Jefferson Area Riding

catgirl · Dec 28, 2007

New to the area...we bought a log home on Indian Mountain. Looking for info on sledding areas around Jefferson, Fairplay, Hoosier...
Have been riding Rabbit Ears and Buffalo Passs for years, but now need somewhere close to home.

woodswoman · Dec 28, 2007

Georgia pass is right near Jefferson. Not groom on the Jefferson side, but hooks up with the Breckenridge side. Be careful on the Jefferson side, heavy avalanch area.

Cottonwood is only about 1 1/2 hours away, and is one of our favorite day trips. We would love to go with you sometime.

Leardriver · Dec 28, 2007

Jefferson

In 18 years of riding the Georgia Pass area from the Jefferson side, I've only seen one avalanche area, and it's the side of mount Guyot at the top. If there are others, I would appreciate a description of where they are so I can avoid those areas.
It's a great area to ride, plenty of bowls and hill climbing, and some groomed trails if you're taking people that prefer that. It suffers from lack of snow some years in the areas that can be wind blown, but this year it is shaping up to be decent if the snow continues. The appeal of this area for front range sledders is that you take highway 285, and have no skier traffic. It is 75 miles from the far side of Aurora for me, so an hour and a half or less.

mtnsun · Dec 28, 2007

Catgirl,

You moved to a nice area. I have property in Indian Mtn. that I have been sitting on for a few years now. I am going to build a log home at some point. I actually do most of my riding in the Georgia Pass area. I like it because it's not super busy, the snow is generally good and lots of areas to play in.
Just cam back from a ride today and it was amazing.
Mainly rode the North Fork trail, up & over the mtn. to the backside of Keystone and did some boondocking.
Hit me up with a PM if you ever want to ride. Happy New Year! :wine: :beer;

skibob1 · Dec 28, 2007

just bought a house in fairplay

should be there in a week or two.
pm me I can ride any day, would like to find areas that we can ski or snowboard from.
Bob

shonuff · Dec 29, 2007

What are the directions to get to the Jefferson side?

Leardriver · Dec 29, 2007

Highway 285 westbound from Denver, over Kenosha pass, road curves right and goes down a long steep hill, turns left at the bottom (still on 285) and the town of Jefferson is another 2 miles away. Directly across the street from the convenience store is a road. Take that westbound. You'll see the highway department's sand pile on the right. Go past the turn off for Jefferson lake, and the road will come to a y approx 3 miles from highway 285. Curve right, and you'll see a bunch of yellow buildings off in the distance on the right. That's the Heckendorf ranch. Continue past Michigan creek campground and the odd looking animals on the left about a mile to an obvious snowmobile parking area.

mtnsun · Dec 29, 2007

Shhhhhhh....... Don't be giving our secret away!

bdubs · Dec 29, 2007

Just give it all away....

mtnsun · Dec 29, 2007

My thoughts exactly! Well at least some that read about our secret spot don't dare venture way,way out and experience why we really ride their!

Leardriver · Dec 30, 2007

Secrets

I won't go into detail about the north fork bowl area into Keystone, or any of the secrets. There is already a parking shortage on the weekends.

mtnsun · Dec 30, 2007

Leardriver said:
I won't go into detail about the north fork bowl area into Keystone, or any of the secrets. There is already a parking shortage on the weekends.

Good Man, good man! I was up on Friday and rode over to Keystone. The back bowls were amazing. Only one other set of trax, fresh pow all day and only 3 of us. A few slabs had broken off to the left of the ridge (that you climb up & over), a nasty looking drifts up high that will more than likely break off soon so beware... I would say the Avy. danger is HIGH right now, especially with all of the wind we have had.
I was going to ride today but the dam wind & visability is terrible. I can wait until it calms down.

Martlee · Dec 30, 2007

I have a little story of sledding up by Keystone, where you guys are talking. I won't give up any secrets either!! I was playing up there one day by myself and a ground blizzard moved in. There absolutely no visibility so I stayed put about half an hour hoped to wait it out. Well, I lost my patience and thought I knew which way to go. I dropped over a pretty steep cliff and couldn't get back up because it was totally sugary snow and really steep. So after about an hour of trying to get up, the blizzard stopped and I saw that I was in the ski area! My only way out was to go down to one of their runs and then back up their groomed trail to the very top where I could get back to where I was out. Should have seen the looks I got as I was snowmobiling on their trail. Wow.
Marty

mtnsun · Dec 30, 2007

I could see how that would happen. That area is so open, when the wind picks up it gets bad. I would easily ride through the ski resort to get out! Its a great area but ya really have to watch the weather. It's easy to get turned around and loose your sence of direction. The other day when I was riding back their, my trax coming in were covered up from the wind & snow blowing in a real short time.
I bet you are not the first to ride through Keystone!

shonuff · Dec 31, 2007

Thanks Lear!

sledskiing · Dec 31, 2007

mtnsun said:
Shhhhhhh....... Don't be giving our secret away!

Somebody delete this post quickly

Leardriver · Jan 1, 2008

This week?

I'll probably go up there this Thurs or Friday. Anyone want to take an oath of secrecy and tag along?

mtnsun · Jan 1, 2008

Leardriver said:
I'll probably go up there this Thurs or Friday. Anyone want to take an oath of secrecy and tag along?

If you head up on Friday, I will join you for a day of riding. Let me know what your plans are. PM me a message.
Happy New Year!

mtcatgirl · Jan 8, 2008

Colorado visit

Catgirl, we'll give you a call to set up a Colorado visit. How about sending us some of your snow?

mtnsun · Jan 8, 2008

I am heading up to ride the area again early Saturday. I will be parking in the lot on the Breck. side. Hope to do a lot of good, fun & safe riding this weekend.
~JJ

Jefferson Area Riding

Member

Well-known member

Similar threads