| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy 3 | FR 869 | 7.14 | 8,680 to 11,200 ft. | Ledge Road 2 | 2-3 hours |
Salida Ranger District
Rio Grande National Forest,
Saguache Ranger District
Salida, CO 81201
46525 State Highway 114
Saguache, CO 81149
719-655-2547
Closure:
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best for fall colors
Accessed:
From Saguache, CO. head east on US-285 North / Gunnison Ave toward 6th St Continue to follow US-285 North for 18.5 miles past Villa Grove. Turn left onto County Rd Ll56, the road to Bonanza, and go 14.6 miles. Continue through Bonanza on Main Street and to 1.1 miles past the intersection near Exchequer, stay left on the main road. Continue on County Rd Ll56 for 0.4 miles and take a slight right onto County Road 46 Aa. Go 0.9 miles to an intersection with County Rd 47Yy back to your right and up hill. Stay on the main road to the left and go 0.9 miles to a turn / intersection. Turn left off of the main road. This is the start of Toll Road Gulch 4WD road.
Kerber Creek was explored during the late 1870's by San Juan prospectors, and in 1880 the Exchequer mine was located. Just below it, the Bonanza Mine also struck rich ores, and the rush was on. The towns of Bonanza and Sedgwick sprang up along Kerber Creek in 1880, as did Exchequer, Bonito, and Spook City during 1882. These places were truly boom towns, complete with hotels, saloons, schools, churches and the famous brewery at Sedgwick. This "city" was so "civilized" that it boasted a bowling alley, a billiard hall and two dance halls. Bonanza kept up with the times through two newspapers, while stage and wagon roads connected the town with the Rio Grande Railway at Villa Grove. From the boom came the Kerber Creek Mining District, founded in 1881. These little places lasted into the 1890's, when silver prices fell. West of Kerber Creek, mining settlements, such as Sky City, Bowenton, and Biedell arose and died within a ten-year period. These places, unlike Kerber Creek, were not as rich or accessible as that mining district; therefore, they were not major mining centers in the valley.
Otto Mears of Saguache built toll roads to the Los Pinos Indian Reservation, west of Cochetopa Pass, then on to Lake City, Ouray, and finally into Silverton. In addition, Mears built a road over Poncha Pass to connect the Valley with the Arkansas drainage and other eastern trade routes. Thanks to Mears' roads, Del Norte became a supply base to the San Juans, as did Saguache. Into the 1880's, Mears continued building his toll roads. Finally, late in that decade, most were sold for use as rail grades or public roads.
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Ledge road photo by: Adam Mehlberg |
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Talus slope ledge road photo by: Adam Mehlberg |
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From here you will have great views of Mount Ouray and the Silver Creek valley below.
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Silver Creek valley photo by: Adam Mehlberg |
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Mount Ouray photo by: Adam Mehlberg |
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Further north are Mount Shavano and the Collegiate Peaks. Just past this scenic view you will cross the Continental Divide at 11,200 feet. The road will now drop down through aspen groves to the head waters of Squirrel Creek.
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Road to Squirrel Creek photo by: Adam Mehlberg |
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As you follow Squirrel Creek the valley will open up and you will cross through larger meadows.
As the valley opens up you will come to a large intersection. To the left is Clover Creek, FR876, and to the right is the continuation of Toll Road Gulch / Squirrel Creek. The large area just past the intersection is the reclamation of the Superior Mill site. Further down the road you will come to an intersection. The left will take you to the Rawley Mine complex and the right will take you to the Rawley Mine Portal. Stay to the right and after less than a quarter mile you will come to the reclamation work on the tailings from the Rawley Portal. There is a Forest Service restroom here as well.
Continuing down the valley you will drive two switchbacks and drop down to the junction of Squirrel Creek and Kerber Creek where FR869 ends near the old site of Exchequer.