Hadley Gulch

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 6267 - 9508 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 6 hrs.
Trailhead: Hadley Gulch
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike

The Hadley Gulch trail is located in the Clinetops area of the White River National Forest near Rifle, Colorado. The trail begins off of the Main Elk Creek Road where it climbs steeply up Hadley Gulch to the Clinetop Cow Camp. From there a forest road can be followed for just under a mile to reconnect with the Main Elk Creek Road. The Hadley Gulch trail also provides fishing access to Deep Creek and several rock climbing walls that are located in the mouth of the gulch.

Cherry Creek

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 9.5 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 6988 - 9016 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 4 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Cherry Creek
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike, deer

The Cherry Creek trail is located in the Flat Tops area of White River National Forest near Rifle, Colorado. The lower end of the trail begins off of the New Castle/Buford Road where it climbs along Cherry Creek. After several miles the trail splits with the right fork continuing along the creek and the left fork continuing to climb until it reaches another junction with the New Castle Buford Road. There are actually 4 segments of the Cherry Creek trail that all have a trailhead and interconnect in some way. The mid section of the trail and the upper end are both connected to by the Mansfield Ditch trail.

Beaver Creek

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 8.2 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 8585 - 9941 feet
Cellphone: 0-2 bars
Time: 5 hrs.
Trailhead: Beaver Creek
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike

The Beaver Creek trial is located in the White River National Forest just south of Rifle, Colorado. The trail begins off of the Beaver Creek Road, Forest Service Road 824, where after crossing Beaver Creek it climbs through a forest of aspens to a ridge. After following the ridge for a short distance the trail wraps around the mountain and continues climbing the Beaver Creek drainage while overlooking the Teepee Park area. Shortly after being connected to by a spur trail that leads to Brush Creek the Beaver Creek trail meets up with the Cache Creek trail and comes to an end.

Battlement Reservoirs

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 8.3 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Skill level:
Elevation: 8395 - 10,344 feet
Cellphone: 0-3 bars
Time: 4 hrs.
Trailhead: Battlement
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike, fishing, deer, turkeys

The Battlement Reservoirs are located in the White River National Forest south of Parachute, Colorado. Access to the chain of seven reservoirs is made by either the Lava Creek trail or the Battlement Road FR#847. This post follows the Battlement Road but don't let the name fool you, it is a very rough route and even though it is open to 4-wheel drive vehicles it is recommended that only expert drivers attempt it. Steep scree covered grades reaching 40% with mud bogs and sections of basalt (lava rocks) make for a strenuous outing no matter which means of conveyance you choose. That said, the peaceful ambiance of the pine and aspen forest with all the wildlife that make it their home seems to be more than ample compensation for the required effort.