| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy 1 | FR 730 | 20.98 | 9,000 to 10,600 ft. | NA | 4-5 hours |
Parks Ranger District
Walden, Colorado 80480
Closure:
July - Best
August - Best
September - Seasonal Closure
Accessed:
Snyder Creek Loop, FT 1226 - Hike, Pack and Saddle, Mountain Bike, Motorcycle
Porcupine, FT 1226.1B - Hike, Pack and Saddle, Mountain Bike
Parkview Creek, FT 1226.1C - Hike, Pack and Saddle, Mountain Bike, Motorcycle
Haystack Creek, FT 55.1 - Hike, Pack and Saddle, Mountain Bike
From Granby, CO. head west on US-40 West/E Agate Ave toward 1st Street and continue to follow US-40 West for 3.0 miles. Turn right onto Colorado Hwy 125 North and go 22.8 miles. Take a left hand turn onto a gravel road. This is Haystack Mountain, FR730.1, 4WD road.
After leaving pavement you will curve around a switchback passing an intersection on your right with FT1226. After doing another wide switchback you will pass a small campsite on your right.
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East end of road photo by: Adam M |
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Just past the campsite you will come to another intersection with FT1226 on your right, and then again on your left. This is a short section of the road that is shared by the trail. The road continues through a heavily forested area.
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Heading through the forest photo by: Adam M |
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You will pass another spot where FT1226 crosses the road. After another mile you will come to the intersection with FR751 coming in from the left. Also, on the right will be another intersection with FT1226. In 2023 I ran into some downed trees here and went back to the highway below Willow Creek Pass. Motorcycles are making it past this blockage.
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Trees across the road near FR751 intersection photo by: Adam M |
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Below description is from viewing Google Earth.
Continuing on the main road you will drop down and cross Parkview Creek, then climb back up onto a ridge off of Parkview Mountain. There will be a campsite on your left and another intersection with FT1226 as well. The road will go for almost two miles passing another intersection with FT1226 on the left and them dropping down to cross the East Branch of Willow Creek. This is another section of road shared by the motorized trail FT1226. Just after crossing the creek you will pass another intersction with FT1226 on you left. From here you will continue west for almost a mile and a half before coming to the intersection with FR735 on your right. Stay to the left and continue south. You will cross a tributary of the East Branch of Willow Creek and then head west passing another spot where FT1226 crosses the road. The road will pass through a thinner forested area before turning south and headding toward Haystack Mountain.
After going over 2.5 miles you will cross the headwaters of a tributary of Willow Creek just below the Continental Divide and head west below Haystack Mountain. The forest will remain thick through this section. You will come to a large intersection with FR106 on you right heading down to follow Willow Creek. Stay to the left and continue on FR730. Shortly you will come to another intersection with FR730.1B on your left. This is a 0.68 mile spur road that goes up to Troublesome Pass and intersects with FT55.1 and FT1211.1B where the spur road ends. Continue on the main road for just under a mile and you will come to the intersection with FR107 on your left. Continue right staying on FR730. You will head through the forest for over three miles before coming to another spot where FT1226 crosses the road. From here the road will head into some aspen groves passing two dispersed campsites on the left. The road will drop down into a small valley and then connect with FR106.