Rollins Pass and Moffat Road

[94SRUNNER]

Hey all,

I am heading out to Fort Collins next week for about 10 days and am looking for some off highway day trips. I came across Rollins Pass and Moffat Road while reviewing maps of Arapaho National Forest. I was wondering if any could shed any light on this trail.

Thanks

 

[85badger]

Its been a long time since I've been on this but IIRC its more or less a dirt road built on the old tracks. You can go all the way up to the pass from winterpark and then down the eastside. Not sure if the rock tunnel is open though. Nice easy drive.

 

[subzali]

Rollins Pass is NOT open all the way through. From the Winter Park side (west side), you can drive up almost to the trestles of the old railroad, and from the east side (Rollinsville side), it also follows the old railroad grade up to about 1/4 mile before the old tunnel (Subaru accessible). The tunnel collapsed a few years ago, and though there has been talk of reopening it that's still at least a couple years away, if it happens at all. The newer Moffat Tunnel down at the base of Rollins Pass road currently allows trains to pass under the divide to Winter Park, and there is some nice hiking in the area to some lakes (Crater Lakes). Jenny Creek trail splits off of the Rollins Pass trail and then re-intersects it later, Rising Sun folks just did a run up there on 7/3 and had to winch up the last snow drift. It will probably be cleared out by the time you get there, but the rest of the trail is still somewhat challenging. There is also the Middle St. Vrain/Coney Flats trail in the area. If you're going through Fort Collins I would contact the Horsetooth 4 Wheelers to get their opinion of what would be good.