Castle Gulch Ridge
 |
| Maps: |
|
| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Boulder |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Moderate 5 |
FR287B |
2 |
7100 ft. |
Ledge road |
1-2 hours |
|
| County: |
Boulder |
| Adopted by: |
Trailridge
Runners 4WD Club |
P.O. Box 1716, Longmont, CO 80502 |
|
| Managed by: |
Roosevelt National Forest,
Boulder
Ranger District |
2140 Yarmouth Ave.
Boulder, CO 80301 |
303-541-2500 |
| Summary: |
Castle Gulch Ridge is a narrow ledge
road connecting Lefthand Main, FR286, with Castle Gulch, FR287. |
| Attractions: |
Narrow Ledge Road |
Seasonal
Closure: |
Natural - closed by heavy snows. |
| Best Time: |
MaY - Best
June - Best
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Best, unless early snows |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
Wiltz's Trail FT843 (motorcycle,
less than 50 in.)
Wiltz's Trail Spur FT843A (motorcycle, less than 50 in.) |
| Camping: |
No dispersed
camp sites exist along Castle Gulch Ridge 4WD road. |
| Base Camp: |
Not a good area to base camp. |
| Fall Colors: |
Poor - no Aspens in the area. |
| Navigation: |
From Boulder
take Hwy 36 north to Altona. Head west on County Road 94 for about 4
miles. You will pass Buckingham Park where Old Stage Road ties in with
County Road 94. Continue west on County Road 94 to the Lefthand Canyon
OHV network parking lot. Take Lefthand Canyon Main 4WD road about 1
mile to 5 Points where there is an information kiosk. Continue on
Lefthand Canyon Main to just before the "Squeeze" obstacle. Directly
behind you is a road that heads southeast above Lefthand Canyon Main.
This is Castle Gulch Ridge.
|
| History: |
Castle Gulch Ridge was part of the
mine road network in Lefthand Canyon. It passes a closed mine on its
way down to Castle Gulch from the eastern ridge.
|
| Description: |
Note: The following description is for the Castle Gulch Ridge 4WD road before the 2013 Flood. This 4WD road had minimal damage due to the flood. Presently the whole Lefthand Canyon OHV Network, including Castle Gulch, is in the process of a new Forest Service Area Plan Analysis, to begin in 2016.
Castle Gulch Ridge is a narrow ledge
road for most of its length on the eastern end. It crosses a small
saddle and heads down to the bottom of Castle Gulch passing a few old
mines. The road will "T" into the Castle Gulch 4WD road at its western
terminus. From here you must go up Castle Gulch and tie back into
Lefthand Canyon Main for back track to Lefthand Canyon Main as there is now public
access to Boulder County 94.
|
|
Data updated April 22, 2015
4WD Road driven May 7, 2010
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