Trail Overview
This short one-mile out-and-back BLM route is suitable for most vehicles with good ground clearance and provides easy access to some of the area’s scenic viewpoints. Along the way, you’ll find an outstanding dispersed campsite perched on the hillside, offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape. Near the end of the route, multiple non-motorized trails branch off into the backcountry, providing excellent opportunities for hiking and horseback riding while exploring the more remote areas of the surrounding BLM lands. The mapped route ends at the boundary of private property, where public motorized access ends and the road is no longer open to the public.
History
The Derby Creek area has a rich history rooted in ranching, transportation, and public lands. Long before European settlement, the valley was traveled seasonally by the Ute people, who hunted and camped throughout the region. By the late 1800s, ranchers established cattle operations along Derby Creek, using its dependable water supply to support livestock and irrigate nearby hay fields. Many of today’s BLM and Forest Service roads began as wagon routes connecting ranches and summer grazing allotments. Today, the area remains valued for its scenic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and outstanding opportunities for off-road recreation, camping, and hunting. (dnrweblink.state.co.us)
