Trail Overview
This route continues around the Trout Lake area, connecting Galloping Goose Road back to Highway 145. The road travels through a mix of dense evergreen forest, stands of aspen, open grassy areas, and sections overlooking the surrounding mountain slopes. Much of the route follows a wide dirt and gravel road with occasional shallow potholes and areas where water can collect after rain or snowmelt. Several sections open up to impressive views of the rugged peaks surrounding Trout Lake before returning to thicker forest. Near the historic railroad trestle, the route passes alongside remnants of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, adding another connection to the area's railroad history. Overall, this is a scenic route through the Trout Lake area that can be used to complete a loop between Galloping Goose Road and Highway 145.
Difficulty
This is a well-maintained dirt and gravel road with mostly smooth, wide surfaces. Expect occasional shallow potholes, small embedded rocks, minor washboarding, and areas where water may collect after rain or snowmelt. There are no significant obstacles or technical sections, and the route should be manageable for most vehicles under normal dry conditions.
History
This route follows a portion of the historic Rio Grande Southern Railroad, which once connected communities throughout southwestern Colorado's rugged San Juan Mountains. The railroad operated through the Trout Lake area, and trains followed this grade around the lake on their way between the mining communities and railroad towns of the region. Several major pieces of RGS history remain visible here, including the historic Trout Lake water tank and the large wooden trestle.
The route was also traveled by the Rio Grande Southern's famous Galloping Geese, the gasoline-powered railcars introduced during the railroad's financially difficult later years. The Geese carried passengers, mail, freight, and other supplies over the same railroad system at a fraction of the operating cost of conventional steam trains. Today, traveling this old grade provides an opportunity to follow the path once used by both RGS steam locomotives and the Galloping Geese while seeing surviving railroad infrastructure in its original mountain setting.
Offroad