as Cotrex. Posted 2024.

 

Middle Mountain Backpack, Utah

 

• Sheep herders were on Middle Mountain decades ago. I didn't realize that until after the hike. I followed their route as far as upper Blue Castle Canyon then took a route I could see goes to the top. The herders likely went to the head of Blue Castle at point 6317 then up. I will try that next time and make a loop. Posted 2024.
• Middle Mountain el 7022 is NW of Green River. It's too long a hike for one day. An ancient stock trail climbs out of Blue Castle Canyon to el 5300. It tops out on the rim a half mile west of Blue Castle Butte where the rim turns north then it's a rim walk to the upper part of the canyon for basecamp. It took me 3 hours from the parking spot on the north side of Blue Castle. The 700 gain up the trail is the only strain. The west side river road is paved to N39 05107, W110 08834 where a 4wd goes left for about 2 miles and drops into the wash on the north side of Blue Castle. I was able to ride my 125 a short way up the wash then walked it until I was reading 450 feet from the trail which starts at 05525, 12827 el 4700. A gully there with cairns leads 450 feet to the trail. It goes up and bends left then back right up to 05355, 12898 el 5050 then to 05331, 12990 el 5200 where it goes up to the base of the rim cliffs then right along that to the top at 05332, 13106 el 5300. A million cairns are there now so GPS shouldn't be needed once on the trail. I strolled up the rim to the upper part of the canyon where " canyon " appears on the topo. That's where the cottonwoods and seasonal water are. The class 2 drop in point is at  06138, 14986 el 5650. A tenth mile past that on the rim is a drainage with a bunch of potholes with water. I dropped to the creekbed and started to panic when I saw it bone dry as opposed to intermittent flow on May 12, 2023 ( I found the rim potholes the next day ). I went up canyon and wet sand cheered me up then I came to a puddle shaded by a flat rock. Not much but it bailed me out. 10 minutes or so up canyon is a dry fall with pools of water on top. A sheep trail goes up around the right to it. Then comes a slot that is blocked. MIDDLE MOUNTAIN - for that, climb a slope up to the east rim but the final climb is a 15 foot class 3 crack which tops out at 06228, 15107 el 5650. It's easier going down than up. Then stroll down nearly a mile downstream to a canyon and go up the creekbed until 200 feet from 06560, 13877 then go up to it and level off to get into the right fork. Then go up a slope to a stairway at 06480, 13798 el 5900 that leads to the top of the ridge then it's obvious up that to the rim at 06782, 13691 el 6400. Some old cans are there. It's a good pj forest on to the summit at 08704, 16134 that had nothing, not even a cairn. Along the way were more cans at 07668, 15526 then at 08016, 15588 is a survey marker dated 1930. That took 7 hours with 1000 strenuous gain. UPPER CANYON - to get to the end of the canyon from basecamp at the cottonwoods, walk either rim though the east one is shorter. Before the first fall, go left up a ridge with cairns at 07028, 15358 then bend right to 07064, 15434. Go up a little more to a shelf then level off to the top of the fall. The next fall has an obvious route around the left then it's a stroll to the main rim el 6317 where I stopped but later figured out that sheep herders must have had a route on up the rim.  Peak 6572 looked climbable. That's a 2 or 3 hour hike with 400 strenuous gain. It's best to do this over 3 days, 2 nights. I did it in 2 days and one night but had 10 hours of hiking one of the days. And going in late April reduces the chances of water issues. Every storm will leave behind thousands of potholes with water.  Posted May 18, 2024. UPDATE  - in 2025 I rode my 125 to the TH then hiked the route to the top of Middle Mtn and on to the spring on the topo just below 6400. It had a tiny flow under an overhang and a camera set up. A trail had been built down to it. A log fence is nearby. I went on up the rim to find the stock trail out of Blue Castle Canyon but only found cairns. I went down with 2 minor class 3 drops then walked the canyon back out.  I would prefer this loop clockwise. Take the route to the upper canyon then get on the last segment of the trail that I could find which is at 07548, 15684. That ends soon then go up to 07663, 15569 and angle up to the right to the first class 3 at 07656, 15538 then up to the rim at 07672, 15536 with a 4 foot step. Then down the other route at the 6400 line after side trips to the summit and or the spring. I put a track on peakbagger 2025. I did it in 10 and a half hours but way better to have a basecamp at the cottonwoods. Ebikes can make it to the TH.

Meadow Valley Mountains, Nevada

Indian trail heading toward Bunker BM

 

The Meadow Valley Road accesses the east side. It runs north from Moapa along RR tracks for 8 miles to a gravel plant where pavement ends. Cars can go on a couple miles then it turns to easy 4wd. The first RR crossing after the plant is the one to take to get on the west side because the second one is a low trestle. I was picking up a good Verizon signal along that first 3 or 4 miles beyond pavement. Posted 2024.

• BUNKER BENCHMARK el 4141 is the high point of the Bunker Hills. A good loop goes up the south canyon and down the east side on Indian trails. Take the Meadow Valley Road to the end of pavement then go another 5 miles to a fence at N36 51331, W114 40117. I could have drove a car all but the last 2 or 3 miles and ebiked it. Walk up canyon on the north edge and soon there is a fall. I went up a risky chute but it's safer to go up on the north bank to get around. Go on up and turn north at peak 2921. I had to go around the west side of the peak to dodge a fall. The reading is 51230, 44027. I went up that little canyon for 600 feet then took a trail on a tiny ridge to get into the main fork going north. Turn right at 52337, 44648 el 3200 to get south of the peak then go up a ridge at 52552, 44481 to get on the south ridge. I left my pack on the ridge then went up and came back down to the saddle north of peak 3742. I dropped down the drainage to the first little drop then went right to get on the ridge then down to the wash. At 52621, 43392 there is a faint trail on a smooth ridge. I went on down to 52685, 42951 where the trail vanished. I kept going down to 52634, 42598 then hit another trail at 52610, 42141. I walked it to 52593, 41605 then 52485, 41311 then at  52369, 40512 it goes down a ridge left of center to the road. A bike stashed there would have saved me a mile back to the start. Not counting the road walk, it took 6 hours, 8 minutes and 11.4 miles with 2300 gain but the first 1400 is easy washes. I put a track on peakbagger. The last bit of trail gets rocky. Posted 2024.
• FARRIER WASH INDIAN TRAIL -  this trail runs north of the wash and likely connects to Arrow Canyon. I walked it west from the Meadow Valley Rd then back along the wash. I took the Meadow Valley Rd to the end of pavement the went another 1.3 miles and parked just south of Farrier Wash. I rode my  Zizzo on north and soon there is a RR crossing but bikes can stay on the east side for another mile then pass under a low trestle and on to a wash at N36 49656, W114 39593. I walked a fifth mile up the wash and the trail is obvious going up the right bank. In a few feet it forks, I stayed left on to a wash crossing at 49543, 40903. It runs up a minor wash for .14 mile then goes up on the left bank. It stays low along the right side of hills to 49718, 41473 then enters a wash at 49792, 41729. I stayed in the wash then turned left up a gully at 49783, 41948. I went up it 300 feet then left to the rim then went right to the trail at 49793, 42105. It goes down to a wash then I went up that to the trail at 49662, 42780 then on to 49575, 43044 then to 49580, 43366 then it goes a third mile to the rim of Farrier. I dropped down to the wash but that's a boring OHV route. It's better to stay on the rim and walk it down to near peak 2132 then cut over the south bank at 47954, 40891. Then walk along the edge and soon a trail crosses then there is a small rock ring. Next, a hill is in the way so I veered right to a ridge at 48287, 40193 and it has a rock ring at the base. I walked the ridge staying on the right edge on to a point then left down a gully a gully to the tracks and my cycle. Another trail is running the base there. 4 hours, 9 or 10 miles, hardly an noticeable gain. I had a Verizon signal on the rim of Farrier. Posted 2024.
• MEADOW VALLEY MOUNTAINS high point el 5700 is informally known as Cathedral Peak. Take US 93 to mp LN 7.6. Turn onto the graded Kane Springs Rd and go nearly 11 miles to a short side road at N37 02984, W114 50170. You can see the entire route from there. Walk to a minor ridge at 02407, 49379 el 3250. Follow that as it swings left and goes all the way to the main canyon mouth. Go up canyon until walls close in at el 4600. Here it's best to use sheep trails up on the left bank. When those fizzle out you come back to the creekbed and it really goes parabolic. Aim for the main saddle at 01688, 47666 el 5200. Now go up the easy ridge to the summit block. A class 3 crack on the SW side at 01860, 47573 is the easiest route up. It's not dangerous. 5 hours and 6 minutes, 2800 gain. Plane wreckage is along the way. I found a pair of Craftsman locking pliers clamped on one piece. An RV pullout is along the graded road nearly a mile in from US 93. Posted 2015.
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