Trail Overview
Black Hollow Road (Forest Road 142) is a moderately short but striking loop accessed directly off Crown Point Road in the Roosevelt National Forest. The defining characteristic of this trail is its path through the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire burn scar. The landscape is a stark, fascinating mix of charred timber, recovering undergrowth, and expansive, unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains since the heavy canopy has been burned away. Because there is virtually no shade, it can get hot during the peak of summer, and drivers need to stay highly alert for falling trees, especially on windy days.
Terrain-wise, the trail is a mix of dirt and rocky stretches. The loss of vegetation has accelerated erosion, so you will encounter deeper ruts, exposed rocks, and off-camber washouts that require a bit of focus. There are numerous springs along the road creating muddy areas and tiny water crossings. There are no massive rock-crawling obstacles, but the rutted sections provide a fun, mildly technical drive. It is a visually sobering yet beautiful loop that offers great perspective on forest regeneration while letting you still bounce around a bit.
Difficulty
This trail earns a 3 because it requires more ground clearance and traction than a standard passenger vehicle can provide and requires a little more attention than your average easy forest road. The primary obstacles are erosion-based. Due to the severe burn scar, heavy rain runoff has carved deep, uneven ruts and exposed loose, rocky sections along the two-track. A stock 4x4 or an all-wheel-drive crossover with decent clearance and good all-terrain tires will navigate the loop just fine, but drivers must pick careful lines to avoid scraping the undercarriage in the deeper washouts. The biggest hazard here isn't the trail surface itself, but the constant risk of falling deadwood, so do not linger or set up camp directly under burnt trees.
