Fairview Canyon--Skyline Drive

 New Trail as of June 12, 2026:  Found by studying Onyx maps.  Parking is at the pull-out just south of FS "road" 53183. Beautiful ASPEN forest on a road usable by 4-wheelers, but we didn't encounter any even on a Friday morning. It's only about a 25 minute drive from our place.

View of the parking pull out

About 3.8 miles.  Elevation=about 8,800'. Soft dirt road=95%, slightly rocky 5%

Turn off to a spring

Spring

End of the trail/road.  Fencing.

Beautiful larkspur in June.  They don't last much longer.

Not only forest, but some "big sky" openness

 --The Skyline Drive Parking area is at the top of Fairview Canyon.  The possibilities from here are virtually unlimited--everything from short jaunts to several hour rides.  Some trails, two tracks, also some "bushwhacking."   The autumn colors were spectacular.

Approximate track on Oct. 7, 2021

October 7, 2021

September 30, 2021

September 30, 2021

September 30, 2021

Track on Oct. 4, 2021

October 4,  2021

October 7, 2021

October 7, 2021

October 7, 2021

The following photos are from a ride on Oct. 4, 2022. We were intending to possibly ride all the way to Gooseberry Reservoir, but were thwarted by a cattle guard that I couldn't tell was there on Google maps.

Mileage for this ride=3.5.  We had to bushwhack back to the Skyline Drive to find a gate to ride through.

Oct. 4, 2022.

The offending cattle guard on the Gooseberry road.

Back up on Skyline on one of the side turn outs.

Near where the gate is.  Just left of the big tree.

We did find some green. Oct. 4, 2022. 

Oct. 4, 2022.

Oct. 4, 2022.

Oct. 4, 2022.

Almost back to the parking area.  Not many vehicles there on a Tuesday.

 

On June 21, 2023 we chose a ride here hoping for no crowds and only slightly muddy roads.  The weather was nice, but the roads were hard and dusty and there were 4 wheelers who had no concern for horses.  The FLIES were horrible and drove the horses crazy.  I don't think we'll be back until fall.

June 21, 2023