Group of about 40 jeepers from various parts of US met up in BV for a week of wheeling all over. We picked several different trails to run so each group was small (5-10) jeeps and got to see many different areas. We stayed at Snowy Peaks RV park which was nice, reasonably priced and at the upper end of town with two other RV parks next door so we were all close together for afternoon gatherings and storytelling. Because the I-70 was closed due to landslides, we took the I-50 pulling the jeep and although about 1 hour longer and road was fine and beautiful.
When we got there on Sunday, we had a free afternoon, so we did a quick run over to the historical Midland Tunnels where an older narrow gauge railroad ran many years again. There are a series of three short tunnels you can now drive thru and it runs along the Arkansas river which is very popular for kayakers, rafting and has a lot of mountain bike trails all close to town. We stopped at an old bridge dated 1919 and got some pics. Exploring around BV was very nice with lots of diverse things to do including the jeeping.
Looking from the south end of the trail thru the three tunnels
Nice pic of old narrow gauge & river facing south
Shot of the river flowing north with elephant rock in upper right corner
The old bridge that you can walk on and crosses the river for river shots
Built by Virginia Bridge and Iron Co in Roanoke, VA in 1919
Next day we elected to do Chinaman Gulch Loop Trail which is southeast of town about 6 miles. The trail is a mid-grade and is only 6.9 miles lollypop trail,
but we played around on a number of rock obstacles and had lunch at the ‘caution sign’ (LOL) and took a few hours to complete. The terrain was similar to Payson / Big Bear but seems like many more and larger rocks.
You head up the trail starting off with an uphill rock garden which was a bit technical but overall not bad.
More uphill rock crawling getting to the plateau
Then once on upper plateau there were fun obstacles to play on
Although not needed, we found strap hooks installed at the top of a few of the taller obstacles.
We stopped for lunch at the far point of the loop and we all read the caution sigh LOL
Then we headed back down with a few more obstacles and more rock crawling sections
We finished out the trail with no major issues and everyone having fun.
The next day we went to MT. Antero and Lake Baldwin.
It was a bit of a drive at 40 minutes south west. This entire trail is not difficult but certainly
very, very different than anything I’ve ever jeeped and we got to over 13,400 feet in a relatively short period.
The lower section of this trail is really nice with a lot of variety in the forest following streams most of the way.
We then turned up the trail toward the timber line.
Again no crazy obstacles but views were getting even better
Crazy but all hills on the left were ALL rocks.
As we moved up from here we got into some crazy switch backs as outlined in the map
A bit steep without tilting the camera.
views were awesome and you can get
Once we got to the last section of the trail it turned into more of shelf trail
At the trail end at 13,600 feet we had lunch and met others there as well.
I understand Mount Antero is considered one of the 14’ers @ 14,269.
While having lunch we noticed two hikers at the peak
The two points just left of top center.
For a better perspective here is un-zoomed view.
The crazy part of this area is the majority of the landscape is that is made up of MANY smaller rocks that you would need to hike over — not easy.
After lunch, we headed down off this plateau we headed over to Baldwin Lake
Rest of the trail from Baldwin down was just as beautiful and so glad we took this “14er”
Next day we took off to Wheeler Lake, which was again about 40 miles north east from camp going
Heading past a small OLD town Alma up to the Magnolia Mike and to the lake.
The beginning of the trail is the old mine.
Once thru the Magnolia Mine we hit the first V notch obstacle
But first you needed to pass the iconic and lonely Cement mixer
V notch line was exciting with optional turn out
To the left was another line more of a wall with a muddy puddle to help
Ending up pretty sideway but right side up.
rest of trail was pretty cool with some creak crossings and we saw 3 moose’s
multiple smaller Rock Gardens
And finally got to the lake which was awesome but pictures don’t do it justice
We had lunch and noticed a waterfall coming down from the left mountain range feeding into the lake
Along with some snow patches and small mines on the various hills.
This was an in/out trail and moved right along back out with no issues.
That said, it was a really fun and beautiful trail that is well worth doing again.
I’m sure not wise but this would seem like a lot of fun to do in winter.
Thursday was a day off and we took our dog down to the Arkansas river and found a calmer
Place to swim (cold) and played ball with our dog.
Rest of week was hitting other trails including Handcock / Napoleon and stopped at Tin Cup camp for icecream and Low Pass / Poacher’s Loop that had a lot of old mining camps and equipment to explore with a few technical obstacles scattered.
BV was a great place to go back to many times and take even more different trails there. the town has some great places to eat, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting so something for almost anyone.
When we got there on Sunday, we had a free afternoon, so we did a quick run over to the historical Midland Tunnels where an older narrow gauge railroad ran many years again. There are a series of three short tunnels you can now drive thru and it runs along the Arkansas river which is very popular for kayakers, rafting and has a lot of mountain bike trails all close to town. We stopped at an old bridge dated 1919 and got some pics. Exploring around BV was very nice with lots of diverse things to do including the jeeping.
Looking from the south end of the trail thru the three tunnels
Nice pic of old narrow gauge & river facing south
Shot of the river flowing north with elephant rock in upper right corner
The old bridge that you can walk on and crosses the river for river shots
Built by Virginia Bridge and Iron Co in Roanoke, VA in 1919
Next day we elected to do Chinaman Gulch Loop Trail which is southeast of town about 6 miles. The trail is a mid-grade and is only 6.9 miles lollypop trail,
but we played around on a number of rock obstacles and had lunch at the ‘caution sign’ (LOL) and took a few hours to complete. The terrain was similar to Payson / Big Bear but seems like many more and larger rocks.
You head up the trail starting off with an uphill rock garden which was a bit technical but overall not bad.
More uphill rock crawling getting to the plateau
Then once on upper plateau there were fun obstacles to play on
Although not needed, we found strap hooks installed at the top of a few of the taller obstacles.
We stopped for lunch at the far point of the loop and we all read the caution sigh LOL
Then we headed back down with a few more obstacles and more rock crawling sections
We finished out the trail with no major issues and everyone having fun.
The next day we went to MT. Antero and Lake Baldwin.
It was a bit of a drive at 40 minutes south west. This entire trail is not difficult but certainly
very, very different than anything I’ve ever jeeped and we got to over 13,400 feet in a relatively short period.
The lower section of this trail is really nice with a lot of variety in the forest following streams most of the way.
We then turned up the trail toward the timber line.
Again no crazy obstacles but views were getting even better
Crazy but all hills on the left were ALL rocks.
As we moved up from here we got into some crazy switch backs as outlined in the map
A bit steep without tilting the camera.
views were awesome and you can get
Once we got to the last section of the trail it turned into more of shelf trail
At the trail end at 13,600 feet we had lunch and met others there as well.
I understand Mount Antero is considered one of the 14’ers @ 14,269.
While having lunch we noticed two hikers at the peak
The two points just left of top center.
For a better perspective here is un-zoomed view.
The crazy part of this area is the majority of the landscape is that is made up of MANY smaller rocks that you would need to hike over — not easy.
After lunch, we headed down off this plateau we headed over to Baldwin Lake
Rest of the trail from Baldwin down was just as beautiful and so glad we took this “14er”
Next day we took off to Wheeler Lake, which was again about 40 miles north east from camp going
Heading past a small OLD town Alma up to the Magnolia Mike and to the lake.
The beginning of the trail is the old mine.
Once thru the Magnolia Mine we hit the first V notch obstacle
But first you needed to pass the iconic and lonely Cement mixer
V notch line was exciting with optional turn out
To the left was another line more of a wall with a muddy puddle to help
Ending up pretty sideway but right side up.
rest of trail was pretty cool with some creak crossings and we saw 3 moose’s
multiple smaller Rock Gardens
And finally got to the lake which was awesome but pictures don’t do it justice
We had lunch and noticed a waterfall coming down from the left mountain range feeding into the lake
Along with some snow patches and small mines on the various hills.
This was an in/out trail and moved right along back out with no issues.
That said, it was a really fun and beautiful trail that is well worth doing again.
I’m sure not wise but this would seem like a lot of fun to do in winter.
Thursday was a day off and we took our dog down to the Arkansas river and found a calmer
Place to swim (cold) and played ball with our dog.
Rest of week was hitting other trails including Handcock / Napoleon and stopped at Tin Cup camp for icecream and Low Pass / Poacher’s Loop that had a lot of old mining camps and equipment to explore with a few technical obstacles scattered.
BV was a great place to go back to many times and take even more different trails there. the town has some great places to eat, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting so something for almost anyone.
