| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy 4 | FR 490, FR418 | 5.54 | 8,800 to 9,800 ft. | Ledge Road | 2-3 hours |
Hahns Peak / Bears Ears Ranger District
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487-9315
Closure:
July - Best
August - Start of fall colors, best
September - Best fall colors
Accessed:
Prospector, FT1156 - Motorcyle, Pack and Saddle, Mountain Bike, Hike
Hahn's first two companions moved on so Hahn's confided in William A. Doyle of Black Hawk and Captain George Way from Empire. They made plans to revisit the site but were interrupted by the Civil War. Doyle enlisted in the Third Colorado Calvary and fought for the Union. In the fall of 1865 the three men with others made the trip back to the site and recovered enough gold to think they had made a significant discovery. During this trip Doyle and Way climbed to the peak of the gray mountain and placed a note in an empty screw topped can that related the details of the trip and included the following, "This is named Hahn's Peak by his friend and comrade, William A. Doyle, August, 27, 1865."
After returning to Clear Creek the three split up, Doyle and Way returning to their homes and Hahn went to Kansas. A new expedition was organized for the following year with about 50 men participating. In July of 1866 they headed out, but not far from Empire they had to start shoveling to get over Berthoud Pass. The group camped at Hot Sulphur Springs, crossed the headwaters of Muddy Creek and then made it to the present site of Steamboat Springs by a pass north of Rabbit Ears that Hahn's had discovered.
In late August of 1866 the party established a camp south of Hahns Peak naming it Poverty Bar. No one struck it rich, but Doyle was able to get $5 to $10 per pan at on location. The group decided to form a mining district and set up rules based on those used in Central City. As winter approached everyone headed back to civilization except for Hahn, Way and Doyle who elected to spend the winter at the camp. On October 2, 1866 Way was sent to get supplies. He took the gold dust to purchase the needed supplies and said he would be back on the 14th. Hahn and Doyle continued building a cabin near Way Gulch for the winter. Way never returned. He left his companions and went to Mexico to live out his life.
The snow began to fall and Hahns and Doyle realized Way was not returning and their survival depended on themselves. The wild game began to disappear and it snowed from November 24 through December 31 every day. Finally starvation drove the two from the cabin and on April 22, 1867 they headed back to civilization on snowshoes. On April 29th they reached the Muddy River in Middle Park and rested. Hahn was now to weak to continue and Doyle set out in the morning to find help. After wandering all day he finally made his way back to Hahn who had died. The next morning Dyle set out once again to find human population.
At the same time John Sumner and Ashely Franklin were living in Hot Sulphur Springs and had gone out to find some missing cattle when they spotted Doyle floundering in the snow. They took Doyle back to a cabin and nursed him back to health. They also searched in vain to find Hahn's body based on Doyle's directions. Later, in November, William Newton Byers and John Sumner went out to find the body of Hahn and give him a proper burial. Some fishermen had seen the body and guided the two to the site. The grave was marked by a pile of rocks with a snowshoe as the head stone.
Over the years other prospectors came into the area and mined for gold until a large mining company arrived and started consolidating the mines. It also brough in hydraulic mining to the area. In 1877 a post office was opened under the name Hahns Peak to serve the town south of the mountain. In 1879 the Routt county seat was moved from Hayden to International Camp, and then a year later to Hahns Peak where it remained until 1912 when Steamboat Springs out voted Hahns Peak. By late 1912 Hahns Peak was on its decline. Today it supports tourism around Steamboat Lake.
Just below timberline on Hahns Peak is the site of Royal Flush which developed around the Royal Flush mine in 1897. This was a lode mine and required capital investment to reach the gold veins. About three miles of tunnels were driven into Hahns Peak before the Royal Flush was abandoned. Today it is on private property.
Northwest of Hahns Peak is the town of Columbine which got its start in 1881 when gold ore was discovered on the slopes of Hahns Peak. Columbine was officially laid out in 1897 by James Caron and became a stage stop for the stage run between Steamboat Springs and Laramie. Today Columbine supports the surrounding private homes and guest cabins.
Kenneth Jessen, Ghost Towns Colorado Style, Volume One - Northern Region, J.V. Publications LLC, 1998.
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Hahns Peak, east side photo by: Kris |
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Hahns Peak 4WD road is accessed from the small town of Columbine, CO. The Hahns Peak loop described here includes Royal Flush, FR490, and Hahns Peak West, FR418, as well as a short connection using Twin Saddle, FR414. Starting from Columbine take FR490 southeast out of town through a short residential area. You will begin to climb up into the forest as you enter public lands. After just under a mile from the pavement you come to an intersection. The road on the left is FR490 that continues toward Hahns Peak, the right is Deep Creek, FR410. To the right of FR410 is motorized trail FT1156. Contiue to the left on the two track road and climb up through the forest. You will come to another intersection where FR490 continues to the right and Hahns Peak West, FR418, is to the left. Take the left to loop around the north side of Hahns Peak. You will return to this intersection. Continue up hill to a large open area with a blocked and gated road on the right. The gated road use to be FR490.1A as shown on the Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map. It goes to the top of Hahns Peak, but is blocked by private property on both ends.
Take a sharp left and climb a switchback up over a ridge. You will continue along the slope of Hahns Peak through some small open areas of the forest as you continue around the north side of Hahns Peak. As you come into a thicker forested area you will pass the motorized trail Hahns Peak, FT1158, on the right which climbs to the top of Hahns Peak. At the top of Hahn's Peak is the Hahn's Peak Fire Lookout which was built between 1908 and 1912. It has a 360 degree view from it's 10,759 foot perch. The road will head through some open areas as it contiues northeast.
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Paula K FR418 photo by: Adam M |
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You will come to an intersection. This is where FR418 connects with Twin Saddle, FR414. Take a right here and go just over a half mile crossing a large open area with views of Hahns Peak. At the next intersection take the right turn onto FR490. This will take you back to the first interscetion below the private property.
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Hahns Peak FR490 photo by: Rachel K |
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The road will head into some forested areas again as it comes around the south side of Hahns Peak. The road will come out into a more open area as the slope of the mountain side increases making the road more of a ledge road. The road will cross a slide area where two old closed mine roads climb higher. Continue on the main road around to a smaller slide area. The road will head down hill and come to an intersection with a spur road to the left. This is FR490.1B which goes back to the east for 0.32 miles before ending. Stay on the main road that will continue a short distance to a view of Steamboat Lake down below.
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Steamboat Lake photo by: Paula K |
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After coming around another ridge you will come to a large intersection area. The road on the left going down hill is Southern Cross, FR417. Stay on the main road and you will cross two more open areas before coming to another intersection with a road on the left going down hill. This is a spur road of Deep Creek, FR410.2B. Again, stay on the main road which will head into the forest and cross a level area before coming out into another open area. Here there will be a spur road on the right that goes to private property. Stay left and you will come to another short spur road on the left that goes to a dispersed campsite. Past this spur road the open area will contain a small lake/marshy area on the right. Past this small lake you will head up and connect with the previous FR490 and FR418 intersection.