Last weekend I attended the National Western Stock Show (Jan 9th – 24th) in Denver for the first time with family and friends. It was huge and a blast! There were Horses, Cows, Llamas, Alpaca’s, Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Guinea Pigs, etc. Vendor after vendor and food around every corner!
I had bought PRCA Rodeo tickets for the rodeo on Saturday afternoon. Having watched hundreds on TV and seeing only parts of rodeos in real life, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.
To my amazement that was one of the best shows/performance/rodeo I have ever seen.
From the moment the incredible commentator started speaking about how blessed we all are to live in this country, the way he honored our Veterans and our current Military men and women, he made so many of us tear up! Especially me, I cry every Independence Day during the fireworks no matter how big or small. He reminded us of the importance of keeping our Cowboy/Cowgirl traditions alive. WOW! Not only did he speak from the heart but he was funny as well. The banter between him and the rodeo clown was hysterical!
I was surprised at how many different things go on at this rodeo. Besides the bucking, whirling bulls and horses there are many activities in between. One of the best was Tommie Turvey the Equine Extremist with his extreme horses. They performed “at liberty” with Tommie which means no halter, no bridle, no lead ropes, no saddles, just a horse and Tommie with a couple of training sticks. I balled like a baby watching him and these incredible animals that weigh as much as some cars do just float through this arena and dance with him. They were incredible! That is my dream; to be able to ride and dance with my horse “at liberty”.
If you have an opportunity to go to a PRCA rodeo, I highly recommend it. I won’t miss another one. If you have the possibly, once in a lifetime chance, to see someone ride or dance with a horse “at liberty”, take it!
We get a lot of emails form folks about bringing in their horses and spending a few days or even a week in Colorado Mountains. While we highly encourage visitors to bring their horses, but there are a few ”mentionables” that we scould be discussed.
The Question: I have a small group of horse riders from Wisconsin that want to spend a week in Colorado riding. We are all experienced riders and would be bringing our own horses in July. We were hoping to camp and ride around the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Western Pass and then travel to the West Elk Wilderness. Can you please give me any info on camps we could stay at or even if these are nice areas to ride and any other input you think would be helpful? Thanks for your time.
We were right above of where you want to be – almost spot on – and there are great places to camp for a weekend or a whole week.
There are a couple of things that you’ll need to be mindful of before coming to Colorado Mountains and this area.
First & foremost is the altitude; both you and your stock are going to feel it!
Here in Colorado I live at 6,100 feet and I still have to watch my horses in the mountains. More so in the spring vs. the fall, but even after 400 hours a year in the saddle, the horses are still susceptible to altitude issues depending on the area I go.
Attached to the aforementioned post is a Google Earth KMZ file of rides we have been on in this area. This area is just North of the West Elk Wilderness Area South of the Raggeds Wilderness area (both can be ridden from here) is public land and the average altitude is about 9,100 ft. but there are areas in the West Elk that can reach 13,000 feet.
Coming from Wisconsin at 1,000 above sea level you’ll need to give your stock plenty of time to acclimate before extreme riding/climbs. This area is great for that but I would not ride them the first day there.
Anywhere between the Horse Ranch Park and the CR-706 are going to provide you plenty of areas to camp with good feed and water. But we always recommend that you bring feed to supplement the grazing (there are some areas in Colorado where grazing is not permitted) and everywhere requires certified weed free feed - it is very likely that you’ll be checked! You’ll also want your Coggins Test results (required when coming from out of state) as well as any branding inspection papers. For feed we bring in grass and/or alfalfa cubes and re-hydrate them – this is a great and easy way to supplement, but the key is to rehydrated them.
Getting There: From Gunnison take Colorado 32 north 32 miles to Crested Butte. From Crested Butte take Colorado 12 west, which is also known as Kebler Pass. Kebler Pass Road is a well-maintained dirt road for its entirety, and is part of the larger West Elk Scenic Loop.
Camping: While there are many places off the beaten-path to get a rig into, there best place is right off of Kebler Pass Rd called Horse Ranch Park. Horse Ranch Park is a beautiful area for an extended camping with your horses. There is incredible riding from every direction out of this scenic spot, located on Kebler Pass Road.
The park is a well equipped facility with numerous areas to set up camp and keep your stock well fed and watered. With the camping area between West Elk Wilderness (South) and the Raggeds Wilderness (North) there is no shortage of riding trails that will keep you well away from city-life, ATV and even most hikers.. Longer adventures to Beckwith Pass and into the Cliff Creek area are something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. To the South, and to the north your journey leads up the Dark Canyon Trail and eventually on to Erickson Springs.
In the fall elk and deer hunting is popular from this comfortable camp ground – so make sure to arrive early, and check with the Colorado Division of Wildlife for season dates.
Description: The West Elk Mountains comprise a large remote wilderness west of Gunnison. The volcanic ridges and long valleys of this area offer countless opportunities for extended rides. As an added benefit, West Elk receives relatively few visitors outside of hunting season, probably because the area lacks fourteeners or numerous alpine lakes which typically attract recreational users. Lost lake does attract city folks, but can easily be avoided.
Aspens blanket the steep-sided valleys, and hikers, traveling tourist and some off-roaders will travel up and down CR-12 (Kebler Pass) but generally stick very close to the road and usually are visiting in late September to be rewarded with golden fall colors, clear blue skies, brisk temperatures, and the unmistakable sound of bull elk bugling. Elk and deer herds numbering in the thousands also attract crowds of hunters in late fall. An extensive network of trails along ridgelines and valley floors creates a multitude of loop trips, allowing for multi-day or week-long excursions with plenty of off Pass camping large enough to fit full rigs and even groups.
Fossil Ridge Wilderness is a small wilderness of about 32,000 acres and is located approximately 16 miles northeast of the town of Gunnison. The area contains several high mountain lakes. The 26 miles of trails within the wilderness are open to foot and horse travel. Fossil Ridge is classic Rocky Mountain wilderness: rough-hewn granite peaks tower behind glittering alpine lakes resting at the head of long, timbered glacial-cut valleys. On the surface, this properly describes the area, but looking deeper within Fossil Ridge, we find one of the Rockies’ wildest and most inaccessible stream drainages – Crystal Creek – an uncommon juxtaposition of limestone and granite ridges.
Fossil Ridge takes its name from a high limestone ridge rich in fossils. Ancient seas laid down thousands of feet of limestone and dolomite, some say between 600 and 275 million years ago, creating the Leadville Formation, which yields fossils of varied sea life, from sharks to invertebrates. How odd it seems to find fossils far above timberline, 13,000 feet above sea level, and to consider the monstrous tectonic forces it took to so drastically alter the earth’s surface.
The wilderness is surrounded by the Fossil Ridge Recreation Management area which is approximately 44,000 acres in size. Roads and trails within the Recreation Management Area are open to mechanized and motorized uses. The Fossil Ridge Trail on the South end is a very popular motorcycle trail within the RMA, however in the past twelve years of riding the North end I have never seen a motorcycle or ATV – just the occasional 4×4 on a Sunday drive. This place has latterly hundreds of miles of horse trails, cattle trails and wild game trails that you don’t really ever need to take any of the so-called roads within this area.
Accommodations: We have ridden and hunted this area for the past 12 years. We have packed horses in the wilderness for 10 day stretches and have had many overnight campouts, and there are many different state campgrounds all up and down CR 742 as well as camping in the RMA; but our most favorite place to stay is the Harmel’s Ranch Resort right where the Taylor River & Spring Creek meet – more below.
One of the most memorable places of the world in my mind is the beautiful Sonora Desert of Northern Mexico. Cactus of every shape and size exist here and so does an elusive animal called the Desert Mule Deer. This visit to Sonora came about when I was asked to do some scouting for some deep pocket client hunters who wanted me to go ahead and see if I could find Muy Grande for them. Muy Grande is a large buck with sometimes antlers spreading up to 38” wide. Sure why not? Get paid well spending the month of January in short sleeve shirts doing what I like to do? You bet! My partner was JR, another well known big game hunter and guide from Wyoming.
Upon our arrival in Hermosillo, we were met by the landowner of several large ranches my hunters were going to hunt on. He suggested we get some supplies since we would be miles from any stores. He also said we need get some Baca Dora before we leave town. “Baca Dora?” “Yes, amigo,” he replied. This is the drink of Sonora. Clear liquor made from cactus….drank similar to Tequila with salt and lime. Okay, when in Rome do as the Roman’s do—Right?
We have all though about it, and some of us have even done it; but spending a week in the mountains with our horses does present some challenges that we don’t see on an ordinary everyday trail ride. While CTR prepares for their seminar on “Camping with Horses” (March 2009), we wanted to give you a preview of what it takes, things to think about and tips from a survival pro. What better way than to let you watch Les Stroud take two horses into the Colorado Rocky Mountains and discover the challenges of surviving for three.
Note: Before the shooting of this event, Les had never spent time with horses. He did not know how to ride, pack, or camp with horses; so prior to shooting, he spent two weeks on the Colorado ranch getting familiar with the ins and outs of equestrian life.
I keep forgetting that this area is full of trails to ride! Make sure that you bring a fishing pole; the reservoir looks like a great spot for fishing. I have always wondered how to get up here from the Air Force Academy, and I may just have found the road. Updated Photos & KMZ June 17th, 2008
Location: 45 minutes from Colorado Springs
Dates: July 2007 – May 2008, June 2008, August 2009
Trail Ride Description: (See Google KMZ file below for ride directions) Like I said, this is a great area to ride. The trail starts out on a 4×4 dirt road made of the typical Colorado crushed granite. Most everything to the north allows vehicles (including ATVs) on it, bit if you head down into the southern area you’ll be where they can’t! Even-though, vehicles are allowed, I usually don’t see to many. Today I saw 3 parked cars and 2 ATVs. I stopped and talked with the guys on the ATV as they were trying to find a way to Stanley Reservoir for a little fishing. It broke my heart to state the obvious - No Motorized Vehicles! They were bummed as I rode off and down to the the lake. Be prepared for some climbing, I got in almost 1,400 feet in this 11 mile loop. This is a neat & clean trail that I would not be afraid to take kids or beginners on.
The Basics: This is a heavily populated area on the weekends as it is so close to Colorado Springs so expect motorized traffic of all kinds. There is no water at any of the camping areas and the two lakes are kind of far away to use for horses/camping, so bring your own. I would recommend shoes if you are going to ride this area a lot.
Getting There: Once you get to Canon City you’ll head past the 3rd street (Light/Park) and find First street hidden just on the other side of the park. Head down First Street to Temple Canyon Road. Go out about a mile and you’ll see a large dirt parking lot on the right. This is Ecology Park. There is plenty of room for many trailers here.
Trail Ride Description:This was an interesting ride as we had just heard about it and we had very little information on its location, but finding it was not that difficult. From the NW side parking lot you’ll be greeted by a sign B.F Rockefeller Ecology Park, this is your que that you are where you need to be. Follow the groomed trail down the hill and look for a walk through & drive through gate(s). There is a sing post on the opposite side that reads, “Water Gap Trail” (Right) and “Pinon Trail” (Left); follow Water Gap Trail to the wooden bridge.
Trail Description:On a scale of 1 to 10 this is a 15! This ride give you everything from beautiful views of Pikes Peak and the Continental Divide to gorgeous rides through aspen groves and evergreens and deep river crossings. You’ll also be thrilled with the beauty of the huge granite rock formations, especially Dome Rock itself which rises 800 feet above the canyon floor. We started our ride at the west parking lot on the Willow Creek Trail #40 and rode for three (3) miles up a gentle slope on a packed sand two-lane trail. After about three (3), the trail narrows to a single file and shortly thereafter we came to a “Y” in the trail. We took the right branch, up a steep climb. [The left heads down to a locked gate] At the highest view point we were at 9,700 feet, which is a long way up from the parking lot which was at 8,800 feet. We then continued on this trail, passing the Sand Creek Trail #41 on the right which is a great short cut if you need a shorter ride. We turned off onto Spring Creek Trail #43 and followed it all the way to Dome Rock. The trail makes some steep drops as it approaches Dome Rock but nothing that was a problem1. Just as we rode past the south side of Dome Rock we had our first water crossing. It was deep and wide2 but the bottom of the river was sandy, so it was very easy to cross. We had lunch in a meadow by the rock. We then circled around the rock3on Dome Rock Trail #46. This trail takes you back and forth over Fourmile Creek nine times. It also takes you into Muller State Park at some points. About 2.5 miles from the end, we came across the ruins of Jackrabbit Lodge. This had been a private hunting lodge that burned to the ground in the 1940’s. All that remains is the stone chimney and part of the foundation.
At this lodge you can choose to go left into Muller State Park. We continued on the Dome Rock Trail having fun crossing the river and viewing the heard of Big Horn Sheep the live there. River crossing can be avoided by staying on the north side of the river along the footpath. We stayed on the wide road, that was once a stage coach road, and had fun playing in the water. At times the river was so deep2from the beaver dams that the water came above our horses’ bellies! About 0.5 miles from the end we came across the ruins of an old collapsed mine. This trail returns to the east parking lot. This is an easy trail and shoes would not be required as the surface is packed sand.
Note: This complete 9.4 mile loop is only open from July 16th to November 30th. It is closed for the rest of the year for the Big Horn Sheep lambing. But you can take shorter loops, such as Sand Creek Trail loop, or going out and back on the Willow Creek Trail or the Dome Rock Trail.
We took the opportunity to have lunch, water and graze our horses in a beautiful meadow just left of the base of Dome Rock right by the creek.
We were told by a local that last years rains flooded out most all the beaver dams; thus all the water crossings were very easy to negotiate and none of them were very deep.
From the meadow you will head slightly south and cross the creek; this will take you around a large pile of rock formations and them back heading north on Dome Rock Trail #46 following the river up the canyon.
About the author: This trail description was written by Margi Evens - Author of Riding Colorado I & II. If you would like to know more about Margi and her books, please click here.
We are going to ride the on the trails of the Air Force Academy this Saturday May 30th at noon (12:00pm). We will be parking down at the stables. Everyone welcome!
Well it’s that time of the year again. I have been getting a lot of emails asking about the ride schedule! So here is the first ride for 2009.
We will be riding the Lower Grape Creak Trail this Sunday – This is an incredible ride for this time of year. Warm weather, flowing streams and not to tough on the horses.
Date & Time: Sunday, May 10th, 2009 – Leave the Trail Head at 10am
Weather Update: 5/9 @ 10:30pm – Right now the Weather Channel shows NO RAIN for tomorrow in Canyon City! Our ride will start at 56° F and mid-afternoon it will hit in the mid 60’s – we will be blessed with a very pleasant sunny day!
Getting There: Once you get to Canon City you’ll head past the 3rd street (Light/Park) and find First street hidden just on the other side of the park. Head down First Street to Temple Canyon Road. Go out about a mile and you’ll see a large dirt parking lot on the right. This is Ecology Park. There is plenty of room for many trailers here.
Additional Information: We will be having lunch on the trail, so be sure to pack something to eat in your saddle bags! Please let us know if you are going to be there, so we know to look for ya!
Trail Description: The towering, rosy-smooth stone edifices of the Fountain Formation, which makes up the ramparts of the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater, are just one remarkable feature of this trail loop. Passing beneath these flaming walls is a moving experience, but so is climbing onto the large, flat plain atop the Morrison Slide. With a number of different trails intersecting the main trunk, there is almost an endless anount of riding to be had.
Getting there: While traveling Highway 24 West, look for 31 Street and head left (South) a 1/4 mile and look for a big dirt parking lot on the right.
More Details: There are many trails throughout this area to explore, however be careful as there are also some trails that are not passable on horseback. (Not be me at least) We tried the Section 16 trail, and about 300 yards off the main trail we decided to turn around (and not an easy feat!). The granite trail was too much for my comfort level, especially with the kids with us. Another note; this trail is mostly Colorado Granite and those without shoes had hoof work to do when they got home.
By: Brandi Sgaraglino
I was surprised at how many different things go on at this rodeo. Besides the bucking, whirling bulls and horses there are many activities in between. One of the best was Tommie Turvey the Equine Extremist with his extreme horses. They performed “at liberty” with Tommie which means no halter, no bridle, no lead ropes, no saddles, just a horse and Tommie with a couple of training sticks. I balled like a baby watching him and these incredible animals that weigh as much as some cars do just float through this arena and dance with him. They were incredible! That is my dream; to be able to ride and dance with my horse “at liberty”.
We have all though about it, and some of us have even done it; but spending a week in the mountains with our horses does present some challenges that we don’t see on an ordinary everyday trail ride. While CTR prepares for their seminar on “Camping with Horses” (March 2009), we wanted to give you a preview of what it takes, things to think about and tips from a survival pro. What better way than to let you watch Les Stroud take two horses into the Colorado Rocky Mountains and discover the challenges of surviving for three.
We are going to ride the on the trails of the Air Force Academy this Saturday May 30th at noon (12:00pm). We will be parking down at the stables. Everyone welcome!
