Flake Road aka Illinois Gulch

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4.7/5 (53 reviews)
Westcreek, Colorado (Douglas County)
Last Updated: 06/05/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Just north of Woodland Park, Flake Road is a bucket-list item for Wheelers in Colorado. It's a well-used trail that has, over time, branched different paths, each providing a unique challenge. The main attraction is "Mini-Moab," known for its Utah-like red rock formations. It's a significant, formidable obstacle that offers varying degrees of difficulty over large boulders and shelves, drawing off-road enthusiasts from all corners of the state. Part of the 15 square mile Rainbow Falls Trail Network in Pike National Forest, Flake Road is a popular spot open all year and can be busy in the summer with people testing the rigs. So, if you're up for a thrilling ride coupled with stunning views, Flake Road is your destination.


Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.7/5 (53)
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 07/24/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

This is an amazing trail with lots of options, lines, and paths to explore. As far as moderate trails, this one is more challenging. I would rate it a 4 out of 5 for difficulty.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/24/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Trail was totally dry for us today. Where the mudhole typically is, I made it through fine on 35's with a lift, buddy on 33's with small lift needed a hand. Mini moab is of course the main draw here, but is getting pretty wore out. Alot of the rocks have deep undercuts now. We weren't interested in breaking anything so played it conservatively here and didn't try playing around too much. The big downhill after mini moab should be a concern in wet or winter conditions. It's over 30° downhill, long, and a bit slippy even in dry conditions. This is a really fun trail, with options to make it as easy/hard as you'd like.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/15/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Great “backwards” run down Flake Rd (WP 7-1) today so we could go “up” Mini Moab. Picked the far left line, no problemo (Rubicon 392 XR and buddy’s Rousch Raptor). Bogs near WP 4 were a no-go for sure - betting deep one was over 2 ft easy … lots of daily rain lately.
Trail Review: Flake Road aka Illinois Gulch - Thomas Regen
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 05/26/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Super fun trail! Went west to east, and came back via Missouri Gulch. I liked all of the options (easier or harder) at most spots along the way. Probably a few good water traversing routes (one was deeper than we anticipated, but fine … one was “Aww hell nah”). Moab Hill was crazy cool. With stock 1.5” lift and 35s on the Rubicon 392, I was comfortable doing any of the steps and looking north where you’re going down the hill, we chose the left trail (easy) bcuz I down have a lot of under armor yet (just diffs) and just haven’t driven enough to fully grasp all the 4-wheel options - noob. Would be interesting to try it east to west and go “up” Moab Hill sometime.
Trail Review: Flake Road aka Illinois Gulch - Thomas Regen
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 04/29/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Fun day. Lots of mud and little of everything. Stock vehicles will be able to play around the obstacles as the obstacles have a variety of lines from easy to hard.

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