We had to at least try this trail because it is only a 38 minute drive from home. The photos on the internet looked great and the trailhead showed signs of heavy horse usage. It WAS a beautiful day for a ride. Not much autumn color except for some aspen.
However, we're crossing this trail off our list. Too much climbing and then you have come down what steepness you go up. There were parts on the trail that had me totally stressed out...that is the trail was narrow and on the side of a steep hill with banks caving and rocks all on a downhill. No photos of this, not that any could do it justice.
Glad we tried it, but won't be going back.
(UPDATE! August 5, 2021, We drove by the trailhead and I was astonished at the decimation of the forest! Apparently logging prevails! No more trail on this lower part, but only two logging roads. This is sad, because this part was the prettiest forest. Oh well, maybe they will reconstruct the trail with some switchbacks.)
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| August 5, 2021 |
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| August 5, 2021 |
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| Photo taken from a website from several years back. |
The following shows the parking area just past Cleveland Reservoir and just before Electric Lake.
This is our track. We got in slightly more than 2.7 miles out of the total 6 mile trail. Elevation was 8,652' to 9,954'. Ascent/Descent=1,290' Trail conditions=90% dust/dirt; 10% Rocky. (Glad it wasn't rockier or it really would have been miserable.)
Starts out in lovely forest, but steep.
There is one section where the trail follows an old pipeline. Wish the whole trail was that nice.
Reached the top of one ridge.
There were some spectacular views.
Here we are approaching the "Hellish Hillside."
Nice view of Cleveland Reservoir. We could also see Miller Flat Reservoir.
Occasionally, through some lovely aspen.
It was shortly after this next photo that we came to a heavily forested area that was super steep to ascend. We got up it, but declined on going any further. It was just too steep and that next ridge looked too high.
Next photos are once we were past the steep descent. Looking at these, it looks like a great ride! We did hear alot of elk bugling.
That's Electric Lake in the far distance.
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