Freeman Gulch  
Maps:        
USGS 7.5' Map: Central City
Statistics:
Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time:
Easy 4 FR175.3C, FR175.3I 3.00 10,000 to 10,400 ft. Rocky 1-2 hours
County: Gilpin
Adopted by:      
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: Freeman Gulch is a short road that connects Miners Gulch with the Yankee Hill road.
Attractions: Challenges on FR175.3I.
Seasonal
Closure:
Natural - closed by heavy snows.
Best Time: June - May still be drifted in the trees.
July - Mid to late.
August - Best time.
September - Best time.
October - Early snows may close the road.
Trail Heads
Accessed:
 
Camping: There are a few camp sites at the south end of the Freeman Gulch road by that large intersection area.
Base Camp: This would be a good area to base camp with the large network of 4WD roads to explore in the area.
Fall Colors: Average - There are some small groves of aspen at the south end.
Navigation: North end start. From Black Hawk, CO head northwest on CO-119 for 1.9 miles. Turn left onto Apex Valley Road and go 3.7 miles. Turn left toward Broomfield Gulch Road and go 456 feet. Continue onto Broomfield Gulch Road and go 1.3 miles. You will now be at the Freeman Gulch road, going right to Miners Gulch, left to the Yankee Hill road.

South end start (this way has lots of confusing side roads after getting through Central City). From Black Hawk, CO head southwest on Gregory Street for 0.6 miles. Gregory Street turns slightly left and becomes Lawrence Street. After 0.5 miles continue on Eureka Street for 0.5 miles and turn right to stay on Eureka Street. After 0.3 miles continue onto CR 3/Upper Apex Road. After 0.4 miles take a slight left at Columbine Campground Road. After 1.1 miles turn left onto FR739.1 and go 1.6 miles. Turn right onto Pisgah Lake Road. After 1.0 mile turn left to stay on the Pisgah Lake Road. Go 1.3 miles to a large open area/intersection. Continue straight across and head down hill to start the Freeman Gulch road.
History:  
Description:
Freeman Gulch road heads north from the Yankee Hill 4WD road at a large open area/intersection. The road will be a well used road that heads into the trees. The road will head north crossing the head of Freeman Gulch. You will climb a low ridge and then turn to the west as you cross over the ridge into Broomfield Gulch. Just past where the road bottoms out in the upper part of Broomfield Gulch you will come to an intersection. The road to the left is FR175.3I, which heads back to the Yankee Hill road. This half mile road continues to climb up the rest of Broomfield Gulch taking you through some rocky sections of road. These are the challenges on this road system.

Back at the intersection, continue to the right through the aspens climbing up the ridge along Broomfield Gulch. Shortly you will come to an intersection with a road coming uphill from the right. This is the Broomfield Gulch road. Just below this intersection is a private home. Continue straight heading north into the pine forest. the road will continue to climb up along the large ridge between Broomfield Gulch and North Clear Creek, heading northeast. At the top of the ridge you will turn to the northwest and head down the North Clear Creek side. The road will continue through heavily forested areas as you change over to having Miners Gulch below you. You will come to wide area in the road where the Miners Gulch 4WD road ties in on the right after running parallel and below the Freeman Gulch road. This is the end of the Freeman Gulch road. From here keep heading southwest on the Miners Gulch road to connect back into the Yankee Hill road.
Data updated - February 10, 2020      4WD Road driven - (not yet)      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2020