Front Range 4x4 Upcoming Trail Runs - Add a New Trail Run

Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Switzerland trail and Estes Park

  1. October 23rd, 2009 #1

    Default Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    Yesterday was a nice day so we went up to see Estes Park and ended up taking the scenic route via Switzerland Trail. We've gone up Fourmile Canyon to Sunset and from there took Switzerland tr towards Sugarloaf Mtn, and then to Hwy 72. Shortly after Sunset we came up on a FS 235 that shortens the trip, bypassing Sugarloaf Mtn. We went up it about a 1/4 mile but decided to turn around shortly after a steep snowy climb (red line on the map). It started getting steeper, snowier and chewed up and we didn't want to risk it, being there by ourselves, so we came back to Switzerland tr and continued on. I was very impressed with the car and the AT tires though. The steep hill was wet, slippery and loose, covered in snow, but the climb was surprisingly easy. The tires and AWD were working in perfect harmony with no slippage. At the top there was a rut that made us a bit concerned as we had no choice but to go through it (the trail was very narrow - good thing for the car being so narrow). I have taken a short video of the rut, but none of the climb. Shortly after the rut we chose to turn around. With another vehicle for support, that shortcut would be an interesting challenge to complete.

    The south part of Switzerland trail is mostly facing North, so there was some snow here and there. After getting on Hwy 72 we continued N towards Hwy 7. Shortly before the intersection there's a steep climb via FS 217 that gets you to Bunce School rd (and essentially back to Hwy 7). We turned onto FS 217 as some hunters were coming down it - needless to say we got some funny looks from them. After finishing Bunce School we got back on the hwy and continued on to Estes. The day was pretty uneventful, but very pretty. Once in Estes we've walked the Main st and got to see the burned out Park Theater Mall. What a sad sight that was. Most of the businesses in Estes had a sign in the window thanking the firefighters.
    Pics:

    Up Fourmile Canyon

    Snow on one side, clear on the other

    On the FS 235 spur

    Switzerland Tr above Fourmile Canyon

    Snowy trail

    ...
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  2. October 23rd, 2009 #2

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    ???


    Hwy 72


    Park Theatre Mall front


    Main Street Pano


    Side by the Theatre



    Evening in Estes Park


    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  3. October 23rd, 2009 #3
    cfr
    is  OFFLINE 
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Member
    #362
    Last Online
    June 20th, 2017
    Location
    Erie, CO
    4x4
    2009 Jeep Wrangler X Unlimited
    Posts
    713
    User Name
    cfr
    Real Name
    Charles
    Thanks Given
    0
    Thanked 64 Times in 35 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    SubaCool previously posted:
    "... up Fourmile Canyon to Sunset and from there took Switzerland tr towards Sugarloaf Mtn, and then to Hwy 72. Shortly after Sunset we came up on a FS 235 that shortens the trip, bypassing Sugarloaf Mtn. We went up it about a 1/4 mile but decided to turn around shortly after a steep snowy climb (red line on the map). It started getting steeper, snowier and chewed up and we didn't want to risk it, being there by ourselves, so we came back to Switzerland tr and continued on."

    That was Bear Gulch. Short fun trail. Did you get steep washed-out hill with the tree roots? I was intimidated by that in my Wrangler when it was dry. Got up it fine, but wouldn't want to be on that in the snow.
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  4. October 23rd, 2009 #4
    Rob
    is  OFFLINE 

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Member
    #453
    Last Online
    December 19th, 2020
    Location
    Longmont
    Age
    66
    4x4
    2008 FJ Cruiser/1982 FJ40
    Posts
    4,990
    User Name
    Rob
    Real Name
    Rob
    Thanks Given
    3
    Thanked 122 Times in 106 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    cfr previously posted:
    "That was Bear Gulch. Short fun trail. Did you get steep washed-out hill with the tree roots? I was intimidated by that in my Wrangler when it was dry. Got up it fine, but wouldn't want to be on that in the snow."

    Is that on the other side of 52, where Switzerland Trail hits 52 and a trail continues on the other side? (The map isn't showing up on my screen.) The washed-out hills sounds familiar. It that's the trail I'm thinking of, it's a fun one. Short, but fun.
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  5. October 23rd, 2009 #5
    Funrover
    is  OFFLINE 
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Member
    #97
    Last Online
    May 13th, 2019
    Location
    Conifer, CO
    Age
    42
    4x4
    '92 Range Rover
    Posts
    7,000
    User Name
    Funrover
    Real Name
    Aaron
    Thanks Given
    79
    Thanked 141 Times in 121 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    It was all over once I saw the Power Wagons..... I love those rigs!
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  6. October 23rd, 2009 #6
    cfr
    is  OFFLINE 
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Member
    #362
    Last Online
    June 20th, 2017
    Location
    Erie, CO
    4x4
    2009 Jeep Wrangler X Unlimited
    Posts
    713
    User Name
    cfr
    Real Name
    Charles
    Thanks Given
    0
    Thanked 64 Times in 35 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    DrUnit previously posted:
    "Is that on the other side of 52, where Switzerland Trail hits 52 and a trail continues on the other side? (The map isn't showing up on my screen.) The washed-out hills sounds familiar. It that's the trail I'm thinking of, it's a fun one. Short, but fun."

    If you're heading from Sunset Southeast towards Sugarloaf then Bear Gulch will be the first trail off to the right. It heads mostly South and then intersects the Switzerland Trail again (where the Switzerland Trail connects Sugarloaf to Hwy 72).

    Right here on google maps,

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...06899&t=h&z=17

    This trail has a forest service road number but I don't have my maps handy.

    ---------- Post added at 10:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 PM ----------

    On the Switzerland Trail in general... I'm fascinated by local history and ran across these sites when searching for more info recently.

    Basic overview,

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_Trail

    a bit on Mont Alto (scroll down to the old picture),

    http://www.mont-alto.com/aboutma.html

    and probably the most interesting,

    http://switzerlandtrail.blogspot.com/

    There's also a book,

    http://www.amazon.com/Switzerland-Tr...6357507&sr=8-1

    but I haven't been able to find this in my local library.
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  7. October 23rd, 2009 #7
    Mporter
    is  OFFLINE 
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Member
    #522
    Last Online
    January 2nd, 2014
    Location
    Boulder/Lakewood
    Age
    31
    4x4
    1988 Toyota Landcruiser (FJ62)
    Posts
    2,562
    User Name
    Mporter
    Real Name
    Matt
    Thanks Given
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    Haha on your pano..there's a half ghosted car
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  8. October 23rd, 2009 #8
    Rob
    is  OFFLINE 

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Member
    #453
    Last Online
    December 19th, 2020
    Location
    Longmont
    Age
    66
    4x4
    2008 FJ Cruiser/1982 FJ40
    Posts
    4,990
    User Name
    Rob
    Real Name
    Rob
    Thanks Given
    3
    Thanked 122 Times in 106 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    Thanks. I haven't been on that one yet.
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  9. October 23rd, 2009 #9

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    I wish I had taken more pictures on FS 235. It starts off of Switz trail on a sharp bend. FS 235 goes right, and Switz goes left. There are two big puddles in that bend and a single tree in the middle, next to FS 235. It's about a mile and a half from Sunset. We've gone 0.3 mile up the FS 235 before we turned around.

    The red path is the part we did before we turned around. The red box is the first steep hill that was narrow. It had some roots on it, but was fairly smooth. The yellow box is the second hill that had some bypasses on it and it looked challenging (roots, rocks, ruts, etc). We've turned around at that - didn't want to get too far in and not be able to turn around.

    ---------- Post added at 09:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 PM ----------

    Mporter previously posted:
    "Haha on your pano..there's a half ghosted car"

    Kinda hard to take multiple shots on a busy street My pano software did the rest. Looks cool huh
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  10. October 24th, 2009 #10

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    Got a couple of short videos:

    Splashing through a puddle


    Navigating a snowy rut on FS 235
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  11. October 24th, 2009 #11
    KnuckleHead
    is  OFFLINE 
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Member
    #109
    Last Online
    January 21st, 2018
    Location
    Aurora, CO
    Age
    45
    4x4
    97 Dodge Ram 1500
    Posts
    1,536
    User Name
    KnuckleHead
    Real Name
    Happy
    Thanks Given
    12
    Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    nice pics you have there.... I'm with you on turning around and being safe.... I would have done the same... really like the ghost car in that one pic
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  12. October 24th, 2009 #12
    Mporter
    is  OFFLINE 
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Member
    #522
    Last Online
    January 2nd, 2014
    Location
    Boulder/Lakewood
    Age
    31
    4x4
    1988 Toyota Landcruiser (FJ62)
    Posts
    2,562
    User Name
    Mporter
    Real Name
    Matt
    Thanks Given
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    85fsbronco previously posted:
    "nice pics you have there.... I'm with you on turning around and being safe.... I would have done the same... really like the ghost car in that one pic"

    It's some real back to the future stuff up there....:(

    In a Honda Accord
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  13. October 24th, 2009 #13

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    Im still amazed at what you do with that lil Subi. cool pics!
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
  14. October 24th, 2009 #14

    Default Re: Switzerland trail and Estes Park



    1freaky1 previously posted:
    "Im still amazed at what you do with that lil Subi. cool pics!"

    LOL Thanks! I'm still amazed that I'm STILL married jk I have a great wife. She actually enjoys our little adventures The car is quite capable, I just wish it was a bit taller and without the "overhangs". I will get a 4x4 sooner or later for the harder trails, but the Subie won't get retired from the easier stuff. It's just way too much fun!
    Reply W/Quote Reply W/Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Similar Threads

  1. Ellis Jeep Trail, ElkHorn, Whiskey Park, Dunes
    By Brody in forum 3) Trail Run Reports
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: November 17th, 2009, 05:11 PM
  2. Downtown Estes Park Fire
    By Roo in forum Chat
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: October 19th, 2009, 04:07 PM
  3. Sat 8/22 AM run Boulder/Longmont/Nederland/Estes
    By cfr in forum 1) Trail Run Planning
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: August 22nd, 2009, 06:01 AM
  4. Johnny Park 2/8
    By Fortress of Tranquility in forum 2) Planned Trail Runs
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: February 8th, 2009, 11:19 AM

Members who have read this thread: 4

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules

BACK TO TOP