Trail Overview

This county road is one of the most challenging drives in the area. It has plenty of obstacles to keep you entertained. This route is also a fun drive in the early winter. Starting in Boulder, it can be driven as an out-and-back trail, or a loop by driving south on FS 258 and then taking 69 back to Boulder.

Photos of McCarty Creek Trail

Want to see more?
View All Photos

Difficulty

50% of trail could be rated a 3 with a few challenging sections rated as 4.

Technical Rating

Evan Roach

Dec 10, 2025

Open

You need a serious lift to make it onto this trail with anything full sized. Recommend side by side, midsize 4x4 or smaller and lifted.

Charles Schob

Aug 23, 2025

Open

Started at the national forest cattle guard and connected with Skyline mine trail to Leslie Lake. Our party had 2 dirtbikes and a SxS. Multiple small creek crossings and plenty of boulders. First time on the trail but nothing looked out of sorts. No one else seen on McCarty trail.

Kelby Thompson

Jun 15, 2024

Open

recommend winch my 3'' lift and 35 tires slid off a rock and to pull myself out. dead fall ridge nickname I gave it, must have chainsaw lots of fall over trail cleared it but lots of trees could continue to cover last half of trail. lots of fun though just pick your lines right.

George J Badgett

Jun 01, 2024

Open

Trail is rated 4/10 - Agree on difficulty, a few rocks where you need to choose the right line, but easy enough. There is a lot of down timber across the trail that has been cut... but it's cut very narrow so it'll pinstripe a full size vehicle.

Bret Watts

May 27, 2024

Open

Ryan Ewan

Apr 21, 2024

Open

Lots of washed out unmaintained road, so much fun for off-roading. Full size rigs may not fit through some of the twists and turns.

Mark G

Nov 08, 2023

Open

Joe Miller

Sep 24, 2023

Open

Mark G

Sep 19, 2023

Open

Kenneth Shelton

Jul 05, 2023

Open

Mark G

Jun 29, 2023

Open

Cody Lilyquist

May 22, 2023

Open