Fourmile Creek
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Harvard Lakes, Marmot Peak
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: 2 FR375 7.14 8,320 to 9,400 ft. NA 1-2 hours
County:	Chaffee
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Pike San Isabel, Salida Ranger District	325 West Rainbow Blvd. Salida, CO 81201	719-539-3591
Summary:	Fourmile Creek 4WD road is an easy road that heads toward Buffalo Peaks Wilderness and multiple trailheads.
Attractions:	Camping, Trailhead.
Seasonal Closure:	Agency - December 1 to April 30
Best Time:	June - Best July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Early snows possible
Trail Heads	FT1415 - Hiking, Horseback, Mountain Bike, Motorcycle, ATV (<50 inch) Tumble Creek, FT617 - Hiking, Horseback, Mountain Bike Vitamin B Trail - Hike, Mountain Bike
Camping:	There are dispersed campsites all along the road, and along the spur roads.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp. There are many 4WD roads in this area and it is close to Buena Vista.
Fall Colors:	Poor - mostly pine forest and open meadows.
Navigation:	From Buena Vista, head north on US-24 W for 0.2 miles. Turn right onto E Arkansas Street and go 0.2 miles. Turn left onto Rd 371/N Colorado Ave and go 486 feet. Continue onto County Road 371 for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto County Road 375, BLM 375.
History:	The Sailor Homestead is a day use area at the end of FR 375C. In the mid 1800's it was a stage station and later served as headquarters of a 1,500 acre cattle operation. Its extensive ditches irrigated hayfields along Fourmile Creek. The ranch became part of San Isabel National Forest in the 1970s.
Description:
Fourmile Creek 4WD road starts as County Road 375 / BLM 375. It is a graded gravel road. Just after leaving County Road 371 there will be a large parking area on the left side of the road. This is also the trailhead for the Vitamin B Mountain Bike Trail. Continue on through a couple of switchbacks, passing a dispersed campsite on the right. This camp site is also where BLM T6037, a Mountain Bike trail, connects with the road. Beyond the campsite the road will pass through a thinly forested area before coming to the Turtle Rock campground on the left. Just past the campground you will leave BLM managed lands and enter Forest Service managed lands. After a short distance you will come to a road on the right. This is the Lenhardy Cutoff, FR376/CR376, road. There are a few dispersed campsites at the start of this road. Continue on passing another dispersed campsite on the right side of the road. The road will pass through some large rock outcrops with a few dispersed campsites around the base. The road will continue to climb passing through the forest. There will be a few more dispersed campsites on the right. You will come to a large intersection. The road on the left is FR375E, a short spur road that goes to two dispersed campsites. Continue to the right and after just over a quarter of a mile you will come to another intersection. The road to the right is FR375C, another short spur road that has dispersed campsites along its length. The spur will end at the old Sailor Homestead, and the trailhead for FT1415, along the side of Fourmile Creek. Continue to the left on the main road which will come to another intersection. The road to the right is FR375A, another spur road that follows a drainage down to Fourmile Creek, crosses the creek, and then connects with Little Fourmile, FR373. Continue to the left up the Fourmile Creek valley for over a mile and a quarter. You will pass a short spur road on the right that goes to a campsite. Past this spur the road will drop down to cross a small drainage then come to a private drive on the right, followed by a spur road to the right, FR375B, that quickly ends at a turnaround. Stay to the left. The road will now head into a heavier forested area. You will come to another intersection. The road to the left is Homestake Pipeline, FR377. Stay to the right continuing on FR375. Next you will come to a gated road on the right that is used for pipeline maintenance. Past the gate the main road will make a sharp right turn and come to an intersection with FR375B on your left. This is a short spur road that goes to private property. Staying to the right the road will pass two more dispersed campsites. The road will become more of a two track passing another private driveway on the right. Staying left the road will climb through the forest just over a quarter of a mile to end at a large parking area. This is the trailhead for Tumble Creek, FT617.
Data updated - September 28, 2021       4WD Road driven - July 21, 2021       Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2021