North Clear Creek  |
| Maps: |
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| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Central City |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Easy 3 |
FR705.1 |
3.42 |
9,380 to 10,520 ft. |
NA |
1 hour |
|
| County: |
Clear Creek |
| Adopted by: |
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| Managed by: |
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest,
Clear Creek Ranger District |
101 Chicago Creek Road
P.O. Box 3307
Idaho Springs, CO 80452 |
303-567-3000 |
| Summary: |
North Clear Creek follows the creek along the south side of Montana Mountain and Arizona Mountain. |
| Attractions: |
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Seasonal
Closure: |
Natural - Closed by heavy snows |
| Best Time: |
June - May still be snowed in
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Possible early snows |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
|
| Camping: |
There are no dispersed campsites along the North Clear Creek road. |
| Base Camp: |
This would be a good area to base camp and explore the 4WD roads around Apex and Kingston Peak. |
| Fall Colors: |
Poor - There are a few aspen groves along the south side of Montana Mountain. |
| Navigation: |
From Black Hawk, CO head northwest on CO-119 for 1.9 miles. Turn left onto Apex Valley Road and go 3.9 miles. Turn left to start the North Clear Creek road. |
| History: |
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| Description: |
The North Clear Creek road (aka Mosquito Creek road) leaves the Apex road, CR4S, just past where the road turns north. The very first left after the turn north is to a campsite. The second left is a driveway to a home. The third left is the one you want. It will pass a driveway to a home just after you cross Pine Creek. Continue up the gulch on the two track road as you pass a rock outcrop on your right. You will now start to follow North Clear Creek. You will pass mine tailings on your right with thick forest on the other side of the creek. You will continue to follow the creek pass through a small grove of aspen. There will be a spur road to the right that is not a legal route. Continue following the North Clear Creek road.
The next intersection you come to is for the Miners Gulch, FR709, road on the left. It will cross to the south side of North Clear Creek. Miners Gulch is a moderately difficult 4WD road. Staying on the North Clear Creek road you will continue following the creek around the south side of Montana Mountain. The road will get wider in a few spots, but it will mainly stay a two track with some rocky sections. You will now be heading northwest and will pass through some wider areas along the creek. This is where the road starts to follow Montana Creek. After making a soft left curve you will come to a private home along the road. Just past this home you will turn to the north again and come to a road to the left. This road heads through private property following Mosquito Creek and goes over to the Kingston Peak road. Continue to the right following Montana Creek. You will come to a wide spot of tailings on the left side of the road with an old cabin on the right. The road will continue climbing up the gulch until it comes out at a graded road. The left goes to the Kingston Peak road, the right heads down to Apex where you can head south to tie back in with where you started North Clear Creek.
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Data updated - May 18, 2019
4WD Road driven - July 12, 2011
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