Yankee Hill Road

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4.5/5 (130 reviews)
Central City, Colorado (Gilpin County)
Last Updated: 07/22/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Forest Category Icon Forest
Mine Category Icon Mine
Snow Wheeling Category Icon Snow Wheeling

Located just west of the historic mining and gambling town of Central City, Yankee Hill Road takes you directly into a network of off-road trails known as the Yankee Hill Trail System. This large trail network offers amazing high alpine views and miles of trails that can be combined to create numerous routes for a full day or even an entire weekend of off-road fun.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Yankee Hill Road is the main artery through what is considered the "Yankee Hill Trail System." This nearly 6-mile straight-through route follows Forest Service Road 175.1 from Central City to Alice near Saint Mary's Glacier. Much of this trail is an easy bumpy dirt road, especially on the west side. However, the eastern half of the trail has several sections with large rocks, small boulders, and deep erosion ruts that can only be avoided by taking completely separate trails. Along the way, you will pass numerous other trail options that range from easier to more difficult. Any high clearance stock SUV can safely navigate this route.

Trail Reviews

4.5/5 (131)
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1200
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Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/22/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Nice quick trail near Denver, surprisingly didn't come across anyone until the very end of the trail.
Trail Review: Yankee Hill Road - NB
Trail Review: Yankee Hill Road - NB
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Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/05/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Great trail with lots of fun obstacles! I had no trouble getting through this trail with a stock land rover lr4.
Trail Review: Yankee Hill Road - Erick Vargas
Trail Review: Yankee Hill Road - Erick Vargas
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Visited: 09/03/2023

I didn't complete this trail, I ran it from waypoint 12 (exiting Sheridan Hill) until waypoint 21 so I'll refrain from rating the difficulty but this trail is amazingly gorgeous. Waypoint 18 and 19 are spectacular views and great places to stop for lunch but we did encounter a decent amount of mosquitos at waypoint 19 during lunch. I didn't encounter anyone the entire day doing Cumberland Gulch and Sheridan Hill but Yankee hill was pretty packed. I'll definitely come back another day when I have more time and finish all of Yankee Hill and give it a proper rating, but from waypoint 12 to 21 a 3 difficulty is spot on.
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Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/03/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

I started from the mine road trailhead, completed the large hill climb with no issues then stayed on 175.1 the rest of the way due to heavy rain. 2003 gx470, 2 inch lift, 32” tires, no issues completing the trail. Ive driven yankee hill multiple times the past few years and the trail was a little harder than I remembered it being in the past due to erosion and more exposed rocks. Slippery conditions from the rain and then some larger rocks in parts of the trail requiring careful tire placement made the drive a lot of fun. There was a few off camber parts that were very eroded and will give you a chance to test your suspension articulation. Aside from a few small taps to the skid plates and rock sliders i navigated the trail without issue. I agree with the rating of 4 but think the erosion is making the trail more challenging for stock vehicles. The rock gardens between waypoints 5-10 probably would require careful line choices to navigate. If you have a modified vehicle with armor, lift, bigger tires, should have no issues at all.
Trail Review: Yankee Hill Road - Antonio Flores
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500
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Visited: 08/20/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I tried this in both directions for parts of it. Last week I ran from east to west and made it to the rock garden, ended up getting a little stuck on a rock and turning around to do some of the other trails headed towards Nederland. Great views and had fun going through some of the mud pits. This week I ran the trail west to east and did a few trails on that side which was fun. I think this trail poses a decent challenge for stock vehicles yet still doable.

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