4X4Explore.com - Routt County Road 37

Routt County Road 37 (Height Divide)

Maps:

USGS 7.5' Map:

Mount Harris, Dunckley, Rattlesnake Butte

Statistics:

Difficulty:	Number:	Miles:	Altitude:	Obstacles:	Time:
Graded	Cnty 37	16.10	6,600 to 7,080 ft.	NA	1 hour

County:

Routt

Adopted by:

Managed by:

Routt County

P.O. Box 773598, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477

(970)879-0108

Summary:

Routt County 37 is an easy road that connects County Road 29 and 27 with US Highway 40 in Hayden.

Attractions:

Remote

Seasonal
Closure:

None

Best Time:

June - Best
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Best

Trail Heads
Accessed:

Camping:

There are no campsites along Cnty Road 37.

Base Camp:

Fall Colors:

Poor - the landscape is rolling hills and sage.

Navigation:

From Hayden, CO head east on US-40 E/W Jefferson Ave towards S 3rd Street. Continue to follow US-40 E for 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Hawthorne Street and go 0.2 miles. Continue onto County Rd 37 for 1.1 miles. Continue straight onto Routt City Rd for 144 feet. Take a slight right to stay on Routt City Rd and go 1.2 miles. Turn right to continue on Routt County Rd 37, Height Divide road.

From Oak Creek, CO head west on CO-131 N towards County Rd 27 for 0.2 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 27 and go 12.8 miles. Turn left onto the Height Divide road, County Road 37.

History:

Height Divide separates the drainages of Sage Creek and Fish Creek. The original name of the pass was Hite Divide, named after George Hite, who homesteaded in the area. At some point a map maker changed the name from "Hite" to "Height", even though the locals still refer to it as Hite.

Below the pass on the south side was the town of Dunckley (also spelled Dunkley) that served the ranching community in the area. The town had a school and a post office, which opened in 1892, and remained open until 1942. Originally the town was to be named Argo, but Colorado already had an Argo post office. Since the local family that settled in the area in 1880 was the Dunckley's, who raised cattle in what is now Dunckley Park, the post office was given the name Dunckley. The townsite is on private property.

Helmuth, Ed and Gloria. The Passes of Colorado Boulder, Colorado: Pruett, 1994. Print.
Kenneth Jessen, Ghost Towns Colorado Style, Volume One - Northern Region, J.V. Publications LLC, 1998.

Description:

Routt County Road 37 is an easy graded road that crosses over the pass known as Height Divide. The north end leaves US Highway 40 at Hayden, CO and heads south into low hills following Sage Creek up Sage Creek Canyon. The Canyon is fairly broad with low forests of pine and gambel oak. It will pass some small pumping oil wells. The road will come out of the canyon and enter a more open area as it follows the side of Sage Creek Reservoir. The road will continue south where it tops out on Height Divide. From here you will follow a branch of Fish Creek passing remote ranches. You will enter n open area, Dunckley Park, where the next intersection is with County Road 37A to the right (This is the route I took). County Road 37 will continue to the left and connect with County Road 27.

	Height Divide photo by: Adam M

Following County Road 37A will take you up Yoast Gulch. At the next intersection, the left is County Road 37B which takes you toward the old town of Dunckley, which is on private property. Staying to the right will continue County 37A which passes through Williams Park before connecting with County Road 29. To the left is Oak Creek, to the right is Pagoda.

Data updated - December 30, 2016 4WD Road driven - September 5, 2016 Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2016