Freedom - Independence Network  Extreme icon
Maps:      
USGS 7.5' Map: Phantom Canyon, Florence
Statistics:
Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time:
Extreme 10 6102B 0.1 6000 ft. Rocks - 2 1-2 hours
County: Fremont
Adopted by: Colorado Rock Hoppers 3405 N. Jon Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 359-1489
Managed by: Canon City District, BLM
Royal Gorge Field Office
3170 East Main St.
Canon City, CO 81212
(719)269-8500
Summary: Freedom is a short exit road from the middle of the Patriot 4WD road whcih is part of the Independence Network. Freedom is for modified vehicles and skilled drivers. Minimum extraction fee is $350.
Attractions: Extreme rock crawling. Large obstacles, ledges, boulders and steep inclines.
Seasonal
Closure:
NA
Best Time: January - April - Nice days during late winter and early spring, cool temperatures.
May - September - Busier time. Hottest temperatures.
October - December - Nice days, if there is little to no snow.
Summer
Activities:
Hiking -
Hiking is allowed in the Penrose OHV area.
Equestrian -
Equestrian use is allowed in the Penrose OHV area.
Mountain Bike -
Mountain Biking is allowed in the Penrose OHV area. No resource impact is allowed. Please stay on established trails.
ATV -
ATV'ing is allowed in the Penrose OHV area. No resource impact is allowed. Please stay on established trails.
Motorcycle -
Motorcycling is allowed in the Penrose OHV area. No resource impact is allowed. Please stay on established trails.
Camping: Camping along the rim above the 4WD road network is allowed. Some fire rings are available.
Base Camp: The extreme 4WD roads of the Independence Network are the main attraction. Base Camping in the area also provides access to Phantom Canyon and Four Mile Canyon Scenic Byways.
Fall Colors: Poor - Patriot is located in a shrub juniper forest.
Winter
Activities:
Snowshoeing -
Unknown
Cross Country Skiing-
Unknown
Snowmobile -
Unknown
Navigation: Freedom 4WD Road is in the Penrose OHV Area located northwest of Penrose, Colorado. Take Highway 115 from Colorado Springs, or US 50 from Pueblo to Penrose. Heading north out of Penrose on Highway 115, take Fremont County 123 west. Turn north on Fremont County 127, the second right. Follow Fremont County 127 past the Brush Hollow turn off until you enter the juniper forest on a low hill. Look for the Independence 4WD Road Network sign.
History: The Independence Extreme 4WD Road Network was developed through the joint efforts of the Colorado Rock Hoppers 4WD Club, and other member clubs of the Colorado Association of 4WD Clubs, and the Royal Gorge Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management in 1998.

The Penrose OHV system is in a BLM Open OHV Area within the Penrose Chaining Area. The Penrose Chaining area is still uses for grazing. A Chaining Area is a section of land that is managed for grazing. To help promote the growth of grasses for forage, large tractors are driven over the land with a heavy chain connected between them. The chain uproots juniper trees and other shrubs promoting the growth of grasses.
Description:
Freedom is a short climb to the rim of Brush Hollow Creek gulch from the lower part of the Patriot Extreme 4WD road. This short exit road will take you back to the start of the Patriot road without doing the lower sharp dropoffs and large boulders that must be driven to reach the bottom of the gulch.

Though and exit route Freedom has considerable steps to climb to reach the rim of the gulch.
Data updated: December 11, 2013       4WD Road Reviewed: April 28, 2001       Copyright 4X4Explore - 2000-2014