Hiking Trail of the Week
Devil’s Thumb
Length: based on One-Way Mileage- 3.93 Miles
Elevation: Trailhead 9609’ Destination 12,236’
Trailhead Location: On US Hwy 40 north of Fraser between mile markers 226 and 227 is County road 8.Turn onto CR 8 and follow it for 6.4 miles. The road turns into USFR 128 (Water Board Road). Turn left and continue one mile. Turn right continue for .3 miles. The road ends near a spillway and the trailhead.
Trail Description: Begin on the trail walking through the forest and then the trail follows along a meadow that has amazing views of Devil’s Thumb Pass and the surrounding area. At a fork and trail marker, the sign identifies High Lonesome Trail on the left and Devil’s Thumb to the right. There will be a crossing over the creek and the trail will begin to go up hill. As you get higher in elevation the forest will change from subalpine to timberline. The trees will open up the climb begins to be more difficult. The trail disappears once to get close to the top and see the thumb, a rock formation along the Continental Divide. From the top looking east are Devil’s Thumb Lake and the Front Range Mountains.
Biking Trail of the Week
Givelo/Northwest Passage
Distance 5.0 Miles
Trail Description: This is a great ride to help anyone new to biking gain confidence on dirt trails. The trail is flat and winds through lodgepole pines. Not too difficult and no climbs allow this one to be one the better easier rides in the area.
Park at the John Work Arena Rodeo Grounds and head west on Givelo Trail. Givelo trail is a easy single track that parallels CR 73. No climbing other than a few small dips in the trail. After a short distance you will cross CR 50S. Continue on Givelo. Givelo Trail will end at Northwest Passage. Turn right on Northwest Passage. Northwest Passage is a about the same difficulty as the Givelo Trail. You will head North away from CR 73 through open forest. Northwest Passage will end on CR 50. Turn around and retrace your route to return to your starting area.
Other Resources:
www.guestguidepublications.com
www.winterparkguide.com
www.headwaterstrails.com
www.fs.fed.us