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Between Kenosha Pass and the Lost Park Campground is 23.6 miles of the Colorado Trail. This portion of the trail is one of the most level and newest portions of the Colorado Trail System. The Colorado Trail (CT) parallels the Lost Park Road and has four trailheads where troops can enter or exit. A troop can use this segment of the CT for a four-day backpacking trip. There are plenty of water sources and campsites along the trail. A shuttle vehicle roads to be located at your planned exit location. How to get there: The description provided starts at Lost Park Campground and goes to Kenosha Pass. Take US 285 over Kenosha Pass and 3.2 miles further west. Turn left (south) at the Lost Park Road (CR56). Drive 19.1 miles south to Lost Park Campground and the end of CR56. A parking area for 12-15 cars is available for hikers and backpackers as you enter the campground. Hike north past the restroom facilities, down the hill, across the loop gravel road to the bulletin board and fence gate. Note 1: Any combination of trailheads can be used for the starting or stopping point. Of course, staging the shuttle vehicles would be of help in supporting your exit home. Note 2: Be sure to read the rules about group size and campsite locations as related to distances from lakes, streams, and trails. o Lost Park to FSR817 - There are two gates to pass through that keep cattle out of the Lost Park Campground; be sure to put the gates as you found them. Follow the Brookside McCurdy Trail (FS607) is up a gradual incline. The valley widens gradually as you walk along the edge of the forest. At about 1.5 miles a circular “island” appears on your right that’s about 400 feet in diameter and 50 feet higher than the surrounding area. There are nice sized trees on this elevated land mass plus a nice campsite noted on the map as campsite 6. A stream with good water is located on the east side of this “island\". This site makes a nice destination for a short overnight backpack trip. Continuing on the trail (FS607) you will pass the remains of an old sawmill. Look around, there are lots of parts and pieces; there are flat areas where buildings once stood, a wood slag pile and an old foundation. Just north of where FS607 and the Colorado Trail (FS1776) intersects there will be a nice camping area on the west side (noted on the map as campsite 7). Four wheel drive vehicles can drive to this campsite over the old lumbermill road. A few hundred feet from this campsite you will cross, on a huge beam of lumber used for a bridge, over Craig Creek. An information sign and wilderness sign-in sheets are located at the trail intersection of FS607/FS1776. The CT goes both to the left and the right and is known as the Hooper Road. If you go right you will head uphill over a small pass, then downhill to FSR560 and Wellington Lake (8 miles distance). If you go left you will head for Kenosha Pass. This is the route described in this narration. From the trail intersection the sign informs you that FSR817 is 8 miles. This is your trail to Kenosha Pass. The CT continues in a wide open valley that’s about 1000 feet across and 7 miles in length. Thickets of willows grow along Craig Creek which flows down the center of this high mountain valley. Elevation gain and loss is minimal; it is almost flat for it’s entire length. There are a number of small feeder streams coming down from the Kenosha Mountains that provide good quality drinking water (be sure to treat). Several good campsites are located along the forested area on the northeast side of this valley. Where the Craig / Brookside McCurdy Trail intersects with the CT, there is a good campsite with water (noted on the map as campsite 8). The actual campsite is about 400 feet north of the trail intersection, on the northeast side of the CT. Several other nice campsites can be found as you continue to the upper end of the valley. The trail eventually enters the forest at the upper end of the valley. Stay on the trail that goes straight ahead into the trees. In a few hundred feet there will be fence with a gate, pass through. The CT will gradually turn southwest and go for some distance until a large number of switchbacks are encountered going downhill to the intersection with FSR817. 4-4 Water and campsites are available just a little downstream from where the CT crosses the stream, noted on the map as campsite 9. Fill your water bottle here, it will be a couple of miles before it is available again. Continuing north on the CT the trail gradually goes uphill and continues through aspen and pine forest. To the west you will get wonderful views of South Park and surrounding mountains. There are no decent campsites and no water until you intersect with Black Canyon Creek (about 2 miles from FSR817). This is one of the few good campsites along this portion of the trail, noted on the map as campsite 10. Firewood, water and a number of campsites are located where the CT crosses Black Canyon Creek. Segment Total - 9.6 miles Total from Start - 9.6 miles • FSR817 to Rock Creek Road (FSR133) - The further north that you go on this portion of the CT the more beautiful the scenery becomes. Between Black Canyon Creek and Rock Creek there are many rock outcroppings, the view towards South Park is great; the trail is newly constructed and in perfect condition. There are lots of open meadows with flowers, little groves of aspens and many deer and elk in the area from the large number of antler cuts on the aspen trees. There are three locations where small streams cross this section of the CT providing good drinking water. 4-5 You gradually descend into a valley with Rock Creek flowing through it. You will descend to the creek and as you do notice an old ranch building to the south. The water here in the creek is drinkable and deep enough for Scouts to jump in and have some fun. Also, decent campsites (upstream) are available here at the Rock Creek intersection (noted on the map as campsite 11). Cross the creek over to a vehicular road used when this was known as Rock Creek Cow Camp. To the north you will see an old building and corral. This is the Rock Creek Trail (FS606) which takes you over Kenosha Mountain Pass to the Ben Tyler Trail. To the south FSR133, Rock Creek Road, exits onto CR56 (Lost Creek Road). Segment Total - 7.7 miles Total from Start -17.3 miles • Rock Creek Road (FSR133) to Kenosha Pass - The CT continues south for a short time (.1 mile) on FSR133 and then turns to the north, off into a spruce forest for a short distance and continues to meander through several trail and road segments (watch for the CT signs). The final section of the CT to Kenosha Pass (6.3 miles) has only one stream where water is available, Johnson Gulch; be sure to fill up your water bottle. As the trail continues it will have marker posts placed in the ground with the CT decal attached. You will precede uphill for a ways, then the trail levels out the rest of the way to Kenosha Pass. The trail alternates between meadow and forested areas. Also, the views are the best on this part of the trail because you are higher and the west side of the trail drops off rapidly. This is a good place to have lunch, don’t forget to bring your lightweight binoculars. About a mile from the Kenosha Pass Trailhead you can hear the traffic on US 285 and know you are getting near. The forest is denser for the final mile. By the way, this is a mountain biking area, be on the lookout, cyclists come up on you quickly and don’t make much noise. Segment Total - 6.3 miles Total from Start - 23.6 miles How to get there (4 options) 1. Kenosha Pass Campground Trailhead — One mile east of Kenosha Pass on the north side of US 285 is Kenosha Pass Campground. You can park in the parking area at the entrance to the campgrounds or across US 285, turn south onto a dirt road across from the Kenosha Pass Summit sign. Follow this road across a meadow to the edge of an aspen grove where you will see a sign for the CT. Park here if you are going south, see map notation (P)1. For options 2, 3 and 4 - Take US 285 over Kenosha Pass and 3.2 miles further west. Turn left (south) at the Lost Park Road (CR56). 2. Lost Park Trailhead— Drive 19.1 miles to the Lost Park Campground which is the end of the road (P)5. An unmarked trail starts at the campground and goes north for 1.7 miles where it connects with the CT. 4-6 3. FS817 Trailhead — Drive 11 miles south on Lost Park Road (CR56) to FSR817. This is an obscure jeep road which turns left off CR56 and goes only .2 mile. Park at (P)3 and hike the rest of the way up this road until the CT crosses at a right angle to the road. 4. Rock Creek Trailhead— Drive 7.5 miles south on Lost Park Road (CR56) to the Ben Tyler / Rock Creek Trailhead. Turn left on FSR133, go 1.3 miles until the road crosses the CT, park at (P)2. This is a rough road and a high centered vehicle is recommended. 4-4 T
Created on: 2024-09-07 16:25:44
Last edited by: rhall290472 On: 2024-09-22 11:55:26