Trail Overview

Gypsum to Radium Spring follows part of Section 05 of the Backcountry Discovery Route mostly along the Colorado River. Starting from Gypsum it's a fun narrow climb up and down Trail Gulch to Road 301. This is the most challenging section of this trail with many optional lines that offer more difficulty. Once you reach 301, it's an easy-going graded gravel road that meanders along the Colorado River with incredible views and many rafting access and launch points. This trail ends at Blacktail Creek where the BDR continues north to Steamboat Springs.

Photos of BDR Section 05 Gypsum to Radium Spring

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Difficulty

This is mostly an easy-going gravel road. The section closest to Gypsum has the most dirt and steep terrain with tight switchbacks and some washouts. It could be challenging after heavy rains or snowmelt.

Technical Rating

Braiden Patrick

Jul 01, 2024

Open

I wouldn’t even really call this an off road trail. It was more just like a dirt county-road that is mostly used for shortcuts in travel. We saw sedans and very “not-so-off-road” vehicles that were on this route. Maybe it got more difficult on the sections that we didn’t do, but from our impression, this was just a dirt road. Pretty views, not a place for camping.