Apex Valley Road

3.5/5 (24 reviews)
Black Hawk, Colorado (Gilpin County)
Last Updated: 08/06/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Apex Valley Road is an easy, pleasant drive up a beautiful mountain valley past quaint summer cottages and picturesque year-round residences. This road provides access to several more difficult trails and is one of the main entry points into the extensive network of 4x4 trails around Dakota Hill and Oregon Hill. Along the way it passes through the middle of the ghost town of Apex, giving you a glimpse into the rich mining history of the area. Above Apex the road becomes rougher and more rugged as it rises out of the valley up the side of Dakota Hill. The switchbacks along this portion of the trail offer spectacular views of the surrounding mountains to the south and west. This trail can be an easy, scenic outing or the beginning of a longer adventure on the many connecting trails.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

3.5/5 (24 reviews)
Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 03/11/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Most of the trail was great and easy up to waypoint 10. After that it was pretty much impassible. Decided to try and go past it, and ended up sliding into the ditch next to the trail. Had to get winched out and saw several other vehicles struggle at the same location.
Partially Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 01/28/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Best described as residential two-lane gravel road. It was well plowed up to waypoint 10, afterwards it's basically impassable (see photos). Even though Apex Valley Road itself isn't interesting, it gives you acess to various other (more exciting and challenging) trails.
1500
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 10/22/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Cool little road, nothing too special!
Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 10/21/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Joined the trail coming from Elk Park Road, made a left towards the end of the trail and went up and down Dakota Hill, great views and a few nice campsites. It gets much rockier after waypoint 9, however waypoints 1-8 is a smooth, 2-wide dirt road. Aired back up somewhere around waypoint 2 before rejoining the main road. I'll rate the trail spot-on since I do believe after waypoint 9 is a 2-2 difficulty, however the first part is definitely a 1-1.
400
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 10/08/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Wide, relatively smooth, easy drive

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