Before venturing out into the forest and backcountry be sure that you are familiar with current weather conditions and forest regulations.  Each visitor should study the information on the trailhead bulletin board and/or go into the Forest Service office at 680 Blue River Parkway in Silverthorne to obtain the latest copy of the RECREATION OPPORTUNITY GUIDE (ROG) before heading out on any particular trail. 

TIPS FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS:

Always wear a helmet and control your bike at all times.  Downhill riders must yield to uphill riders.  Slow down and use caution when approaching or overtaking another rider.  Always control speed, unexpected obstacles may appear suddenly.  Ride on marked trails only; treat the land with care and respect.  Avoid damaging the fragile alpine environment and trails, especially when raining or wet.  Always be prepared for sudden afternoon thunder or snowstorms with adequate rain gear, warm clothing and plenty of food and water.  Be careful not to accidentally leave any litter along the way, including cigarette butts.  Always be careful with fire - a camp stove is the preferred method for cooking in the backcountry.  REMEMBER - NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED IN WILDERNESS AREAS!  The best way you can help the land survive is to challenge yourself to make the least possible impact on the land.  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON LEAVE NO TRACE.

If you see a particular MOUNTAIN BIKING trail that interests you, click on the trail name and you will be taken the ROG sheet for that trail.  The trail links contain the same Recreation Opportunity Guide (ROG) sheets that you can get at the Dillon Ranger District office.  The front side of the ROG sheet contains route information such as: route difficulty, length, directions on how to get to the trailhead, interesting information on the route and any important information that route users might need to know.  The back side of the ROG sheet contains a custom topographic map highlighting the OHV route along with an elevation profile.

RETURN TO RECREATION HOMEPAGE

MORE DIFFICULT TRAILS

21.  CHIHUAHUA LAKE FDT 78 - THIS TRAIL IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE HIKING AND MTN. BIKING.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  The trail begins at an elevation of 10,477 feet and ends at an elevation of 11,900 feet, with a highest elevation of 11,900 feet.  The elevation gain is +1,423 feet.  The Chihuahua Gulch Road begins at the intersection with Peru Creek Road.  The Peru Creek drainage is rich in mining history with numerous underground mine shafts, so be careful where you walk.  Historic relics are most meaningful in their natural settings.  Please leave items where they lay so others may enjoy them.  Most of the mines are privately owned.  Please respect all private property.  An abundance of wildflowers can be seen on this hike from mid-late July.  The old OHV road continually climbs upward until it crosses a stream, where it levels off and then passes several beaver ponds.  Approximately 1.97 miles from the trailhead you will come to an old buck and rail fence.  The trail takes off to the left from the road.  The trail continues up a wide valley until it reaches the top of the hill and Chihuahua Lake will be visible to your left.  Because this trail travels above timberline, you should begin your hike early in the morning because of the ever changing mountain weather.  There is always a strong chance of afternoon thundershowers accompanied by LIGHTNING.  The trail difficulty is rated MORE DIFFICULT.  For directions and a topographic map please see the ROG sheet.  Photos of this trail may be viewed by clicking HERE.

22.  CRYSTAL CREEK ROAD FDR 803 - STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS AND TRAILS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  THIS ROAD IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE MTN. BIKING, HIKING AND OHV USE.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  The road begins at an elevation of 9,872 feet and ends at an elevation of 11,996 feet, with a highest elevation of 11,996 feet.  The elevation gain is +2,124 feet.  Crystal Creek Road will take you through numerous alpine meadows filled with wildflowers.  These meadows are filled by the tributaries of Crystal Creek.  The road rises onto a shelf with Lower Crystal Lake nestled against the mountain walls.  A cabin at the lake offers some shelter from the wind.  Directly west of the cabin is Peak 10 at the Breckenridge Ski Area.  The OHV road ends here and a hiking trail continues up toward Upper Crystal Lake.  The route difficulty is rated MORE DIFFICULT.  For directions and a topographic map please see the ROG sheet.  Photos of this route may be viewed by clicking HERE.

23. GEORGIA PASS ROAD FDR 355 - STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS AND TRAILS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  THIS ROAD IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE MTN. BIKING, HIKING AND OHV USE.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  The road begins at an elevation of 9,840 feet and ends at an elevation of 11,596 feet, with a highest elevation of 11,631 feet.  The elevation gain is +1,756 feet.  Soon after the start, the route passes the town site of Parkville, the main mining camp in Summit County during the gold rush of the 1860s.  All that remains now of the once bustling town is the cemetery, which can be accessed via a short hike.  From Parkville to the summit, stay on the main road because a number of the intersecting roads are dead-ends.  The road is narrow in places and sight is limited, so beware of other users!  The route summit is an open, grassy saddle with spectacular view of Mt. Guyot to the west.  The road continues over Georgia Pass on a gravel road into Park County and down to the Michigan Creek Campground in the South Park Ranger District of the Pike National Forest.  The route difficulty is rated MORE DIFFICULT.  For directions and a topographic map please see the ROG sheet.

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24.  LENAWEE FDT 34 - STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS AND TRAILS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  THIS TRAIL IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE MTN. BIKING AND HIKING.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  The trail begins at an elevation of 10,373 feet and ends at an elevation of 12,159 feet, with a highest elevation of 12,437 feet.  The elevation gain is +1,786 feet.  The Peru Creek drainage is rich in mining history with numerous underground mine shafts, so be careful where you walk.  Historic relics are most meaningful in their natural settings.  Please leave items where they lay so others may enjoy them.  Most of the mines are privately owned.  Please respect all private property.  An abundance of wildflowers can be seen on this hike from mid-late July.  The trail traverses up to tree line through lodgepole pine and fir trees with an elevation gain of +1,890 feet in the first 2 miles from the trailhead.  After reaching the tundra, the trail becomes less evident and the hiker must pay close attention to the rock cairns marking the trail.  The Jumbo Mine may be viewed from the trail, as well as spectacular views of Dillon Reservoir and the mountains of the Continental Divide.  There is NO water on this hike so please bring plenty of water with you!  Because this trail travels above timberline, you should begin your hike early in the morning because of the ever changing mountain weather.  There is always a strong chance of afternoon thundershowers accompanied by LIGHTNING.  The trail difficulty is rated MORE DIFFICULT.  For directions and a topographic map please see the ROG sheet.

25.  WHEELER NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL FDT 39 - STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS AND TRAILS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  THIS TRAIL IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE MTN. BIKING AND HIKING.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  The trail difficulty is rated MORE DIFFICULT.  For directions and a topographic map please see the ROG sheet.

RETURN TO MAIN MOUNTAIN BIKING PAGE