TRAIL NEWS, CONDITIONS, AND MAPS FOR FREMONT COUNTY, CAÑON CITY, AND THE ROYAL GORGE REGION
Trail conditions are at the bottom of this page...
Yes, we'd like you to scan the news items below on your way down.
Contact:
Please feel free to contact Fremont Adventure Recreation at [email protected] or the Lower Arkansas Mountain Bicycling Association (LAMBA) at [email protected].
To submit a trail report, please click here. We appreciate your help in reporting accurate trail conditions to our trail users. There are 52 miles of trail in Fremont County, and your assistance is vital!
Yes, we'd like you to scan the news items below on your way down.
Contact:
Please feel free to contact Fremont Adventure Recreation at [email protected] or the Lower Arkansas Mountain Bicycling Association (LAMBA) at [email protected].
To submit a trail report, please click here. We appreciate your help in reporting accurate trail conditions to our trail users. There are 52 miles of trail in Fremont County, and your assistance is vital!
Suspicious Activities:
f you see anything suspect or dangerous (ex. loose dogs or trash dumping) while out enjoying public lands in the Royal Gorge region we encourage you to provide basic information to local law enforcement. The non-emergency numbers for local law enforcement are:
Information may also be provided to FAR and we will forward to the appropriate agencies - [email protected].
Information may also be provided to FAR and we will forward to the appropriate agencies - [email protected].
Royal Gorge Park Trails - New Trail - Point Alta Vista:
The Point Alta Vista Trail is now open. Parking is immediately off of County Road 3A. Trail is an old miniature tourist train route that includes several old trestles that have been re-decked. Leads to the viewpoint at Point Alta Vista and makes for a nice easy scenic walk or an easy way to start a more extensive ride/hike/run in the Royal Gorge trail system. First mile is through private property on an easement - stay on the trail. The parking area has no toilet - if you need a toilet, please continue up the road to the main County Road 3A parking and trailhead where there is a vault toilet. See trail and parking information in Trailforks. Enjoy.
Royal Gorge Park Trails - Parking:
The lower (though now above the Point Alta Vista parking) County Road 3A parking lot is small. If using this lot please park head-in on the north side of the lot. This lot has no toilet - if you need a toilet, please continue up the road to the main County Road 3A parking and trailhead where there is a vault toilet. There is also day parking in the East Ridge Campground near the vault toilet there.
South Cañon Trails - New Trails - The Yard
The newest addition to the South Cañon Trail system is now complete. The Yard includes two downhill flow trails and a climbing line. Please read, comprehend, and adhere to all signage. See trails and additional information in Trailforks. Enjoy.
Oil Well Flats trails - Toilet:
Please remember that there is a BLM vault toilet on Red Canyon Road approximately 0.5 miles south (towards Cañon City) of the Oil Well Flats turnoff. There are no facilities - toilet, trash, or water - at the Oil Well Flats trailheads or dispersed camping, please plan and act accordingly.
Oil Well Flats trails - Camping:
Camping at Oil Well Flats is quickly becoming a problem. Please follow standard low impact camping practices including:
- camp only in existing sites - sites are now numbered 1 through 22
- use an existing fire ring or better yet, bring and use a fire pan for any camp fires
- bring your own firewood - do not cut trees or expect to be able to gather downed limbs
- make sure any campfires are dead out prior to leaving the site
- respect local fire bans that may be in place
- have and use a portable toilet system for all human (and dog) waste (ex. wag bags)
- do not let dogs run off-leash if cows or wildlife are in the area
- pack out all trash
- mind the food crumbs, or the site will be infested by ants next time you try to camp
- if you see a trashy camp, vicious loose dogs, or a squatter that has been in a site for more than 14 days, please contact us ASAP with details ([email protected]).
TRAIL CONDITIONS
If you have trail conditions reports please use the Trailforks app/web or send them to [email protected]
If you are reading this page you likely don't need to be told, but as a friendly reminder to everyone else - DO NOT USE MUDDY TRAILS! If the trail is sticking to your feet, tires, or animal feet/hoofs, or if you are leaving deep ruts, foot or hoof prints, you need find something else to do while the trails dry out. Don't be the person that causes months of trail damage because you couldn't wait until the trails were dry - and we are dry often so you'll get your chance.
Special note to equestrian users: These reports are written for human powered users (i.e. 100-250 pound humans which are walking/hiking/running or may be riding 20-30 pound bicycles - both of which have a generally soft rubber interface with the trail). Please realize that as trails dry out there is a period of time when human powered users will not cause trail damage but a 1000+ pound animal (in addition to the rider's weight) while interfacing the trail with a stiff horseshoe will cause trail damage. For this reason, additional drying time is often necessary for equestrian use. Thank you for considering your impact to trail conditions and the experience of other user groups. You may also find this page a worthy read: http://www.joinfar.org/equestrian-trail-use.html
If you are reading this page you likely don't need to be told, but as a friendly reminder to everyone else - DO NOT USE MUDDY TRAILS! If the trail is sticking to your feet, tires, or animal feet/hoofs, or if you are leaving deep ruts, foot or hoof prints, you need find something else to do while the trails dry out. Don't be the person that causes months of trail damage because you couldn't wait until the trails were dry - and we are dry often so you'll get your chance.
Special note to equestrian users: These reports are written for human powered users (i.e. 100-250 pound humans which are walking/hiking/running or may be riding 20-30 pound bicycles - both of which have a generally soft rubber interface with the trail). Please realize that as trails dry out there is a period of time when human powered users will not cause trail damage but a 1000+ pound animal (in addition to the rider's weight) while interfacing the trail with a stiff horseshoe will cause trail damage. For this reason, additional drying time is often necessary for equestrian use. Thank you for considering your impact to trail conditions and the experience of other user groups. You may also find this page a worthy read: http://www.joinfar.org/equestrian-trail-use.html
Trail Conditions as of 02/07/2022
In one word…..SNUD (snow and mud)
Oil Well Flats:
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
South Cañon / Section 13:
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
Hogbacks
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
Royal Gorge
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
River Trails / Tunnel Drive
Crusher fine and road base trails will be sloppy where not plowed. Expect snow, slush, and soft trails as we melt out. While these won't be 'muddy' due to their surface material, if you are leaving prints/ruts you really should consider giving them some time to dry out.
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
South Cañon / Section 13:
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
Hogbacks
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
Royal Gorge
Plenty of snow with warming temperatures = mud. DO NOT USE Muddy Trails.
River Trails / Tunnel Drive
Crusher fine and road base trails will be sloppy where not plowed. Expect snow, slush, and soft trails as we melt out. While these won't be 'muddy' due to their surface material, if you are leaving prints/ruts you really should consider giving them some time to dry out.
Local trail maps for mountain biking and hiking in Cañon City, directions to trailheads, and general descriptions of the the best trails in the Cañon City and Royal Gorge region can be found in the FAR Adventure Guide.
Stand alone maps for Oil Well Flats, Section 13, Hogbacks, Royal Gorge Park, and South Cañon can be downloaded from the links below. Please note that these PDF versions can lag (way) behind in regards to new trail construction. For the most up to date information use the Trailforks webpage or phone app (and be sure to refresh the Colorado data set if using the app).
Stand alone maps for Oil Well Flats, Section 13, Hogbacks, Royal Gorge Park, and South Cañon can be downloaded from the links below. Please note that these PDF versions can lag (way) behind in regards to new trail construction. For the most up to date information use the Trailforks webpage or phone app (and be sure to refresh the Colorado data set if using the app).
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