Colorado trip in the making.

If your talking about the trail on the south side of Battlement Mesa: east of the RV Park (head up the moutian, it is the one that switch backs up the moutain), I did it about 10 years ago in a stock Suzuki Sammi. The wife and I only went a few miles, nothing hard and takes you by some old wood shacks that are over 100 years old, beutiful views. We turned back when we ran into a pissed off bull and it kept trying to charge at the Sammi. There are several trails from the town, I'm not sure if they all join latter. There is one that is on the south side that heads straight up the hill, i think it follows the power lines if memory serves me correct, it is filled with boulders and proved too much for my stock Sammi, but would be fun in a modified xj. The dirt road next to the RV Park heading west only takes you to the next town, it is boring. On the nort side of I-70 in Parachute there is some more trails that i think are more challenging, I never got over there to check though. Have fun.
 
Got to reserect this post...

I'm looking for some info on campgrounds around the Holy Cross area and also the Mt Blanca area. Also if anyone has a favorite place to say in the Silverton-Teluride-Ouray triangle that info would be good too. Thanks guys.
 
DrMoab said:
Got to reserect this post...

I'm looking for some info on campgrounds around the Holy Cross area and also the Mt Blanca area. Also if anyone has a favorite place to say in the Silverton-Teluride-Ouray triangle that info would be good too. Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Chalk Creek Campground/RV Park is probably the best place to stay if you're looking for a full service CG. We've been using it for our Buena Vista based Colorado Fests for the past few years. Great hosts that work there and top notch shower/bathroom facilities. Pretty reasonable rates too.

Definitely located in between Holy Cross and Mt. Blanca.

And, if you're there a few days, we could get a group together and run either of those trails, or do Old Chinaman's Gulch in B.V.

http://www.chalkcreek-campground.com/
 
Thanks for the replies.

Troy...Unfotunatly in order to get everything in on this trip its going to be a mad dash every day.

However...if anyone is interested in guiding us on any of these trails I would be more then happy to listen.

Right now our plans are to hit Battlement Mesa on Saturday the 23rd of July, camp somewhere between there and Holy Cross. Do Holy Cross on the 24th and then blast South to either hit Mt Blanca or trails around Buena Vista on Monday.

Is Mt Blanca a trail doable in a day?
 
IntrepidXJ said:
After running Battlement Mesa, I would suggest making the drive to the trail head for Holy Cross that day and camping there. There's plenty of places to campright near the trailhead. Then you can get an early start on Holy Cross the next day :)
Click to expand...
Im camping with a group that insists on having flushing toilets. Also I will have my camper so I need somewhere easy to get in. Internet searches didn't pull any campgrounds too close to Red Cliff or surrounding towns but that is my plan...to get as close to the trailhead as I can get.
 
DrMoab said:
Im camping with a group that insists on having flushing toilets. Also I will have my camper so I need somewhere easy to get in. Internet searches didn't pull any campgrounds too close to Red Cliff or surrounding towns but that is my plan...to get as close to the trailhead as I can get.
Click to expand...

well, there are no flushing toilets, but there are a number of campsites on the road that leads to the Holy Cross trailhead that your camper/trailer would have no problems with.

if I end up joining you for these days, this is where I will be staying
 
DrMoab said:
Thanks for the replies.

Troy...Unfotunatly in order to get everything in on this trip its going to be a mad dash every day.

However...if anyone is interested in guiding us on any of these trails I would be more then happy to listen.

Right now our plans are to hit Battlement Mesa on Saturday the 23rd of July, camp somewhere between there and Holy Cross. Do Holy Cross on the 24th and then blast South to either hit Mt Blanca or trails around Buena Vista on Monday.

Is Mt Blanca a trail doable in a day?
Click to expand...

Doc,

Blanca depends on the size of your group, and experience. Figure on a full day for that trail with the scenery, especially at Lake Como. The trail is not diff. for a built rig, but can be a pain for the less built. Def. a must do if your gonna be in that area. As for camping, we always just dry camp at the base of the trail, there is alot of open space.
 
jrsxj98 said:
Doc,

Blanca depends on the size of your group, and experience. Figure on a full day for that trail with the scenery, especially at Lake Como. The trail is not diff. for a built rig, but can be a pain for the less built. Def. a must do if your gonna be in that area. As for camping, we always just dry camp at the base of the trail, there is alot of open space.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Our group is small, 4 rigs and all of us are experienced with Fully built jeeps. The smallest of us is running 33 inch tires but we are all locked front and rear.

I think we are going to camp that night at the Great Sands campground. The problem as I said before is a few women in this group are demanding toilets...or at least bathrooms.
 
I go to Sand Dunes all the time w/ my wife. Just got a XJ that I am building up but I have been backpacking all around there. Here is the website for the campgrounds at Sand Dune NP if you haven't already found it:

http://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

A cool run I plan on doing this summer for a few days is hit the Blanca trail and spend a day up there hiking to the top, come down and hit Medano Pass which starts in Sand Dune NP then crosses over the San Juan's and camp up in there somewhere. Then take back roads to South Colony Lake and head up into the Crestones for a few days from there.

Thats running south to north, the opposite of what your are trying to do, but obviously you can reverse that plan. Sucks you need running toilets the whole way.

If you need it, I can email you a pretty detailed topography map of the areas. The San Juans are my favorite area of Colorado, not crowded with tourists because everything really fantastic up there you either have to walk to or drive a XJ.
 
I've been to the Silverton, Ouray area several times. Out of Silverton is a cabin that is great. Stormking (http://www.gimi.com/storm-king/index.cfm) It has gone up some since I was there but it is 20 minutes from Silverton & 5 minutes from the Alpine Loop. I like the trails to Yankee Boy Basin, Governors Basin, and Imogene better than Engineer. I've done these in stock YJ and a couple of stock Grands. Have fun.
 
Picture016.jpg
is another GREAT one with some FANTASTIC views of the Red Mountains.



Picture019.jpg


But i guess it dont really beat Imogene.
Picture71.jpg



where you can look DOWN at the Red Mountains
(11 and 12,000 ft "hills" )

Picture83.jpg
 
OK, so plans might change a little.

This trip is mainly for two things. First is to see and drive the trails of the San Juan Mtns.

The second is to take my boy on the train in Durango.

With gas prices going through the roof we are kind of thinking about base camping in the San Juans and cutting out the eastern trails. Figured it would be much cheaper to park the truck and camper and just use the Jeep to cruise around the Mtns.

Also Vince and Rachel might have a pretty much stock brand new JK that Im not sure they would want to beat up on the harder stuff.

In your alls opinion, is there enough to do in that area to keep us busy for nine days?
 
Yes.... There is PLENTY to do in the San Juans. 9 days WONT be enough time. At least for me it aint.
The train out of Durango is AWSOME!!! What a ride!!! You will not regret the price.
Dont worry too much about beating up the JK, aint a lot of "hard stuff" in the San Juans, just stay off of Poughkeepsie Gulch trail.
Everything else can be done in a stock Jeep. Some spots ya just need to watch your ground clearance.

Ever been to the San Juans?
What trails ya plan on running?
The longest trails (loops) can be done in a day.
Alpine loop to Lake City and back.... if ya dont get an early start plan on camping on the trail.
Another great "loop" would be from hwy 550 over Black Bear Pass and then back to Ouray over the top of Imogene. (all day)
Are ya scared of heights? How about shelf roads just wide enough for one?
Make sure ya get to the top of Yankee Boy and Governor Basin's.
ylsuper.gif
 
I've been to the San Juans. In fact I have ridden the train several times.

My son just turned 5 though and he is a train freak. This ride is mostly for him.

I have never been off the highway in that part of the state but have driven through it quite a few times.

I guess when I say stock JK I should mention it's a Rubicon with 32 inch tires. Don't know if that makes a difference or not.

Heights and Shelf roads are not a problem.
 
went back over the thread.... forgot you have rode the train before. oops

Try this link for some trail idea's........

http://narrowgauge.org/4x4/html/4X4.html

Just "click" trail for some info, pics. and topo maps.

As for the JK....
Should be no problem.
All the trails I have done up there, I did in a stock XJ with 30's.
Here are some.....
Owl Creek Pass (mainly a dirt road from hwy 550 to Cimarron on hwy 50)
Yankee Boy
Governor Basin
Imogene
Black Bear
Ophir Pass
1/2 way up to Clear Lake.(was blocked by snow)
Engineer Pass
Cinnamon Pass
Placer and Picayne Gulch's
Corkscrew
California Gulch
Arrastra Gulch
Alta Lakes
 
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