Rock Creek Trail Pass
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Jefferson, Mount Logan, Observatory Rock, Topaz Mountain
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Graded CR 56 19.70 9,518 to 10,670 ft. NA 1-2 hours
County:	Park
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Park County	501 Main Street, Fairplay, CO 80440	719-836-2771
Summary:	Rock Creek Trail Pass road, also called Lost Park Road, is a graded county road to the Lost Park campground and trail head near the Lost Creek Wilderness.
Attractions:	Wilderness access
Seasonal Closure:	Natural - Closed by heavy snow.
Best Time:	June - Best July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Best
Trail Heads Accessed:	Rock Creek (Colorado Trail segment 4 FT1776, Ben Tyler Trail FT606) - Hiking Long Gulch (Colorado Trail segment 4 FT1776) - Hiking North Fork (Colorado Trail segment 4 FT1776, Brookside / McCurdy Trail FT607) - Hiking Lost Park (Brookside / McCurdy Trail FT607) - Hiking
Camping:	There is one Forest Service campground, Lost Park, as well as some dispersed campsites along the county road and the spur roads to the south.
Base Camp:	This would be a good place to base camp and explore the other 4WD roads and Wilderness trails in the area.
Fall Colors:	Average - Some aspen.
Navigation:	From Bailey CO. head west on US Hwy 285 S for 21.7 miles. Turn left onto Lost Park Road (Rock Creek Trail Pass road). From Fairplay, CO. head north on US Hwy 285 N for 17.2 miles. Turn right onto Lost Park Road (Rock Creek Trail Pass road).
History:	In 1892, The New York Times ran an article about the killing of bison in Lost Park, also known as Lost Creek. According to the article, the herd in Lost Creek was "probably the largest now running wild in the United States outside of Yellowstone National Park." At the time, the herd was composed of 25 mature adults. Today, there are no longer bison in Lost Creek, though the animals lend their name to Bison Peak, the tallest peak in Lost Creek (at around 12,400 feet).
Description:
The Rock Creek Trail Pass road is a graded two lane county road that ends at the Lost Park Campground. The road is maintained and gives access to the trailheads on the south side of the Lost Creek Wilderness area, which runs along the north side of the road. On the south side of the road are other Forest Service roads that loop into the forest, and were old logging roads in the past. From Hwy285 the road will head straight east and may be very wash boarded due to seasonal travel. After a couple of miles you will turn southwest and cross onto public lands heading up into low hills. The road will follow Dry Creek and then loop to the north and then back southwest to enter Long Gulch. Rock Creek Trail Pass road in Long Gulch photo by: Adam M The road will be following the Wilderness boundary on the northeast side, passing two spur roads that go to trailheads. After doing a double switchback the road will top out at the Rock Creek Trail Pass, a small opening in the trees with some dispersed camp sites is all there is. You will immediately start down a shallow grade into the valley of the South Fork of Lost Creek. The road will follow the creek in this short valley ending at the Lost Creek Wilderness and the Lost Park Campground.
Data updated - November 2, 2017      4WD Road driven - September 3, 2017      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2017