Illinois Gulch and easy forest roads this May

[Java]

Except for the optional Moab Hill on Illinois Gulch http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=222, this is a very easy area, probably not even 4wd for the most part. I've never done this hill, but Funrover has: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tznkPPjc4do&feature=relmfu

To get there you can take 67 almost directly, but I like Rampart Range and the easy roads around it, so I hope to come in down Rampart Range to Long Hollow Road (fr348) http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=153 and work over towards it, return either on Fern Creek (fr351) or up 67. Here's a video of some bikes on that road, it's just a road in the woods:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktBoPgKa7Kg

If you've never hiked the Fire Tower at Devils Head it's right there near Rampart / 348 too, and is awesome.

Just have to find out when Rampart is open and if there are any closures in the area. I'm thinking mid-May?

[Brody]

As a suggestion for some slightly more challenging runs in roughly the same area, try doing FS 323/324 and a lot of the spur roads off of these. Slightly harder, usually with some good views of Pikes Peak, interesting terrain. I have done a huge amount of rock climbing and exploring all through these areas. Fun...

[trailfiend]

What day of the week are you thinking about going? I'd love to go, it looks like a cool place to check out! I've been wanting to go again soon.. I'm free Monday's and Wednesday's if either could work for you?..

[dannanw]

I know that area well... Aka rainbow falls.

[Java]

What day of the week are you thinking about going? I'd love to go, it looks like a cool place to check out! I've been wanting to go again soon.. I'm free Monday's and Wednesday's if either could work for you?..

There may be some closures along there, someone else (sorry can't remember who) posted almost the same exact run a few days before me (I missed the post) and said that the roads off Rampart were closed, he had to take 67 around the west side. I haven't called the rangers yet, we'll see. I sometimes get weekdays off, those are the best times to go there as it gets crowded on weekends... I'll post it as a run if the ducks line up, and if I get a weekday free I'll go for that.

There is a cool gulches run in the area (Metberry, Longwater and Hackett) that I'm trying to get time for on 5/12, and I was thinking of heading back to Denver in the reverse order from Illinois out to Rampart...