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Leavenworth Creek Road is an offroad trail within Colorado's stunning Arapaho National Forest that offers an unmatched blend of thrilling adventure, historical richness, and natural beauty. As a well-preserved relic of the Argentine Central Railway, this demanding trail echoes the past, traversing the same steep, rocky terrain once overcome by silver miners' determined trains in the early 20th century. The trail takes wheelers along narrow shelf roads and winding paths, demanding skill and courage but rewarding with unrivaled vistas of the Continental Divide. Peaks such as Grays and Torreys punctuate the horizon, their grandeur a monumental testament to the allure of Colorado's wilderness. An adventure on the McClellan Mountain trail is not just an off-roading challenge but a journey through time, with the mesmerizing backdrop of the state's historic mining past and the breathtaking landscapes making it a genuine Colorado experience.
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Start a 7-day Free TrialFollow the signs to Guanella Pass that pepper the town as soon as you pass the visitor center. The signs have a blue background and the Columbine flower with "Guanella Pass Scenic Byway" underneath. The pavement switchbacks a few times before reaching the trailhead. A large parking area is on either side of the road before a switchback. At the top of that switchback is a lookout over the valley below. Note: It's possible to air down here, but it's recommended that you do so at the parking area just below the trailhead.
Trailsoffroad spoke to Trout Unlimited to get additional details on the remediation work going on at Waldorf and was able to get additional details on the changes on the trail.
First and foremost, these trails will largely stay open. The FS is required by law to keep these trails open for a variety of reasons. The network of trails is vast in the area though and they appear to be moving things around to manage the area better.
There will be no major remediation work at the mine this year. Crews will be working to do some vegetation and prep and stabilization work for the Waldorf mine area for 2020. Access to Waldorf mine is TRESPASSING and you will receive a ticket if caught.
Late last year, the Forest Service decommissioned the spur known as the "Hill Climb" at Waldorf. We have not spoken with the FS yet, but it's believed that this wasn't part of the original network of trails and the FS may have closed it to discourage further inappropriate use of the Waldorf site.
We will provide additional updates and details as we get them.
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