Mill Creek

4.1/5 (22 reviews)
Empire, Colorado (ClearCreek County)
Last Updated: 12/18/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

The entire Empire 4X4 Loop provides a full "Colorado" experience, but Mill Creek takes it to the next level. This trail includes a well-preserved historic cabin, mining ruins, stream crossings, snow-patched mountains, aspen trees, rocks to crawl over, and wildflowers. This off-road trail has something for everyone and should not be missed. It sits about 1 hour from Denver, Colorado, and is within the Arapahoe National Forest. You can combine this trail with other trails in the area for a full day of off-road fun that is just challenging enough to keep the wheeling interesting while soaking in the amazing views of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.1/5 (22)
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/17/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Much of this trail is a continuous level 4 as you weave your way around trees and over rock challenges. There are only a couple of easy short patches. It can feel relentless. This is not a trail for a full-size vehicle. Even with my JLUR there were some very tight spots. By the end of this trail you will have had lots of practice learning where all 4 corners of your Jeep are.
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 07/02/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Wide open all the way through. Great scenic, bumpy trail and defiantly takes some time in a 4x4 and some tight spots in the trees.
Open
Rated 1/5
Visited: 06/18/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

I think this trail is a minimum of 5 rating all the way around, plus it doesn't stop. You are constantly getting hammer for the entire loop. We tried to do it with an off-road trailer, big mistake and ended up turning around. Plus this is not a trail to take a full-size vehicle on, even with my JLU there were some very tight spots. I've learn just to stay off this trail, I've gotten body damage every time I've been up here.
Open
Visited: 06/08/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Ran this trail last Wednesday (6/8/22) via Bill Moore Lake. Trail is in good shape. Did not encounter snow until around waypoints 11-12.Without winching through the snow drifts, the trail would have been impassable. With the warm temps over the last week the snow should not be a factor anymore. The stream Crossings were not deep-less than a foot at most with a firm bottom.. Anything just past a stock Rig should make it through.
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 11/23/2021
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Definitely tight and slippery in spots with probably 6-8 inches of snow on the ground. Still runnable but definitely take it slow and take a recovery buddy just in case.

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