Colorado Trip Reports

Glad your story ended well! When I asked my truck what it wanted for Christmas the answer was, "Maxtrax!" Even if I don't end up using them, you have proven that sometimes our preparedness is often a boon for others.

 

One could take Mt Herman to Rampart into Woodland Park and continue on to Cripple Creek. One could do that, assuming they have the appropriate vehicle and/or it's summer, and they aren't in a hurry. Google could send someone that way, but only if they specifically asked for it or were already a long way off pavement before looking up directions.

The Rampart Range Road connector into Garden of the Gods isn't an option in winter. It turns to a mess of alternating mud and snow, and I'm sure the local authorities got tired of dealing with stuck tourists so they put up some gates.

 

They probably put "avoid highway" cause crack pipe

 

A most astute comment.

 

Just for fun... "Avoid Highways" gets it as an option but still not the recommended one. Estimated time is a wash, that's surprising. I can see how someone who doesn't understand mountain roads would make the mistake of starting that way but I am impressed at the persistence to commit to the choice.

 

Never question crackheads

 

I have nothing to add at the moment, just looking forward to new adventures being posted, as things warm up!

 

Moab 2025 Trip Report
Thursday June 5
Left home about 9:30 am. I have never seen Rifle Falls so I exited I70 at New Castle and drove about 30 minutes on a country road to stop there for lunch.


I made it to North Klondike Campground around 5:45 pm. There were only two other campers in the campground far away from me. It is pretty desolate, which is fine. I setup camp, had a premade dinner my wife gave me and went to sleep at sundown. It rained a decent amount overnight, but I stayed dry in the tent.


Friday June 6
I woke up at sunrise, around 6:00 and by 8:00 I was entering Gemini Bridges




Gemini Bridges is surprisingly fun and scenic. I was expecting more of a forest service road, but it had some rocks on it. In the center of this picture is the Gooney Bird rock formation. According to Rory Irish, it is good luck to drive over the Gooney Bird's feet, so I did.


I started Metal Masher at 9 AM. The beginning 25% of Metal Masher is quite easy. With last night's rain, I could tell I had the trail to myself as my tracks were the first of the day. I saw no one else on the trail when I was there.








I’m glad I had the MM map track on GAIA displaying on my head unit screen. Sometimes it was tough for me to figure out where the trail went and the map kept me on the right track. I went up a steep obstacle and I found myself on Misty‘s Thumb on the map. Faced with even steeper obstacles, I turned around to get back to the main trail.


The top of Metal Masher has a good overlook of Moab to the south


Looking North


I did mash some metal on the way down from the top of metal masher. Rock sliders took the most hits and so did the skid plate. After seeing @Chadr7858 's picture of Widow Maker, I decided to take the bypass.


I finished metal masher at 1:00 and made my way to the Gemini Bridges.


By 2:15 I had made it to Cowboy Campground, where I obtained site #6.


I met a couple from Vermont at site #7 and had a few beers with them as a cloud burst rolled by for about 15 minutes after dinner. We told stories, enjoyed the rainbow and the sunset.

 

Looks like an awesome start to the trip!

 

Moab 2025 Trip Report continued
Saturday, June 7
I entered the Canyonlands Gate around 9:20 then started down the Schafer Trail


I arrived at the start of White Rim Trail at 10 o’clock and started my two day 75 mile trek.




I met Kurt in one van and his son and family, all visiting from Switzerland, in another van at the Santa Maria rock formation.


Cruisin' in my four-wheel-drive on the White Rim trail.








I ended my day with a steep rocky climb to Murphy Campsite B around 3:30 pm and setup camp.


The couple from Oregon in site A stopped by. We enjoyed a pleasant visit until dinner time. I fried a couple of pieces of Mahi-Mahi with special sauce and mixed veggies on the side; cauliflower, peas, and carrots.

 

Are the campsites, first-come basis, or you reserved them?

 

White Rim driving multi-day and camping are all reserved permit only. You can yolo it in one day with no permit.

 

North Klondike and Cowboy - First come first served. Every site on White Rim is reserve through Recreation.gov. I was able to get Murphy B a week ahead of time, A and C were sold out. C has the best view.

 

Moab 2025 Trip Report last day
Sunday, June 8
I broke down camp and started my day before 8 o’clock. I skipped breakfast thinking I could just stop at the next scenic viewpoint to eat. I drove the truck for about 1200 yards. Hidden from site B, just past site C down the steep rocky decline, a grand panoramic view exposed itself. I stopped at this turnout for breakfast.


Sunrise over a cliff



One picturesque view after another.




Sand, white rock, cliffs.


I found low third and fourth gear worked really well through the sandy desert section of the White Rim trail. I didn’t air down of course, sky high 35 psi works for me. I was only going 20 to 25 mph, but it felt fast enough, travelling over rocks and rollers, the ADS shocks and Tundra brakes doing their job. There were no squeaks or rattles. Everything was strapped down and secure in the bed and secure in the cab except for me. The seatbelt rubs on my chest and makes the skin raw through the shirt, so I leave it loose, Dale Earnhardt style (RIP). I wonder how those Trophy Truck and Ultra 4 racers stay focused bouncing around in the hot sun all day - adrenaline, monster, red bull?

I feel like I reached a Lake Powell like section except I’m in my truck instead of a houseboat.


Hard Scrabble Hill


So many different textures, colors, and shapes.









The switchbacks on the way out mimic Shafer Trail on the way in.


White Rim has unrelenting panoramic spectacularness! Each bend in the trail revealed beautiful view after beautiful view. There were no distractions, no cell phone, no time constraints. A very restful vacation.

 

Chaffee County, double track from South Fooses trailhead to North Fooses trail head is a little soupy.
FB group Tacoma Nation 24 hours ago

Ahh, so if you walk to find cell service and make a post, text, email, phone call, Stay In Place until you have knowledge people are coming to help! Don't leave where you have service. This area is 20 minutes from me and he didn't reply to any of my messages until 830ayem, and later to his post this morning.

 

Sunrise on Coffee Pot Road just outside of Dotsero. Went tubing on the Colorado River and explored some 4x4 trails off of Coffee Pot, unfortunately, I was having too much fun to take more pictures.

 

Santa Fe Peak 4x4 trail is open to the summit from Montezuma (near Loveland Pass).







Forest Service Rd 751 to the Peak 10 summit from Breckenridge is closed past the Restaurant and final chair platform. (As of 7/3/2025).