Rio Blanco County Road 8 (Dunckley Passes)
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| Maps: |
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| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Dunckley Pass, Sand Point, Yampa |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Graded |
Cnty 8 |
17.20 |
7,860 to 9,763 ft. |
NA |
2-3 hours |
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| County: |
Rio Blanco |
| Adopted by: |
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| Managed by: |
Rio Blanco County |
555 Main Street, Meeker, CO 81641 |
(970)878-9400 |
| Summary: |
Rio Blanco County 8 is an easy road that connects Oak Creek, CO with Meeker, CO. |
| Attractions: |
Pass |
Seasonal
Closure: |
None |
| Best Time: |
June - Best
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Best |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
West Fish Creek, FT1098 - Hiking, Motorcycle, ATV, Horseback
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| Camping: |
There are some campsites along Cnty Road 8. |
| Base Camp: |
This would be a good area to base camp. |
| Fall Colors: |
Very Good - the road crosses through many aspen groves.
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| Navigation: |
From Meeker, CO head east on Market Street towards 7th Street for 1.8 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 8/State Hwy 132 and continue to follow County Rd 8 for 54.7 miles. Head uphill on County Rd 8 to start the Dunckley Pass road.
From Oak Creek, CO head east on CO-131 S/W Main Street towards Sharp Ave. Continue to follow CO-131 S for 3.9 miles. Turn right onto Rcr15 for 174 feet. Rcr15 turns slightly right and becomes County Rd 15. Go 0.6 miles. County Rd 15 turns left and becomes Rcr15. Go 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Rcr19 and go 0.8 miles. Continue straight to stay on Rcr19 and go 1.1 miles. Continue straight to head up Dunckley Pass.
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| History: |
Dunckley Pass divides the drainages of the East Fork of Williams Fork and Fish Creek. The pass gets its name from the five Dunckley brothers, Bob, Richard, Tom, George, and John. In the 1890's the Dunckley brothers ranched in the area around the pass. The pass was once an old Ute Indian trail, which in the 1890's became a freight road for hauling goods and running cattle between the Williams Fork area and the railroad at Yampa, Colorado. |
| Description: |
Rio Blanco County Road 8 is an easy graded road that crosses over Dunkley Pass. The west end starts in valley where county road 19 intersects with county road 8. From here the road begins its climb up the side of the Dunckley Flat Tops. You will be driving through aspen forest as you make a large looping switchback and then continue to climb into the forest.
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Dunkley Pass, starting from the west side
photo by:
Adam M |
There will be some scenic pulloffs along this section with views to Pyramid Peak and the Flat Tops Wilderness. After about five miles you will reach the top of the pass with a wide pull off on the right side of the road.
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Dunkley Pass, the top
photo by:
Adam M |
At the top of the pass is a spur road on the left, FR951, that goes a mile to the West Fish Creek Trail Head. The road will cross over the pass and head back down into aspen forest where you will pass a few spur roads to campsites. After descending down five switchbacks you will cross an open area and then FR940 will be on your right. This is the road to the Chapman Reservoir Campground. After crossing through some more aspen forests you will run the side of a long ridge with an open valley below. The next intersection is with County Road 25 to the left, while continuing on is County Road 132.
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Dunkley Pass, at the east end
photo by:
Adam M |
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Data updated - December 12, 2016
4WD Road driven - September 6, 2016
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