McFerran
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| Maps: |
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| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Fairplay West |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Easy 2 |
FR 178 |
3.00 |
10,100 to 10,400 ft. |
NA |
1 hour |
|
| County: |
Park |
| Adopted by: |
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| Managed by: |
Pike Nat. Forest,
South Park Ranger District
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320 Hwy 285, P.O. Box 219
Fairplay, CO 80440 |
(719)836-2031
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| Summary: |
McFerran is a connector road between the Fourmile Creek area and the start of Browns Pass. |
| Attractions: |
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Seasonal
Closure |
Natural - Closed by heavy snow |
| Best Time: |
June - Early, may still be snowed in
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows may close road |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
FT 660 - Motorcyle only
FT 689 - Motorcycle only
|
| Camping: |
There are a few sites along the road, but most are at the west end near the Four Mile Creek road. |
| Base Camp: |
This would be a good area to base camp and explore the old mines on Mount Sheridan. |
| Fall Colors: |
Poor - mostly pine forest |
| Navigation: |
From Fairplay, CO. head southeast on Main Street toward 5th Street for 0.5 miles.
Turn right onto CO-9 S/US-285 S and go 1.3 miles. Turn right onto 4 Mile Creek Rd and go 6.1 miles. There will be a dirt road to the left that crosses 4 Mile Creek. This is the McFerran 4WD road. |
| History: |
The 4WD road may get its name from J.H.B. McFerran who in May of 1879 filed a plat for East Leadville to be build in Horseshoe Gulch. There is confusion as to the possible location of East Leadville. Some believe it is along Fourmile Creek while others belive it was up on the ridge above Fourmile Creek below Mount Sheridan where the town of Eureka was located.
McFerran was the supervisor, or owner, of the Last Chance Mine on Mount Sheridan. He also owned a smelter in Fourmile Gulch. McFerran's smelter was the South Park Smelting and Reduction Works and it was listed in the 1879 business directory at Eureka.
Jessen, Kenneth Ghost Towns Colorado Style, Volumn 1, 1st ed. Loveland, Colorado: J.V. Publications, 1998. Print.
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| Description: |
The McFerran 4WD road has been closed in the Sheep Mountain Travel plan signed in March of 2020. The decision converted the north and south ends of the road to a motorcycle trail, and decommissioned the middle section, connecting the north and south ends to FT 660. The southern end is planned to have a 15 to 20 vehicle staging area created. The following description is from when the road was open.
The McFerran 4WD road connects the Fourmile Creek area with the east side of Browns Pass. From the Four Mile Creek Road you take a side road to the southwest pass by a few campsites before crossing Fourmile Creek. Once on the other side you will come to an intersection the right will go to a campsite, the left continues southeast following along the edge of the ridge along Fourmile Creek.
There will be some small mud holes along the way, but nothing major. After a mile the road will begin to climb up onto the ridge you have been following. It will wind through the trees passing a few small openings. The road is just a two track through the trees with no real obstacles. It does get narrow in a few places. After about another mile you will come out of the trees into open range. At the intersection with the Browns Pass road a right will take you to Browns Pass and a left will connect you with County Road 20 and then Hwy 285.
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Data updated - November 15, 2020
4WD Road driven - August 30, 2014
Copyright 4X4Explore - 2000-2014 |
