Fairview Canyon--Cottonwood Ridge

 

We picked the perfect weather and timing for this short, easy ride. We rode it on October 20, 2022. It includes expansive vistas on all sides of mountains and valleys.  Apparently, our ride was just days after sheep and cattle left and before the deer hunters arrived.  Not another person or vehicle.  We had it all to ourselves.  There were some empty camp trailers. 

To get there, go up Fairview Canyon.  Google directions to "Cottonwood Ridge."  Turn into the Skyline Drive Parking area and proceed up Skyline Dr. about a mile until the sign shows up.  There is parking at the pullout there.  

We parked a little closer to the gate/cattle guard.

View of the gate and roadway with the cattle guard.  We had to open the fence gate to get the horses through.  An option is to drive over the cattle guard and park anywhere after that.

Track for the day:  4.6 miles round trip. About 700 feet elevation gain.

 Trail is mostly a well defined two track with options to ride around through the trees.  90% dirt, 10% slightly rocky.  We turned back when the trail got REALLY rocky as we approached Pine Crown Peak.

This is an interesting geological formation we call "The Wall."  Made of solidified

 mud from the "Great Flood".  You can even spot fossils if you look closely.

On "top" we found some lovely evergreen forest.

Lots of aspen, some still with color.

Looking  towards Skyline Drive

View of Pine Crown Peak