Crescent Mackinaw Lakes
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Trappers Lake, Dome Peak, Burns North
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Moderate 6 FR 613 11.80 8,240 to 10,760 ft. Hill - 2 Mud - 6 4-6 hours
County:	Eagle, Garfield
Adopted by:	Oshwego 4WD Club
Managed by:	White River National Forest, Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District	24747 US Highway 24 Minturn, CO 81645	(970) 827-5715
Summary:	Crescent and Mackinaw Lakes is a moderately difficult 4WD road on the east side of the Flat Tops Wilderness. It is a cherry stem road into the wilderness. There is fishing at the two lakes as well as trail head access to trails into the wilderness.
Attractions:	Challenge, Mud Holes, Fishing.
Seasonal Closure:	Agency - November 23 to May 20
Best Time:	June - Early season. Snow drifts may be encountered. July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Possible snow drifts higher up.
Trail Heads Accessed:	South Derby, FT1857 - Hike, Horseback Turret-Crescent, FT2269 - Hike, Horseback Roberts, FT2076 - Hike, Horseback
Camping:	There are many dispersed campsites at the start of the road. Along the road you will also find dispersed campsites. There are a few dispersed campsites around Crescent Lake and Mackinaw Lake.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp to explore the Flat Tops Wilderness.
Fall Colors:	Excellent - The middle section of the road runs through large aspen groves.
Navigation:	From Gypsum Colorado head north on US-6 W toward US-6 E for 0.6 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Trail Gulch Road and go 0.2 miles. Turn left to merge onto I-70 W toward Grand Junction and go 5.3 miles. Take exit 133 toward Dotsero and go 0.2 miles. Turn right onto US-6 W and go 0.7 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto 301/Colorado River Road and go 21.8 miles. Turn left onto 39/Derby Mesa Loop and go 6.5 miles. Turn left onto S Derby Creek Road. This is the start of the Crescent-Mackinaw Lakes 4WD road. From Yampa Colorado head north on Main Street toward 3rd Street for 0.2 miles. Turn right onto 4th Street and go 341 feet. Slight right onto CO-131 S and go 21.0 miles. Turn right and go 0.2 miles. Continue onto Colorado River Road for 11.6 miles. Turn left onto 301/Colorado River Road and go 0.9 miles. Turn right onto 39/Derby Mesa Loop and go 6.5 miles. Turn left onto S Derby Creek Road. This is the start of the Crescent-Mackinaw Lakes 4WD road.
History:
Description:
Crescent-Mackinaw Lakes 4WD road starts off of County Road 39. There is a kiosk in an open area where people leave trailers. This area is also used for camping. The road will cross the South Derby Ditch and head into the pines passing two more dispersed campsites on the left. First part of road photo by: Adam M The road will head out of the pines into some aspen groves where it gets bumpy but is more that two track in width. The aspen will get thicker and you will pass another campsite on the left. More aspens photo by: Adam M The road will come out of the aspens into a small open area called Deer Park. You will pass a few spur roads on the right that go to private property. There will be fence lines on your roght also as you head up Deer Park. The road will continue across the open park and then head back into the trees. Climbing out of Deer Park photo by: Adam M As you continue through the forest you will pass another campsite on the left. The road will cross another open meadow and then head back into the pine forest again. You will come to an intersection on the left. This is Big Springs, FR616. Stay on the main road. Heading toward the South Fork of Derby Creek photo by: Adam M Sheep Mountain in the distance photo by: Adam M After another half mile through the aspen you will cross the Lion Basin Ditch and come out into a small meadow. There is a spur road on the left that goes to a small building and corral. Stay on the main road as it heads along the side of the meadow. You will cross a cattle guard an may see some cattle in this area. The road will come to a small mud hole and then turn to the left and head back into the Forest. More aspen groves photo by: Adam M Just after entering the forest again the road will head down hill toward the South Fork of Derby Creek. The road will get a bit rougher and there will be a few steep sections. Hill dropping down to the South Fork of Derby Creek photo by: Adam M You will finally come to the South Fork of Derby Creek. Here the road quickly drops down to the creek crossing to the other side. The opposite bank includes a steep rocky climb with some larger boulders to navigate. You will make a switchback and continue heading west. South Fork of Derby Creek crossing photo by: Adam M Brian M climbing up after creek crossing photo by: Adam M Paula K climbing up after creek crossing photo by: Adam M The road will cross an open area above the creek as it heads west toward Sheep Mountain. You will pass a spur road on the left that heads a short distance to a campsite above the creek. Heading up the valley photo by: Adam M W Mountain in the distance photo by: Adam M You will enter the aspen forest again as you continue west. There will be a small open area with a sharp left turn. This is where the Roberts Trail, FT2076, connects with the road. make the turn and head back into the forest. You will come to a high road and a low road. Both connect back up gain. Off of the low road there is a spur road that goes down to the creek to a campsite. The road will head out into a more open area and make a few wide curves. There will be two smaller mud holes in this area. You will head back into the forest again climbing a bit before coming out above the north side of Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake photo by: Adam M This is a good area to take a break and enjoy the lake. The mosquitos will also try to enjoy you. There is a campsite by the lake as well as one up a small hill on the right side of the road. From here the road will get rougher as it heads back into the trees passing another campsite on the right. You will climb up and over a small ridge, with the west side a bit steep, before dropping down to run along Still Waters Lake. There will be another campsite on the right side of the road as you pass by Still Waters Lake. Descending toward Still Waters Lake photo by: Adam M Continuing up the valley photo by: Adam M From here the valley will tighten up with Sheep Mountain to the north and W Mountain to the south. Did I mention the road will get rougher, and narrower. In the forest you will come to three more larger mud holes to get through. This will be about two miles of rough road in the forest with little views of scenery. Mud hole photo by: Adam M Road gets rocky photo by: Adam M Another mud hole photo by: Adam M Finally you will come to Crescent Lake and drive across the top of the dam. At the far side of the dam you will come to a wide rocky hill with multiple routes to the top. Heading toward Crescent Lake photo by: Adam M Road crossing Crescent Lake dam photo by: Adam M Paula K photo by: Adam M The road will head through the trees for a short distance before coming to another small hill to climb, that can be muddy. You will continue along in the trees above the lake before dropping down to the shore line and driving a section that is partly in the lake. (The picture is heading back out) Crescent Lake encroaching on the road photo by: Adam M Crescent Lake photo by: Adam M Mackinaw Lake photo by: Adam M Shortly you will come to a small stream crossing and then climb up a hill to an open area between Crescent and Mackinaw Lakes. There is a campsite along the shore of Mackinaw Lake and a short road on the south side of Mackinaw Lake that goes to the Turret-Crescent Trail, FT 2269. If you cross the small spillway from Mackinaw Lake to Crescent Lake there is another open area with two campsites. The South Derby Trail, FT 1857 is also in this area. If you hike up the South Derby Trail it will take you over a ridge to Island Lakes. Island Lakes (Hike to the north of Crescent and Mackinaw Lakes) photo by: Adam M From here you must head back out the way you came in. The following pictures are from the return trip. Heading toward Still Waters Lake photo by: Adam M Climbing ridge to Emerald Lake photo by: Adam M Continuing up the ridge photo by: Adam M Heading down the other side of the ridge photo by: Adam M Heading back down to cross the South Fork of Derby Creek photo by: Adam M Below is a piture from the hiking trail on top of the ridge between Mackinaw Lake and Island Lakes. Columbine above Crescent and Mackinaw Lakes photo by: Adam M
Data updated: October 17, 2023      4WD Road driven: July 23, 2023       Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2023