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Flat top wilderness colorado

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Cbrown13623
Reg. Jan 2013
Posted 2013-01-01 9:03 AM (#149067)
Subject: Flat top wilderness colorado


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Posts: 1

Location: Lonsdale mn
We are looking at going to Colorado riding this summer. We have never ridding there. Do you know where the best riding is there? We have big rigs that we have to get in. We want to be in the mts, with some great riding. When does the snow leave? When is the best time to go? We are thinking about going the end of July.Connie
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Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2013-01-01 10:50 AM (#149072 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado



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Posts: 2453
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Location: Northern Utah

I'm in Utah, So a little west of where you want to go. But I can answer some of your question.

Colorado is a big state. There is a lot of areas to ride.  You need to be just little more specific about what you want? How big are your rigs and what kind of roads are you willing to travel?

Snow will be gone from the 8,000 elevation around 1st of June. This will let you get into most trail heads. Of course a bad winter could push that to the 1st of July

Snow will probably linger on the north faces, and higher elevation well into July. I usually don't try to cross mountain passes that are higher than 10,000 foot until late June or early July.

The Forest Service clears and maintains the trails as the snow recedes and on most used basis first. So lower elevation trail used heavily, will get cleared of dead falls first. The higher up the mountain or the deeper into wilderness areas a trail goes, The later in the season before somebody comes along and clears the trail. With all the beetle killed trees in the west. This is an issue each spring. Winter storms will blow over lots of old dead standing trees. If you are trying to get too high or too deep into the wilderness. You are better off waiting till July or bring your own saws.

As the snow melts, You have much more water than you will have later in the summer.  This causes the rivers to be much deeper to cross. Do the trails you are interested in cross streams? Just how comfortable are you with fording high water? I once came across a family of 3 ( Mom, Dad and 8 year old boy) They were stuck on an island that the Popo Agia river formed as it split and went around both side forming an island. They had had such a scare crossing the first branch of the river and they had set up camp on the island and gone no farther. They were hoping for colder temps and a slow down of the snow melt so the river would drop and slow. It wasn't a terrible crossing, but I got wet up to my knees sitting on a 16H horse. It wasn't what I considered a scary crossing, Just something you had to do if you wanted to proceed down the trail.

With all the excess water during the run off, you also get more mosquitos. As the snow melt subsides and summer temps climb, The mosquitos go away and you start to see more deer flies. So which bugs do you prefer to fight. June you are getting bit by mosquitos and July your horses are getting bit by deer flies.

I am sure there are areas you can ride in early June,  Just as there are areas that are better suited to riding in July or August.  Choose a date and it will be easier for folks to give you an idea of where to ride.

 

 

 

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Julep
Reg. Jul 2011
Posted 2013-01-01 7:05 PM (#149077 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado


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Posts: 42
25
Location: MO
One thing you need to consider is monsoon season.  We went two years ago the end of July in the Crede, CO area and it rained every day.  This year we went the end of June and although it did rain some it was not as bad.  We took our 42 ft trailer to Woods Lake near Telluride, CO.  Gorgeous riding out of camp with about a weeks worth of riding.  We also stayed at Palisades Horsecamp north of Pagosa Springs for two weeks.  The only problem there was we had to trailer out several days.  CO has some pretty riding.  A good place to research is www.fourcornerstrails.com.
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bbsmfg3
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2013-01-01 10:55 PM (#149086 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado


Extreme Veteran


Posts: 376
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Location: Missouri
If you truly want great riding, try the Gallatin Range in SW Montana.
The mountains of the Gallatin Range in SW Montana are the best we've seen.
We've been to Co, Wy, Ut, and none of them are even close to the scenery and trails of the Gallatin.

Take a look:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/koch/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/blowout/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/Carrot_basin/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/Daily_Pass/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/Mounument%20Mtn/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/mt_2009/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/shedhorn2/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v223/bbsmfg3/mt2005/

We are going to Cache Creek next year for the last 2 week of June and the first two weeks of July.
Cache Creek is about 60 miles SW of Big Sky. From Cache Creek Trail Head there's several weeks of good riding out of camp in all four directions. You can even ride over into Idaho from there

google maps:


https://maps.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x534543c073ff5a61:0x6d8146a...




Edited by bbsmfg3 2013-01-01 10:59 PM
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bbsmfg3
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2013-01-01 11:02 PM (#149087 - in reply to #149086)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado


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Posts: 376
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Location: Missouri
duplicate post

Edited by bbsmfg3 2013-01-01 11:05 PM
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bbsmfg3
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2013-01-01 11:07 PM (#149088 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado


Extreme Veteran


Posts: 376
100100100252525
Location: Missouri
try this link, not sure previous one worked. copy and paste the complete link

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=45.08654,-111.38658&z=17&t=H&marker0=45....

Edited by bbsmfg3 2013-01-01 11:09 PM
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pooperscooper
Reg. Mar 2005
Posted 2013-01-02 10:31 AM (#149095 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado


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Posts: 174
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Location: Missouri
We've been to the flat tops twice. We stayed at Marvine campground which is maybe 40 miles east of Meeker and have also stayed at Sweetwater Lake which is near Dotsero. Marvine is primitive with nice corrals, picnic tables and firerings. There's a campground on top of the hill, I think they call it East Marvine and would be easier to get into with large rigs. The sites in the lower campground are pretty tight although we did get our 40 ft trailer in one it wasn't easy. There are nice outhouses but no potable water. We dipped water out of the creek for the horses. You can get people water in Meeker and there's a dump station in the park. The riding is beautiful, probably 4 days riding from Marvine. If you could  trailer out the riding possiblilites are endless up there, with several trailheads within a few miles drive. Get the Trails Ilustrated maps of the Flat Tops. There's also another primitive campground on past Marvine called Horsethief I believe. It is near Trappers Lake, we did not camp or ride there but drove and checked it out. They had a massive fire several years ago in that area and lot of dead timber, kind of eerie and sad looking. The sites were small and unlevel. There are several trails from it but don't know how safe it would be to ride if the wind was blowing. Sweetwater lake is a private place, rundown but has pens and water, no electric. Several trails in this area to ride. Some are more high desert type riding til you get into the Flat top wilderness but nice trails and scenery. We were there Mid July both trips and had good weather, trails in good shape. How early you could go would depend on how much snow pack they get over the winter. None of these places takes reservations so its hard to know what is available.
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windy
Reg. Oct 2004
Posted 2013-01-02 3:53 PM (#149098 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado





100
Location: Colorado
I was going to suggest checking out Sweetwater also. Beautiful country, and good riding. I've had a long wheelbase semi with a looong(17 horse) trailer in to the Sweetwater Resort, so I wouldn't think you'd have problems getting your rig in and out.
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partimecowboy
Reg. May 2004
Posted 2013-01-15 6:32 PM (#149364 - in reply to #149067)
Subject: RE: Flat top wilderness colorado


Member


Posts: 28
25
Location: Casar, NC
We have ridden the Sangre DeCristo Mtn range in Southern Colorado several times and it's a beautiful place to ride. The closest town is Westcliff, Colorado.We hope to go back this summer.
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