| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy 3 | FR647 | 4.37 | 10,280 ft. | NA | 1/2 hour |
Closure:
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible
Accessed:
From Buford, CO on County Road 8 head toward New Castle Buford Road for 2.3 miles. Turn left onto County Road 10 and go 1.5 miles. Turn right onto New Castle Buford Road and go 14.3 miles. Turn left onto FR 601 and go 3.3 miles. Turn left onto FR 601 and go 4.1 miles. Turn left onto Forest Road 647.
Starting from the Blair Mountain 4WD road you will head east passing a spur road on the left that goes to a dispersed campsite. The road will turn and head south east and then northeast passing through open areas with pine forest surrounding them. The road will turn southeast again and head down a shallow valley surrounded by pine forests. The road is a single lane two track with good sight views of oncoming traffic. The Bench 4WD road will continue to follow the small valley which will broaden as it continues southeast. The road will finally come to a small natural pond where it will turn west and climb a low hill over into another shallow valley and then out into a large open area where it will turn east again and come to a connection with with the Cow Lake, FR601.2F, 4WD road. Taking the left will continue with the Bench 4WD road. After about a half mile you will come to a small parking area which is the Blair Lake tralhead. Blair Lake Trail is a hiking trail that climbs up a sloping ridge to a point overlooking the canyon of the South Fork of the White River with Crater Lake below. There is a switchback hiking trail down to Crater Lake from the point. The hiking trail will continue south along the imposing east face of Blair Mountain passing Blair, Shadow, and Jet Lakes.