| Written by: | Jeff Bakke (Walking Eagle) | |
| Trail ran: | August, 2004 | |
| Vehicles in attendance: | Jeff Bakke's 1998 F-150 with 4" lift and 33" tires
Cory Morrison's Bronco with 3" body lift and 35" tires |
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| Location: | Nearest town is Highland Park, CO off of Hwy 285, approximately 25 miles southwest of the C-470 and Hwy 285 interchange. | |
| Difficulty | 8-9/10 for vehicles tested. Body damage and/or mechanical damage occured on trail run and could be expected again. |
This trail is not for a stock rig unless the driver has good driving skills, a spotter, or is not worried about body damage. Stock height vehicles might bang the undercarriage, specifically F-150's, F-250's, F-350, etc. This trail makes a loop, winding through the trees, making a couple of steep ascents and descents along the way. We did the loop in a counterclockwise direction which turned out that we did the hard parts first. Going counterclockwise, there is short uphill climb, once you reach the top, the trail makes a long steep descent. Once started down, it would be tough trying to backup the hill, because of gravity. We met a vehicle coming up, but we all managed to pull over far enough so everyone passed safely.
Once at the bottom of the hill, the trail flattens out. Through this section the vehicles will lean one way or the other. My recommendation is take it slow, because some trees along the edge of the trail come into play. There is a good possibility they could reach out and pull off a mirror or even smack the top of the cab. In the picture below my passenger side mirror had to be folded in to get by the tree. Also as I was following Cory, he bounced over a couple of rocks while his Bronco was leaning far to the passenger side. A tree missed by only inches from banging the top of his roof in the back.
After the flat section, the trail makes a sharp left turn and goes up a steep hill. There are couple of lines up this section, with easy being in the middle. To the left there are big boulders and ledges to climb. Once over the top, the trail comes to a T-intersection. Going right takes you to a couple of mud pits, but I've heard the Forest Service is thinking about closing them, because more and more people are tearing up larger sections of land. If for some reason you decide to go in, be prepared to have somebody pull you out, especially in Springtime when there is a lot of water and mud. At the T-intersection, go left to head back out to the trailhead and the highway.
Overall, there are not many boulders to contend with. The challenge comes from the two steep hills and the undulations which test the suspension. Either way you go, clockwise or counterclockwise, you will have to go up one hill and down one hill. The section where the trail undulates really had me thinking I might tip over to the side against a tree in couple of sections, but Cory spotted me through those sections and passed a couple of trees with inches to spare. Also through the undulations, I did bottom out in the F-150 a couple of times dragging my steps across a couple of rocks. When the trip was done, the only damage was a destroyed gear box on the Bronco and a concussion to the driver of the F-150.