Hancock
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	St. Elmo
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy - 2 FR 295 7.5 9,975 - 11,040 ft. NA 1-2 hours
County:	Chaffee
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Pike/San Isabel National Forest Salida Ranger District	325 West Rainbow Blvd. Salida, CO 81201	719-539-3591
Summary:	Hancock is a 4WD road that follows the old Denver, South Park and Pacific railroad grade from St. Elmo to the ghost town of Hancock. It passes through the ghost town of Romley with its side road to the Mary Murphy Mine and Pomeroy Lake.
Attractions:	History, Scenery, Railroad History, Ghost Towns, Mines.
Seasonal Closure:	Natural - Closed by snow.
Best Time:	June - Early, possibly still closed by snow July - Best August - Best September - Best for fall colors October - Possible snow closure
Trail Heads Accessed:	Chalk Creek Pass Trail - FT1422 Trail to Alpine Tunnel Continental Divide Trail
Camping:	There are few dispersed campsites along the road. There are a few at the start near Saint Elmo and some beyond the town site of Hancock.
Base Camp:	This area would be a good place to base camp. There are quite a few scenic and challenging 4WD roads in the area. Tin Cup Pass, Grizzly Lake, Pomeroy Lake, Hancock Lake, Hancock Pass, and Tomichi Pass.
Fall Colors:	Good, there are aspen and pine along the lower section of the road near St. Elmo.
Navigation:	From Buena Vista, CO go south on US Hwy 285 for 8.0 miles. Turn right onto Chalk Creek Drive, Cnty Road 162. Follow Cnty Road 162 for 15.4 miles. Turn left onto Forest Road 295 at the sign for Hancock Pass.
History:
Description:
Forest Road 295 follows the old Denver, South Park and Pacific railroad grade from Saint Elmo to the ghost town of Hancock. It passes the ghost town of Romley along the way. There is a lot of mining history along the flanks fo Mount Mamma, Chrysolite Mountain, and Pomeroy Mountain. Hancock 4WD road is easy and wide with rough sections aong the way. The grade is gradual as it follows the south bank of Chalk Creek. About a mile past Saint Elmo the remains of a large processing mill are below the road where the trees open up and you get a good view of the Chalk Creek Valley. Not much remains here. On the left side of the road keep an eye out for tram terminus buildings. About 3 miles along the road you will come to the ghost town of Romley. Here the bridge was washed out and the road drops down to a small meadow to cross Pomeroy Creek. The meadow is where most of Romley use to be. There are still large spools of wire for the arial tram scattered around the area. When you connect back up to the railroad grade the Mary Murphy tram terminal will be to your left. This station was the end of a tram line that went up Pomeroy Creek and then turned to climb to near the top of Chysolite Mountain where the Mary Murphy mine adit is. About another mile and a half and you will come to the most intriguing ore shoot in the area. It sits beside the railroad grade with the lower ore shoot section sliding down hill and the upper section cantilevered across it. Photo taken in 1985 Photo taken in 2011 Within a mile from the old ore shoot you will come to the open meadow that the ghost town of Hancock sits in. The railroad grade continues on as FR298 to the trail head for the Alpine Tunnel. From here FR298.A crosses over Williams Pass. This road is only open the month of August. Also out of Hancock is the Hancock Pass Road (FR299), and the continuation of FR295 for 1.5 miles to the Hancock Lake trail head.
Data updated 10/20/11       4WD Road driven 09/03/11       Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2011