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 OHV USERS:

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.  Avoid running over young trees, shrubs and grasses.  Stay off soft, wet roads and trails - they can easily be torn up by vehicles (especially during the hunting season).  Repairing the damage is expensive and time consuming, requiring the access to be closed.  Resist the urge to pioneer a new road, trail or cut across a switchback.  Obey gate closures and regulatory signs.  Vandalism costs tax dollars.  A spark arrestor must be on the vehicle along with a working muffler.  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 TREAD LIGHTLY.

If you see a particular OHV trail the 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 ROUTES

14.  CHIHUAHUA GULCH ROAD FDR 263 - THIS ROAD IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE OHV USE, HIKING AND MTN. BIKING.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  The road 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.  THIS IS THE END OF THE MOTORIZED PORTION OF CHIHUAHUA GULCH ROAD.  The hiking 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 route 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.

15.  CRYSTAL CREEK ROAD FDR 803 - THIS ROAD IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE OHV USE, HIKING AND MTN. BIKING.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  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.

16.  GEORGIA PASS ROAD FDR 355 - THIS ROAD IS USED FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE OHV USE, HIKING AND MTN. BIKING.  PLEASE RESPECT OTHER USERS.  STAY ON DESIGNATED ROADS TO PREVENT RESOURCE DAMAGE.  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.

RETURN TO MAIN OHV PAGE