Cascade Creek

I descended in my 2017 F150 from Lamartine Road at waypoint 11. This trailer is significantly more difficult than what it's rated, and I wouldn’t suggest this trail unless your vehicle is heavily modified. At this point, I would rate this trial at five and maybe a six at some points. Between waypoints 9 and 10, large shelves require a high clearance and large tires, and I would say that’s now the new hardest part of the trail. Sections six through seven are difficult but doable with moderate lift and at least 33” tires. I would recommend a spotter if you went. My truck is basically a stock F150 with 33” tires and full skid plates. I sustained trail damage on the side of the truck, and I would recommend having rock sliders.

I descended this from waypoint 8 in my Colorado ZR2 and had a difficult time. I'm on 265's and i was definitely pushing the vehicles limits. I high centered on my skid plate once and hit my rock sliders multiple times lol. Id compare it to a 5 rating imo. I remember doing this with my buddy last year and it was not this chunky. Definitely some spots you'd need high clearance

I agree with others, this was harder than I remembered in years past. I banged my skids a couple times, once even getting a bit high centered on a rock. I’ve got a small lift and 33’s and wouldn’t recommend doing this trail with much less. The thing I’m more impressed by is how they got all those abandoned vehicles up there near the start of the trail. It’s before the tougher sections but must have been more of a dirt road back then

Trail is open. I would agree with others that it needs a review to a 5 rating. Took two Jeeps on 35's through with no damage, but would hate to push anything stock through. The section at waypoint 6 is significantly eroded and there is a lot of rock stacking going on to make it passable for most rigs. The upper section is full of loose boulders and is a fun challenge, not too hard but just enough.

This isn’t a 4. It’s more of a 5-6 , requires a lifted rig and experienced drivers stock vehicle is possible but not recommended

Trail is totally clear and passable. Fantastic trail with some true moderate “rock crawling”portions. We had a stock gladiator with us that took some small damage and my rig took a bit of damage as well. I would say this is more like a 5-6 difficulty

Lots of deep snow on the top above 10000 feet, especially in the shaded areas. I was able to exit from Spring Creek all the way down, but was definitely dragging the belly and axles in the snow, and I'm on 37s. Conditions are improving daily, probably 2-3 weeks until all the snow is gone

The trail is clear to waypoint three, but I know from experience that it's too early to go any further at this point. The next section afterwards does not get a lot of sun. We took a right at waypoint three, 710.1C, and connected with Ute creek road making a nice little 30 minute scouting loop. That connection between cascade Creek and Ute creek is difficult when dry and the best opportunity to do some good obstacle tackling, but because it's a bit of a shelf road I would not try it if you are squeamish about snow. There was still some snow on the trail for sure but it was slushy and not very deep. I certainly do not like driving on snow but the 37 inch tires did not slip at any point during the run.... might try going past waypoint 3 next weekend since the weather has been so warm.

Fun trail. TJ on 31s and XJ on 32s ran it no problem. Needed a bit of spotting but wasn't too bad. What got interesting was when we took a wrong turn onto some random trail. Took quite a bit of body damage on that one and it took a while to get back out of there so just make sure to scout out the trail before you send it. Way too easy to get lost back there with no cell service.

This trail was alot of fun. One spot was froze over and made things interesting. Definintly tested our stock JL.

Due to the rain, this has become much more difficult. Need to use 4L and my lockers a few times. Lots of just big enough boulders to keep you on your toes.

Very fun, completed in a 1st gen Durango with a 2” lift and 32” tires. Several pretty difficult obstacles, a jeep with 35” or bigger would have no issues. A lift and 4lo are required. Pretty muddy and the obstacles required a good spotter and a fair bit of throttle. Would be a lot easier in the dry season but definitely doable and very rewarding.

Ran this in a Tacoma with 2.5 inch lift on 33s. Didn't need 4low until about a quarter the way in. Airdown is highly recommended. Otherwise, great trail that ended up a junction full of aspens! One, maybe 2 walls that a spot was needed for, otherwise, just a rocky, bumpy trail.

We ran this with a Built Landcruiser 100 in combination with Saxon Mountain and Griffin/Woodchuck. This was by far the most challenging part of the day. The upper portion of Cascade Creek was washed out in many places, leaving large rocks and difficult lines in several spots. There were definitely places that exceeded the 4 rating. Conversely the lower section of the trail would rate a 2 to 3 tops with areas running from gravel to smaller rocks. This provided a nice challenge for the end of the day. Scenery is minimal, with the exception of peeking through a fence at the treasures held by a mountainside junkyard while driving through. Gotta say, there were a few old trucks were super cool to see. High clearance is definitely a must in the current state of this trail and should be added to the concerns in my opinion.

This trail was a ton of fun, but be warned that the pics in the waypoints section don't prepare you for just how rocky it really is. Ran it in a 4Runner with a 3" lift and feel like it was pretty much right at the truck's limit. I don't think I'd recommend trying it in a stock vehicle unless you're willing to stack a lot of rocks. If you've got the right vehicle though it's a fun challenge in a pretty area, and we encountered very little other on-trail traffic on an otherwise busy Sunday afternoon in the mountains.

We ran this trail downhill after going up the Saxon Mountain trail, they were both a lot of fun and offered different experiences. There were at least 3 spots that I would rate higher than a 4 and would not attempt in a stock vehicle.

Since Devils Canyon was so short we were not quite ready to call it a day and decided to run this one up from ***** Pass. Like others have stated there are a few spots that might be a bit tricky for a stock 4WD due to erosion. I was lazy and didn’t air down and as a result had to use A-Trac a handful of times. But the ride back down was where I really regretted that even though I took an “easier” option. There is a some private property along this trail which has quite a few abandoned vehicles that I’m not sure could all make it to where they sit currently, so this must have been a much easier trail at some point in time.

Fun trail, alot of erosion over the past year has made 5-6 spots very challenging for even a stock Rubi. If you are ok stacking rocks this is still moderate, but if you just want to Yeet the trail is certainly difficult around those features. It's a great time if you are ready for that.

Cascade Creek is a great trail. Trail is open all the way to the end. Not the best for views, but you can connect to other trails as you end this one. It has some good obstacles and is a great beginner type of trail assuming you have some off road experience. As long as you are careful on your lines you can get away with no damage at all. Waypoint 6 I did scrape my front and rear diff, but this was more me trying to take the hardest line possible.

Got to waypoint 7 before I decided to turn around being alone. The snow was just getting deeper and deeper. Had to use my rear lockers just to get that far 17 Taco 2.5 lift stock tires CBI full load out

Decent amount of snow stopped us at Waypoint 6. XJ 30" K02s at 10 psi with Detroit Truetrac in rear. With significantly bigger tires and a front locker it might be passable. We just couldn't get traction to get over the obstacle. 710.1C on the north side of the trail at Waypoint 3 is open and is some nice mild snow wheeling. Only a couple of tricky spots. We enjoyed the winter scenery.

Trail is clear for the most part, a couple of icy spots but very short in length made it through the loop clockwise just fine...only had to use locker once

Trail is completely iced over between waypoints 2 and 3.

Trail is a bit icy in spots but doable (4Runner on 34s and Tacoma on 35s). Ran the trail open/open without issue. Made it to the Saxton Mtn junction. Careful passing the house about 1/4 way up the trail as a fence has fallen on the trail and there are screws pointing up out of they fence. Was able to drive around but someone is about to have a bad day if they aren’t careful.

Trail is open, however when we ran on 12/5 there is an abandoned excavator blocking the trail. Looks like it threw a track. I imagine it will be moved soon. Blockage is on FR 712.1. Trail is way more rutted and rocky than it was over the summer. I think it is slightly harder than the description. Overall still had a blast! Mostly stock 3rd gen Tacoma, I have about a 2" lift and didn't have any real issues. Some ice when running clockwise that could be super scary if going counter clockwise.

Xterra with 3” lift and 33” tires. First time off roading in Colorado with some prior experience in Moab. Went solo with the dogs in search of aspens changing colors had a great time. Trail is extremely rocky with loose patches but I felt comfortable the whole time.

Three of us from Patrol 14 of Mile-Hi Jeep Club ran this trail. Two of our Jeeps were on 33's and one was on 37's. No one had any issues with the trail, and the obstacles made for a fun day out. The main goal was to see some color changes in the aspens and enjoy a day out with friends. Overall, I think the rating is spot on. Stock or low clearance vehicles may have some trouble with the obstacles. I don't have any pictures of the difficult obstacles. The pictures represent the beginning of the trail relatively and the end of the trail relatively (sorry, the challenging stuff is in-between).

It appears this trail has gotten bad very quickly at the Obstacles at WP6. There are two major rock ledges to climb over and I did not feel comfortable with my 4Runner in it's current form (only a 2.5" lift and 31.6" tires). I'd feel much better with 33s, skids, and sliders. There is a turnout right before the first ledge turn around if necessary. The photos with the 4Runner are the first obstacle, and the last photo is the second obstacle.

Fun little trail, some great potential camping spots. There are a couple of places where slides are adding some off camber on the shelf roads.

I agree there are some difficult sections on this trail running it from the east to west which require good tire placement even with 35s. This trail is bordering on a 5 rating. Fun trail with connections to many others. Connected to Saxon Mtn and into Georgetown for a great day!

Very rocky/bouncy - definitely air down for a smoother ride. I agree that this trail has increased in difficulty; with all the erosion present, this is bordering on "difficult" in my opinion. High clearance vehicles/bigger tires recommended.

I do not share the opinion of 4/10 on this trail considering Loch Lommond is a 3/10. I've seen an Integra and other 2wd vehichles do Loch Lommond. This trail is much harder than it was last season. This trail should be a 5 pushing a 6. Some of the obstacles have gotten more challenging. There are bypasses for most technical spots except one higher above the Ute creek Junction. This trail is really amazing though.

First time on this trail. A fun run, along with Lamartine. During the week, no one was on the trail. A few spots with ice and snow. Overall, a good day.

Trail was in good condition. A few wet spots and a tiny bit of running water. One downed tree that needs to be removed in order to make it the last .25 mile or so. Afterwords heading into Idaho springs for a beer is never a bad idea

This Trail was an absolute blast in the fresh snow. However, somewhere by Waypoint 7/8 I had to back it down.

Trail was GREAT today! Made it extremely far for this time of year. The trail was extremely tracked out and appears to be heavily used since the last snow. Snow is extremely wind blown sugar snow, so very little traction. Between wp9 and wp10 there is a dangerous ice flow to be aware of. 39.714156, -105.658859. We made it a few hundred yards beyond wp10 to a steep uphill climb that was really slick and icy. We couldn't make it up and opted to turn around rather than winch the hill. There were tracks on the hill however, most likely coming downhill from South Spring Gulch.

Snow packed and icy throughout the entire trail. Do not attempt from the west side. Snow busting should only be attempted from the east side out of Idaho Springs. Not recommended for stock vehicles. Go prepared to get stuck and self recover.

This is a fun and challenging trail. Like others posted, the obstacles at WP 6,8 are getting very dug out. I made it up them slightly scraping my front diff (29" tires) and my buddy gave his front a solid knock on 33"s. We then ran south spring creek to ute creek back to 103 for a fun loop!

This is a new favorite to visit wild flowers. The trail is fantastic. The obstacles are phenomenal fun. I think like others have said a 4 rating may not be adequate. I think a 5 is more appropriate. The water crossings are low enough to be safe about deep enough to make it up to the middle of a wheel at the most. I loved this trail.

Won't be long before the challenging spots will exceed the 4 rating, as it becomes more dug out. Clear all the way through. Plenty of evidence that many trees blocked the track earlier this year.

This was a challenging but fun trail for my stock 5th Gen 4Runner with 265 AT tires. Plenty of rock obstacles which left a few marks on my skid plates. Compared to other 4 rated trails I run, I believe this is a bit more difficult!

Trail was in good condition, definitely a challenge for novice off-roaders. We managed to get through unscathed with correct line choices in stock Tacoma with sliders and mildly lifted 4 runners and a moderately modified JK. There are a few obstacles which required careful line choices, all vehicles were on 32" or 31" tires. Trail would much easier with a mild lift and larger tires (35+") but was a fun and challenging trail. Video linked shows small section of what would be considered the first Gatekeeper obstacle, there is a much more challenging obstacle about 3/4 of the way through the trail coming from the south.

Fairly easy trail just a little rocky. No real challenging spots. No snow along route all open.

Trail is free of all snow and in good shape.

Had to go winch my buddy out. Went about 2 miles up. He said he made it to the top? He got stuck on the way down...

Philip's review from 7/6/19 holds accurate. Made almost the same loop (up Cascade and down South Spring), and this trail seemed more difficult than the description says. Think the snow melt washed out the rock sections, exposing the boulders more. Did end up making it through alone in a Wrangler JL Sport, with 35's and a few inch lift with no dings or scratches to speak of, but it was the most difficult trail I've been down. Highly recommend a spotter and some recovery gear if you're going to give this one a go, unless you have the rig for it. In my limited off-road experience, I'd say this trail is currently more a 4-6 rating. I thought this was much harder than Hamlin Gulch, for comparison. I ran into only one stock SUV that turned around pretty early, so had the trail to myself. No cell reception throughout. In a nutshell, be prepared for the trail to be more difficult than this site says.

Set out to do this trail today and make a loop of it. Starting at Cascade, looping to South Spring and exiting on Ute creek. FJ Cruiser, 2.5" lift, 33" BFG All-Terrains, camping gear weight, experienced driver. Fun in the kind of way that ending a day saying, "it could have been much worse" is fun. I think our awesome amount of snow this year has led to lots of eroded run off lines and even more exposed boulders. Large rock stretches with deep ruts inbetween. The steepest sections are supper rough and the difficult areas are indeed that. Long story short, and know that we tried going clockwise first and then counter-clockwise... Experienced drivers with a proper lift looking to hoof it up a hill and meander around some trails, have at it. All others like me, looking for an exciting, key word MODERATE off road trail thats easy to follow and has good camp spots. Be warned. Make shift shooting range towards the start point is audible almost the entire time, mostly private property with at times lots of abandoned cars/stuff out both sides of the window, damage likely to modestly upgraded 4x4's, trail should be rated quite a bit higher than 4 for sure. No camp sites worth bragging about. Poor forest service maintenance. Most signs have seen too many bullet holes and are completely unreadable. We encountered multiple people on trail either turning around, pissed off at the rating, lost up some "short cut" or like me shocked they haven't broken a half-shaft. My crew is biased because we didn't experience the whole loop but likely would have broken something if we tried and thats the point.

another great area close to Denver

Ran this trail yesterday, and it's clear all the way through, though there is a bit of runoff in spots. Really enjoyed it! I drive an Xterra lifted 2.5" on 33's, and there were a few spots where I had to have my buddy spot me through, but made it through no problem.

Lots of runoff in spots.

Snow has fallen in the area and this trail is now mostly impassable until next year.

Made a loop starting on Ute Creek, to South Spring Gulch then back on Cascade so we were running the opposite direction as the trail guide. The rocks and "obstacle" at way points 6 and 7 have definitely gotten quite rutted but as we were going downhill we didn't have any issues. Only saw 2 other vehicles outside of our crew of 6. Great day on the trail and a perfect way to kick off the wheeling season.

Took this trail to camp one night, running it West. The obstacles at waypoint 6/7 were seemingly more difficult than I expected for a 4-4 rating, but I'm still a novice so I could just be underestimating it. My Land Cruiser had no issue traversing it, but my buddy's lifted Pathfinder struggled and needed a couple tries to get up. I banged up the running boards, but that doesn't mean much. Need sliders! Overall a fun track. Lots of rocky sections, but most aren't very difficult. This is a fun introduction to "real" offroading, I think.

Snow has fallen making this trail mostly impassable until next season.

Wet day on the trail. While the weather was nice, the trail had obviously seen some snow. We got on the trail about noon and most of the dust had melted, leaving only a few spots. It's only a few more weeks before the snow starts sticking here. The rock obstacle was much rougher than we remember when we ran this trail two years ago. There was some snowpack which may have diminished some of the rocks. The rocks were all exposed and it took some negotiating. At the very top of the climb, around waypoint 7 or 8, there was a large rock that you couldn't see until going over the top. We landed right on top and just had to scrape along. The placement of this rock didn't look natural and may have been placed there magically. I moved the rock to the closed trail entrance on the side of the trail.