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Thread: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops

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    Default Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    This is out in the White River N.F / Flat Tops. The lake is about 13 miles directly north-northwest of Glenwood Springs.

    Google Map link
    https://goo.gl/maps/zjZ3JRutmWjc8vRs7

    The FunTreks book lists this as a red trail - when passable (and I'd agree - some of the water holes were concerning).

    https://funtreks.com/off-road-trails/adams-lake/

    https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/197-adams-lake

    I went two weekends in a row - the first to check it out and the second with a friend looking to get away from the city.

    The first visit (July 20) was in the dry and I had no issue getting up the last hill just before the lake. On the second weekend the area was wet enough that the last hill had me kick'n the passenger out, toss'n on both lockers, trying the typical route, backing up and trying the easy route, then backing up and getting some momentum for the easy route.

    I entered the forest via Dotsero / Coffee Pot Road. From asphalt there's 21 miles for an hour to two hour (depending on stops for pictures) of passenger-car-accessible gravel road and then ten minutes of trail that pickups hauling campers tackle when the road is dry (ugh - wild ruts from folks trying to not get stuck when it's muddy). From there it's ~5.7 miles of moderate jeep trail for an hour 20+. Perhaps five to eight water holes / water crossings with a couple that had me nervous going alone (read - no anchor points handy for a winch recovery). Holes where both axles would be "in it". Some were short enough to always have one axle on dry ground. Then there was the snowbank - July 20. It covered 1/2 of the width of the trail. It was 30' long and 2 to 3' high (July 29th it was only 10% of the prior week - no pics).

    The trek is a bit long but the scenery is grand. The location is remote and little used. It has one, sadly, detraction: commercial airplanes. It's under a flight path. You're out in a remote area, up at 10,600 feet, with commercial airplanes flying overhead. The reminder that society is not far away. That one item was the bummer - though removing it - the place was nice with good scenery.

    Mosquitoes were around but unusual (Deep Woods Off 99% DEET at work). They were not the Minnesota dive bomb bugs out for blood no matter what. We'd have three or four flying around our faces but not landing - odd. After the weekend I had three bites.

    Some pix here with full sets at these two links:

    www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2019-07-20--trails--cleanup-run--adams-lake/

    www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2019-07-27--red-rocks--adams-lake/








  2. The Following 6 Members Say Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    Brian (September 16th, 2019),cnstaco (September 17th, 2019),FINOCJ (September 16th, 2019),Java (September 17th, 2019),Rocrawlr (September 16th, 2019),Tom (September 16th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    Coffee Pot is beautiful! If you go a few minutes up Colorado River road there is another turnoff on the same side as Coffee Pot called Red Dirt Road that is a lot of fun, right next to the river and all dirt https://funtreks.com/off-road-trails/red-dirt-road/

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    Jim (September 17th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    Paul previously posted:
    "Coffee Pot is beautiful! If you go a few minutes up Colorado River road there is another turnoff on the same side as Coffee Pot called Red Dirt Road that is a lot of fun, right next to the river and all dirt https://funtreks.com/off-road-trails/red-dirt-road/"

    TRAIL CLOSED at 3.4 miles

    ___________
    Tom
    -.- . ----- .-- - -.-.

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    I read that too. I could see driving in from each end to see what it's like.

    I could also see spending a long weekend at the Flat Tops - staying either at Adams Lake, or the nice, established (with bear lockers) Deep Lake Campground (that also has some nice views). Google Map

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    Tom previously posted:
    "TRAIL CLOSED at 3.4 miles
    "

    saw that too, but I was just there in July so I don't think it's accurate. This pic is about 1/2 mile in, it looks like you should go right but you actually go left, it's possible they went the wrong way or mean that a side trail is closed at that point. Not really sure, there is a phone number on that page you can call.

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    Paul previously posted:
    "I was just there in July so I don't think it's accurate."

    ... and you were able to drive end to end, yes? (perhaps an obvious [or clueless - LOL] question)


    EDIT: I guess nevermind - looking at your screen grab map info / duration. 5 Hours? Did you make stops?

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    the track on the screen shot is from Fraser to Colbran, I deleted the tracks up Red Dirt, Moffat, Coffee Pot and some other side stops when I put it together so I'm not really sure how far in we went. I'd guess 5 miles or so, but it's just a guess. I didn't see any closures, but I'd try the number as I am not really sure.

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    Jim (September 17th, 2019)

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    I am a big old idiot, I found the GPS log of Red Dirt road and I only went 1.8 miles in. I should have know what I was talking about before I posted, sorry.

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    Default Re: Adams Lake - White River N.F. / Flat Tops



    Thx. No worries.

    If I'm in the area and have the time - I'd try it anyway.

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