| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
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| 5 | FR278 | 9.84 | 11,840 to 13,800 ft. | Rocky, Switchbacks | 2-3 hours |
Closure:
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible
Little Browns Creek, FT1430 - Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike
From Poncha Springs head north on US Hwy 285 N toward Poncha Avenue for 0.6 miles. Turn right to stay on US Hwy 285 N and go 15.5 miles. Turn left onto County Road 162/Chalk Creek Drive. Continue to follow County Road 162 for 12.3 miles. Turn left onto FR277 and go 2.6 miles. Turn left onto FR278.
Read the history on Mount Antero Treasures site.
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Crossing Baldwin Creek photo by: Adam M |
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Just past the creek crossing you will pass a dispersed campsite on the left, and then one on the right side of the road. The road will curve to the south and after about a half mile from the creek you will pass another dispersed campsite on the left. The road will have a few sections that are rocky, but it is about a lane and a half wide. You will come out into a short section that is open on your left and then head back into the trees to make a sharp left turn. Just past this turn is another dispersed campsite on the right. A short distance further is another dispersed campsite on the left. The road will now head out of the trees to run along the talus off Mount Antero.
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Road along the Mount Antero talus slope photo by: Adam M |
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The road will run between the trees and the mountain for over a quarter of a mile and come to a spur road to the right that might be to a dispersed campsite. Just past this spur is a pulloff area on the right side of the road. From here you will make two short switchbacks before starting to climb up the long switchbacks.
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Starting switchbacks photo by: Adam M |
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The road will now climb up out of one drainage to cross ove a ridge and into a second drainage off of Mount Antero. The road will be about one lane wide, with wider sections usually at the turns and switchbacks.
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Switch back with Boulder Mountain in background photo by: Adam M |
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Once in the second drainage you will climb up and through five switchbacks, crossing the drainage, to gain altitude.
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Climbing more switchbacks photo by: Adam M |
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Climbing switchbacks, view to the north photo by: Adam M |
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After the fifth switchback you will pass a wide section in the road on your left. The road will cross the second drainage for the last time and climb back over the ridge to cross the first drainage again.
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View of lower switchback section photo by: Adam M |
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The road will climb up along another ridge and make a wide sweeping hairpin turn. At this turn will be an intersection. The right turn is the continuation of FR278 proper which heads across the open tundra over to the Browns Creek headwater and then down to Browns Lake, about 3.5 miles, ending at the Browns Creek Trail, FT1429. The main traffic heads to the left here, which is FR278A, that climbs up onto Mount Antero. Just over a tenth of a mile from the hairpin intersection you will come to another intersection. The road to the right is FR278B that takes you over to the side of Mount White passing Little Browns Creek Trail, FT1430. Stay to the left crossing around the south side of Mount Antero. The next intersection you come to will be with FR278C to the right that goes down in the valley to connect with FR278B. Stay to the left and start to climb the upper switchbacks.
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Starting upper switchbacks photo by: Adam M |
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The road gets looser and rougher with larger rocks to climb, as well as getting steeper. You will do four short steep switchbacks to climb up to a wide area, coming to a gate for the private mine over the saddle. The mine is owned by Mount Antero Treasures.
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Climbing upper switchbacks photo by: Adam M |
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At the gate take the road to your left to climb up higher to a larger parking area on a wide hill. From here the top of Mount Antero is a half mile hike crossing a sharp ridge and climbing a short steep slope.
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View of Mount Antero from end of road photo by: Adam M |
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View of Mount Antero showing ridge to top photo by: Adam M |
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View to the west from end of road photo by: Adam M |
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Looking down at upper switchbacks photo by: Adam M |
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