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A trail through airy aspen groves and dense patches of wildflowers bursting with color.


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Map Key

3.2

Miles

5.2

KM

93%

Runnable

8,860' 2,701 m

High

8,597' 2,620 m

Low

409' 125 m

Up

281' 86 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

22%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Divide Road is closed to full-size vehicle traffic Jan 1 to May 15.

Description

The northern trailhead is along Divide Road just west of the Divide Forks Campground. There are trail markers at both ends of the trail. Divide Road is a good graded gravel road, so that end of the trail can be reached in a passenger car. However, there is very limited parking at the northern trailhead but there is space for at least one vehicle on the grass. The trail is open to motorized dirt bikes, so it is important not to block the trail with your vehicle as the dirt bike riders can drive straight from the trail onto Divide Road.

The trail alternates between pleasant meadows and airy aspen forests. The green-topped tall aspens give nice shade to the trail while still allowing distant views into their depths. Below the trees is a carpet of green shrubs and in places a wide variety of wildflowers. Birds chatter away all around you. A babbling creek adds to the serenity of the area.

But you are sharing the trail with the occasional motorcycle. At least they tend to pass by quickly and the natural sounds soon return. Be alert to their approach so that you can find low impact spots to safely step off the trail.

If you set up a car shuttle this run can be combined with Telephone Trail by running a stretch of very quiet FS #406 two-track road, also called Smith Point Road.

Flora & Fauna

In early July you'll find vast patches of Columbine, Wild Rose, Round-leaf Snowberry as well as a wide variety of other wildflowers along stretches of the trail. The aspen forests are home to deer and elk. Elk calves have been spotted along the trail in early spring. In early July the south end of the trail may be a riot of spiky Hera Buckmoth caterpillars making their burrows along the trail to do their metamorphosis magic and later emerge as moths.

Contacts

Shared By:

Janice Shepherd

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#17695

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Trail Rankings

#1,521

in Colorado

#17,695

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Photos

Columbine with Round-leaf Snowberry bush in the background on the right.
Jul 10, 2015 near Gateway, CO
Hera Buckmoth caterpillar digging a hole from where it will emerge later this season as a moth. Quite alien looking with its yellow circles and its spiky spines.
Jul 10, 2015 near Gateway, CO
Wild rose bushes flourish along the trail.
Jul 10, 2015 near Gateway, CO

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