All Dirt to the Dunes

[Java]

I've been looking into a route to the Walden Sand Dunes / North Sand Hills that would use as many trails as possible between Ft. Collins and Walden. Hoping to run everything there on a Friday or Saturday, camp overnight, run the dunes during the day and head back late afternoon. Maybe stay a 2nd night...

Starting from Harmony road and I-25:

Harmony Rd west to CR23, this goes around Horsetooth Reservoir. Not a trail, but a beautiful drive. A video of this section would be kinda dull, so here's Cloverton the deaf dog riding around it. :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_6OpIGJ7Q

From CR23 make a left / west on CR5E, Rist Canyon Rd. This is paved too, but just gorgeous. Here's a sidecar video of that section, they're going west to east so they end up at CR23 (above):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI8ODhD56H0

This ends up at Stove Prarie Road

EDIT- Old Flowers is currently closed, so:

Left / West on 14 to CR69; turn right / North on 69 to Red Feather Lakes

EDIT- Sevenmile is currently closed

[Java]

EDIT- deleted video of sevenmile :(

Turn left / West on Dead Man Road, also listed as 162. Wells Book #3. This is a maintained dirt road.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0PFPbM8cz4

End at CR80c, turn left / west. At intersection with CR103 / Laramie River road turn right / North on 103. Follow 103 to intersection with FS200 / Hohnholz Lakes, turn left / West. FS200 is the back way to the North Sand Hills. Follow 200 to 157 to 204, along the powerlines to the dunes.

http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=364 & http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=366 Wells Book#2.

This is a video of the back way from the dunes up. They start at a dispersed site in the North Sand Hills (there is a TON of camping there) and head up, I recognize a sign @ 2:09 and a washout from the Wells book.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A91xpneci2Q

Here's the North Sand Hills, this is Shane57 and I there last year, my first time there. It's incredible!

http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=70 Wells Book #1.


http://vimeo.com/68917902

[Patrolman]

Sounds like it would be a cool trip! I have always wanted to go to Walden Dunes.

[Jim]

I imagine you've mapped these options out - curious to comments:

West end of Old Flowers Road to Kelly Flats then Kelly to Sevenmile?

Sevenmile to Bald Mountain and them BM to Deadman Road?

If you're up on Deadman, there's a forest lookout tower that's open to the public - if you have 30-45 minutes perhaps.
Deadman Lookout Tower (http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72 BTJw8jAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEH cDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEAHcGOlk!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMj AwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110210&ttype=recarea&recid=36647&actid=119&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=FSE_003741&pname=Canyon+Lakes+RD+%28West+of+Fort+Collins%2C+C O%29+-+Deadman+Lookout)

`got a kick out of the dog!

[redneck23ms]

flowers road has been closed since the fire. but you could take buckhorn road 44h over to pingree park. also rist canyon rd is 52e not 5e. running kelly flats to sevenmile to bald mountain to deadman would add a couple trails but will also add several hours and would definitely make it at least a 2 day trip

[ExplorerTom]

Interested.

[Java]

Jim- Those are great trails and nothing is written in stone... I kept the difficulty level at moderate and easy. The dunes are challenging, the rest is just a nice drive. Thanks for the link, I didn't know that 162 is now 86. :thumb:

Alex- typo! Thanks for posting about Buckhorn Road, I just found this. No comment aside from keep the volume up for maximum enjoyment.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx2ogi9p7AM

part 2:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pom6O6qcrQ

[redneck23ms]

buckhorn rd has been repaired since the flood and is back open. its just a basic gravel road so difficulty is very easy but it does get washboarded pretty good. but pennock pass won't open until late spring sometime

[WW2AVG]

If you're up on Deadman, there's a forest lookout tower that's open to the public - if you have 30-45 minutes perhaps.
Deadman Lookout Tower (http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72 BTJw8jAwgAykeaxcN4jhYG_h4eYX5hPgYwefy6w0H24dcPNgEH cDTQ9_PIz03VL8iNMMgycVQEAHcGOlk!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfME80MEkxVkFCOTBFMktTNUJIMj AwMDAwMDA!/?ss=110210&ttype=recarea&recid=36647&actid=119&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=null&cid=FSE_003741&pname=Canyon+Lakes+RD+%28West+of+Fort+Collins%2C+C O%29+-+Deadman+Lookout)

I did the Deadman tower thing earlier this year. It's pretty neat! If you are up running around that area and it is open (seasonal) I would recommend stopping in. The gal that was manning the tower while we visited was very pleasant and pointed out some of the things you could see in the distance.

Looks like it could be a nice trip!

[Jim]

I signed up to be a volunteer (but never made it last season - ugh) and am looking forward to this season!!

[ctracy5]

Hey you found my sevenmile vid lol. Just wondering on when you were think about this? I have wanted to get out to the dunes for some time. Hopefully sevenmile opens up soon.

[Java]

not sure of dates, summer for sure. I guess it will depend on when things open: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPyhQ oYAOUjMeXDfODy-HWHg-zDrx8kb4ADOBro-3nk56bqF-RGGGSZOCoCAPi8eX8!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjJNMD AwMDAwMDA!/?navtype=&cid=stelprdb5300963&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=&ss=110210&position=Not%20Yet%20Determined.Html&ttype=detail&pname=Arapaho

[Java]

Bump, I edited out the closed trails; it's the run for Sept 6, w/o the Old Roach stop.

These videos are intense, keep the volume up:


Alex- typo! Thanks for posting about Buckhorn Road, I just found this. No comment aside from keep the volume up for maximum enjoyment.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx2ogi9p7AM

part 2:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pom6O6qcrQ