Big Rock Creek  |
Maps/GPS: |
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USGS 7.5' Map: |
Lynx Pass, Gore Pass, Tyler Mountain |
Statistics: |
Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
Easy 1 |
FR 250 |
11.05 |
8,868 to 10,055 ft. |
NA |
1-2 hours |
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County: |
Grand |
Adopted by: |
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Managed by: |
Routt National Forest, Yampa Ranger District |
300 Roselawn Ave, Yampa, Colorado 80483 |
(970)638-4516 |
Summary: |
Big Rock Creek is an easy road through the forest north of Gore Pass. |
Attractions: |
Camping |
Seasonal Closure: |
Natural - Closed by heavy snows.
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Best Time: |
June - Best
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible
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Trail Heads Accessed: |
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Camping: |
There are a lot of dispersed campsites along the road. |
Base Camp: |
This area would be a good place to base camp and explore the roads around Gore Pass. |
Fall Colors: |
Poor - Mainly pine forests. |
Navigation: |
Start at the south end
From Toponas CO head southeast on CO-131 S toward CO-134 E and go 0.4 miles. Slight left onto CO-134 E and go 11.6 miles. Turn left onto FR250, the Big Rock Creek road.
From Kremmling, CO. head west west on US-40 W/Park Ave toward 5th Street and continue to follow US-40 W for 6.2 miles. Turn left onto CO-134 W and go 15.3 miles. Turn right onto FR250, the Big Rock Creek road.
Start at the north end
From Kremmling, CO head west on US-40 W/Park Ave toward 5th Street and continue to follow US-40 W for 6.2 miles. Turn left onto CO-134 W and go 4.1 miles. Turn right onto County Hwy 19 and go 3.2 miles. Continue onto County Road 185 and go 0.6 miles. Turn right onto County Hwy 19/Forest Road 100 and go 2.7 miles. Turn left onto FR250, the Big Rock Creek road.
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History: |
Sir Robert Gore first traveled the Indian trail over Gore Pass on a hunting expedition in 1855. For many years thereafter, Gore Pass was the only route west from Kremmling into the isolated Egeria Park, Yampa, Oak Creek, Steamboat Springs, and Hayden area. By the late 1860s, the Gore Pass Trail was a firmly established, well-traveled wagon route that served as the major route into the region until the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad reached Wolcott in 1887, after which a Steamboat-Wolcott stage and freighting service was established.
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Description: |
Starting from the south end, Big Rock Creek road is a graded gravel road just off of Hwy 134 west of Gore Pass. As you leave pavement there will be a small parking area and a spur road off to the left that only goes a few hundred feet. The main road will curve to the west running along an open area headed to the creek. You will make a turn to the north and head up the gulch of Rock Creek.
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South end of the road
photo by: Adam M |
Just as you enter the gulch you will pass a campsite on the left. Further up the gulch there will be another campsite on the right. The road will curve left with the creek and you will pass three more campsites on the left side of the road before the gulch narrows up even more. After making a few turns you will pass another campsite on the left as the gulch widens. The road will curve to the left and Teepee Creek will be a small gulch that comes into Rock Creek from the west here. The road will now head away from the creek valley and climb up into the forest.
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Climbing above the creek
photo by: Adam M |
After crossing a small hill the road will drop down and follow along Gore Creek where you will pass a campsite on the right. The road will climb above Gore Creek as it follows it to the north. After making a curve to the east you will come to an intersection. The road to the right is the Gore Creek, FR243, road. Stay left to continue on FR250. You will pass a campsite on the right and then come to another small intersection in an open area. The road to the left only goes a short distance to a gate. Below the gate under some high power lines is another potential campsite. Stay to the right and you will pass under the power lines and come out into a large open valley where Farnham Creek runs.
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Open area along Farnham Creek
photo by: Adam M |
After following the wide valley of Farnham Creek you will come to a spur road on the left that goes to a campsite. Further along you will come to another spur road on the left that goes down near the creek to a campsite. The road will head up into the forest going east and then it will make a left curve crossing Farnham Creek and passing another spur road on the left that goes down to another campsite. The road will climb up into the forest again and continue up toward the top of a ridge. You will pass through some open areas, that have probably been thinned in the past, and then pass a closed road on the left before passing another campsite on the right. After a bit more climbing you will make a hairpin turn to the right and pass another campsite. This is the highpoint along the road with views of the low rolling hills. From here you will head back down toward Rock Creek again. The road will come out into an open valley and cross Rock Creek. You will pass an intersection with a road on the left that is gated. Before the gate is a spur that goes to a campsite in the trees. Stay to the right and continue across the open area.
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Running along Rock Creek
photo by: Adam M |
The road will leave the valley and head into the forest passing another campsite on the right. Along this section of the road the forest has been cleared back from the road.
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North end of the road
photo by: Adam M |
The road will continue through the forest passing along the side of another large meadow before going back into the trees and passing a campsite on the right. The road will head down hill making a hairpin turn to the right before connecting with the Red Dirt Road, FR100. Taking a right here will head down to Hwy 134 and on to Kremmling.
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Data updated - December 15, 2022
4WD Road driven - September 6, 2022
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