Narrow Gauge
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Alma
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 2 FR 449 1.40 10,600 ft. NA 1/2 hour
County:	Park
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Pike Nat. Forest, South Park Ranger District	320 Hwy 285, P.O. Box 219 Fairplay, CO 80440	(719)836-2031
Summary:	Narrow Guage is a two track that follows a railroad grade above Park City.
Attractions:	History
Seasonal Closure	Natural - Closed by heavy snows.
Best Time:	June - Early, may still be snowed in July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Early snows may close road
Trail Heads Accessed:
Camping:	There are no dispersed campsites along the road.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp and explore Mosquito Pass.
Fall Colors:	Very Good - Lots of aspen trees
Navigation:	From Fairplay, CO. head west toward Main Street for 69 feet. Slight right onto CO-9 N/Main Street. Continue to follow CO-9 N for 5.8 miles. Turn left onto County Road 10/Park Hill Road and go 1.1 miles. Turn right to start Narrow Gauge. From Breckenridge, CO. head southeast on South Park Avenue for 0.1 miles. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on South Park Avenue and go 0.4 miles. Continue onto CO-9 S/S Main Street and continue to follow CO-9 S for 15.8 miles. Turn right onto County Road 10/Park Hill Road and go 1.1 miles. Turn right to start Narrow Gauge.
History:	Park City was the site of a large stage coach hotel that serviced the stage lines that ran over Mosquito Pass to Leadville from Fairplay. It was also a railroad terminus for the narrow guage railroads that serviced the mines on London Mountain.
Description:
Narrow Guage is a two track road that follows the old narrow guage railroad line that went up Mosquito Creek to service the many mines. After leaving County Road 10 east of Park City you will drive through aspen trees above the homes below along County Road 12. Through the aspens photo by: Adam M Being an old railroad grade the road stays level as it heads west toward Mosquito Creek. Along the way you will pass a small pine tree amongst the aspen that is all decked out for Christmas. Christmas Tree along road photo by: Adam M You will head into a section of pines and then back into aspens before coming to an intersection. West end of road photo by: Adam M More aspen photo by: Adam M At the intersection the road to the right and around a switchback is the Tabor, FR192, road. This is as far as I drove. Going straight ahead continues to follow the railroad grade. You will come immediately to another intersection. The road on the right, which is getting overgrown, goes to a mine tailing, the road to the left is the railroad grade. Further along the railroad grade is another intersection where the left goes down to a private home, the right goes up to the previous mentioned mine tailing, and straight ahead continues to follow the railroad grade, but the road appears to be growing back in. Though the MVUM map from 2017 shows FR449 continuing to connect with County Road 12, at County Road 12 there is a home being built where the connection should be. Future MVUMs will most likely remove this approximate mile of FR449.
Data updated - January 10, 2022      4WD Road driven - September 7, 2021      Copyright 4X4Explore - 2000-2022