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Red Elephant Hill, Empire Loop
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Location: West of Idaho Springs/ Downieville Colorado
Difficulty: 5
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Red Elephant Hill is the first part of this trail, followed by the optional Empire Loop or Bill Moore Lake. You can make this trail a loop by connecting to both Empire Loop then to Bill Moore Lake, or just to Bill Moore Lake.
Red Elephant Hill starts with a steep climb on a shelf road with several tippy spots. This trail is not for the faint of heart or for anyone afraid of heights. Some of the tippy spots approach 30* so make sure your vehicle has a winch or tow strap, just in case. There are no bypasses to this section so make sure you go prepared and never attempt this trail alone.
Once at the top of Red Elephant Hill you can bear right on FS 171.3 and begin the Empire Loop. This will take you to the Empire Hilton, an old cabin at 5.9 miles from the junction. Take a few minutes and look inside. Its neat, and yes, it is still used by guests, so please leave everything as you find it. Make sure you sign the guest book!
As you leave the Emipre Hilton pay attention to both sides of the trail as there are several cabin ruins that were once part of a minihg camp. You will travel downhill; its muddy, rocky and steep in spots. When you come out of the trees you will drop down a rocky section and come to a "T" intersection. Go left. The right is a dead end. At the next "T" go left. You should see a red pickup truck wrecked on the hillside below. You will come to another intersection at about .8 miles. To the right you can go up to Bill Moore Lake (FS 171.3C then right to 183.1). Taking 171.3C to the right then 183.1 to the left will take you back to Empire.
To get to Red Elephant Hill:
From Denver take I-70 west past Idaho Spring to the Downieville Exit 234. From the north side of I-70 (the Burger King side) take the frontage road west 1.2 miles. As you pass under the interstate a second time look immediately to the right for the start of the trail. It looks like a driveway, because it is.
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Kelly Flats
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Location: West of Ft. Collins in the Cache La Poudre River Valley Colorado
Difficulty: 5
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If you are looking for a picturesque, moderately difficult trail close to town, Kelly Flats is a trail you will not want to miss! There are two major obstacles on this trail and both have bypasses. A stock 4x4 will be able to make this trail by taking both bypasses around the obstacles. The trail is normally open June through October. Check with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District if you are not certain the trail is open.
The two obstacles can give a very well built vehicle issues. Heart Attack Hill climbs steeply out of the Poudre Canyon. It is a long climb with a rock obstacle at the very top than can be nearly impassable when wet. Once at the top of Heart Attack Hill enjoy views of the Mummy Range to the north. There is a bypass around Heart Attack Hill to the east.
Once past Heart Attack Hill enjoy the scenic trail as it winds through aspen groves and across private property. Please Stay The Trail!!! At this point you are on a well maintained road. Look for a turnout area to your left. This is the enterance to the Chutes, the next major obstacle on Kelly Flats. The Chutes are open to anyone that his looking for a challenge. Keep in mind they are narrow and if you have a larger, wider vehicle you can expect body damage.
The total length of the trail is 10.8 miles and can be driven in about 3.5 hours. When you get to the end of the trail there will be a stop sign at the intersection of County Rd 69 and CR168 (the road you will be exiting from). If you go to the right (north) it will take you to Red Feather Lakes. If you go to the left it will take you to Hwy 14 in Rustic. To get back to Ft. Collins turn left (east).
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