Owl Mountain Lookout
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| Maps/GPS: |
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| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Jack Creek Ranch |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Easy 2 |
FR 791 |
5.70 |
9,180 to 10,944 ft. |
NA |
2-3 hours |
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| County: |
Jackson |
| Adopted by: |
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| Managed by: |
Routt National Forest,
Parks Ranger District |
100 N. Main (P.O. Box 158)
Walden, Colorado 80480 |
(970)723-2700 |
| Summary: |
Owl Mountain Lookout is an easy 4WD road that runs up the south side of Owl Mountain to a communication tower. |
| Attractions: |
Camping |
Seasonal
Closure: |
Natural - Closed by heavy snows.
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| Best Time: |
June - May still be snowed in at the top
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
Radial Mountain, FT1227.1 - Hike, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Motorcycle
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| Camping: |
There are dispersed sites at the east end of the road as well as a few near the top. |
| Base Camp: |
This would be a good area to base camp and explore the roads around Owl Mountain. |
| Fall Colors: |
Poor - Mostly pine forest. |
| Navigation: |
From Walden, CO. head east on CO-14 E/6th Street toward Mc Kinley Street and go 0.2 miles. Turn right onto CO-14 E and go 20.8 miles. Turn right and go 0.2 miles. Continue on County Road 21 for 1.8 miles. Continue on Forest Road 740 for 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Forest Road 791.
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| History: |
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| Description: |
Starting from the east end off of the Teller Divide, FR740, road you will turn right just past the Pines Campground entrance. You will drive through a section where the beatle kill trees have been removed along the road. There is new growth coming in in some areas. Along this section will be short spur roads to the left and righ that go to campsites. The road will curve to the left and leave this area heading into the forest. From here the road will be a single lane wide, natural surface road. After heading through the trees for a short distance you will pass a slightly wide spot in the road. This is the intersection with the Radial Mountain motorized trail, FT1227.1. Continue heading south through the forest. After more than a quarter mile you will come to another wider section in the road. This is another branch of the Radial Mountain motorized trail that heads off to the left. Continue on through the forest toward the southwest. You will climb through three long switchbacks that will bring you to the south side of Owl Mountain. The mountain is a long uplifted ridge that has a steeper south face and a long gradual sloping north face. Once around the south side the land will be more sloped.
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The south side of Owl Mountain
photo by:
Adam M |
The road will get a little narrower and somewhat rougher as you climb up another set of switchbacks. After climbing up this short section you will come onto the long flat section of the east end of Owl Mountain. Ahead of you to the right side of the road is the actual high point of Owl Mountain (10,951 feet). As you approach this high point you will pass a campsite. The road will continue through the trees and run along the south side of the high point along the ridge of Owl Mountain.
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Continuing up Owl Mountain
photo by:
Adam M |
As you come around the west side of the Owl Mountain high point you will come to another flat section. Here there will be a campsite on the right. From this campsite you can hike through the forest to the top of Owl Mountain where you will find a registry. Continuing across this second flat section to the west you will be headed toward the Lookout.
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Level part between the peak and the lookout
photo by:
Adam M |
Just over a half mile from the last campsite you will come to an intersection. The road to the right is No Name Creek, FR790, road. It heads down the north side of Owl Mountain to connect with Owl Creek, FR792, road. Continue straight here and after a short distance you will come to another intersection. The road on the left is a steep climb up to the Owl Mountain Lookout. The road to the right, or straight ahead, will loop around this high spot and climb up to the lookout through a sweeping curve passing another short spur road to a dispersed campsite.
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Looking south from the lookout
photo by:
Adam M |
At the top of the lookout is a communications tower. Be aware that there isn't much room at the top where the tower is, and the roads are a bit crammed together here. After taking in the views you can head back down the way you came or try the No Name Creek, FR790, road and Owl Creek, FR792, road to get back to the Teller Divide, FR740, road.
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Data updated - March 25, 2023
4WD Road driven - September 7, 2022
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