Homestake Road

Once serving as a stagecoach route to the gold towns of Gold Park and Holy Cross City during the 1880s gold boom, Homestake Road is now a well-maintained, hard-packed dirt and gravel recreational access road. This wide dirt road winds through a glacial valley of lush meadows and thick pines, and offers an endless array of recreational activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, 4-wheeling, and non-motorized boating. The road is suitable for any vehicle, with the only concerns being the occasional washboard and pothole.

Dispersed camping along the road is restricted to designated sites only, marked with a sign and a steel fire ring. There are roughly 40 campsites along this stretch of road, ranging widely from hike-in campsites to large travel trailer sites. Some sites are suitable for just a single vehicle, while others can accommodate large groups. At 1.9 miles, there is a large OHV staging area with two fire rings, which is often used by trucks and trailers using the area to offroad for the day. If you are looking for something a little more formal, Gold Park Campground is a Forest Service-run campground located 7 miles down the road that has a bathroom and charges a nightly fee. During summer weekends, these campsites are popular and fill up fast.