Texas Creek

Texas Creek - 11/25/11 version

Texas Creek is a BLM-managed OHV area that has dirt roads, ATV trails, and one single-track trail. The area is about midway between Salida and Canon City, on Highway 50 about 7 miles east of Cotopaxi. There are signs on the highway. The area is often rideable in winter because it doesn't get much snow, and the snow it does get usually melts quickly. The total riding mileage is not much over 50 miles, so all the routes can usually be ridden in a day. There are some mines and prospects to look at, and views from the higher hills are very good. You can see most of the Sangre de Cristo Range.

Sometimes, BLM brochures that include a map are available at the parking area in a pocket on the post on the right side as you enter the parking lot. Also, check the cafe on Highway 50 at the turnoff. Here's a PDF file (about 1mb) of the brochure/map:
Texas Cr Map

Here are some places you can call and ask a live person about the weather:
Barry's Den Cafe, Texas Cr   719-275-3275
ATV Play Dirty rentals, Texas Cr  719-269-3733
Cotopaxi Store, Cotopaxi  719-942-4151
Copper Gulch Store (about 10 miles south of Texas Cr)  719-942-4243

Texas Cr Area click to supersize

See Dual Sport Riding in Central Colorado for information about other areas and rides.

Friday, November 25, 2011

From the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office Recreation web page:

The Texas Creek Recreation area is located 20 miles west of Canon City, just north of U.S. Highway 50. It is a popular high-use area for motorized recreation users. This area is managed under the 2008 Arkansas River Travel Management Plan. The Royal Gorge Field Office made a commitment in the plan to work with motorized trail users in the Texas Creek area to re-route unsustainable trails and identify reasonable trails to accommodate their recreation needs while protecting valued resources. In late winter 2011, two re-routed trails were opened; a half-mile spur off of trail T6035A that leads to a scenic overlook and a 4.5-mile trail that tiers off the northern-most point of trail T6035A ending at BLM Road 6040 (Texas Creek Gulch Road).

January 5, 2010

I rode at Texas Cr today, first ride of the new year. It was 55 degrees by late afternoon. Only the lower trails were snow-free; everything up high was snowy and icy. The weekend looks like it will be very warm and I think the snow on Wed will pass Texas Cr by.

December 20, 2009

Don't let the picture fool you; although it was sunny and warmish (48), the area is really not open. The lower areas are dry, but the riding gets muddier and snowier the higher you go, and eventually snow and ice are too much. I rode 10 miles of the lowest areas. Better wait for warmer days.

January 18, 2009

I rode at Texas Cr today. Got a nasty flat in the main arroyo while riding my CRF230F - hit a rock and tore a chunk out of the front tire. Limped back to my van and switched to my TE610 and did a little exploring south on SH69 - lottsa snow down that way.

Afterwards, I met some riders from the front range who had ridden quite a bit of the OHV area, despite the snow. They kindly allowed me to post some of their pictures below. They had FUN!

February 27, 2008 I rode by myself today because all my riding buddies were busy: two went skiing, one went snomoing, one painted his house, and one had to cut a load of fire wood (wha?). It was very warm; mid 60s by the end of the ride. I'm wearing summer gear now. Despite the warm weather, there is still snow and ice. I rode 29 miles, about 1/4th of the area.
The main wash had some snow and ice, but I managed to ride through without too much difficulty. Coming back down the main route; Texas Cr and Highway 50 in the distance	Riding back down the main wash	The cattle guard on the east side of Waterfall Loop at the top end of Reese Gulch.	I had to turn back before reaching the rocks; too much ice.

February 13, 2008
The snowy and cold winter (so far) has left snow on the ground at TC a bit longer than usual. On our ride today we encountered mud and snow on every route we tried. The main sandy gulch was nice and tacky until we got to the snow and ice.	Route parallel to main gulch	Note the mud!
Tucker Tr was dry and fun	Reese Gulch was fun	The first road NE of the parking lot was dry

Bull Gulch had the only snow Mar 25, 2006
ATV section - here comes the Canon City Crew
The ATV section	had patchy snow	and some mud.
The trail section	had more snow	but it wasn't bad at all.

MikeJ on Bull Gulch Tr
2/24/06

MikeJ pushin' that WR400
2/24/06

1" of new snow in Bull Gulch
2/21/06

Feb 4, 2006
Sad to say, but the cabin next to Sgt Nulph's grave site was burned by persons unknown.	The grave site remains, but the jerks took the coins off the marker stone.

Jan 7, 2006
WardM, Young Steven, SteveS Colorado National Guard Field Artillery Office Bull Gulch, Nulph Site	Frank M Nulph Colorado SGT 341 Field Artillery World War I July 27, 1896 - April 10, 1959

Apr 15, 2005 (Tax Day)

JimI on Bull Gulch Tr

Mar 27, 2005 (Easter)
Bull Gulch - melting rapidly	ATVs on Table mtn	Friendly ATVers	Lonely pit area - there was me and a dog (by the pickup)!

Mar 19, 2005
Bull Gulch	Easy does it	Snowy section
Dudley on Snow Hill	Another snowy hill	Success - Table Mtn

Feb 26, 2005
The pit area	New CRF250X	New CRF230F	Hit it!

KLX rider

WRF rider

Table Mtn View

Jan 22, 2005
Table Mtn	There's an ATV left and down from center	JimC rails the turn	JimM does likewise	No hill too steep for the '05 KTM450

Dec 11, 2004
Tom on CRF230F	BrockM on CRF250X	Mrs M	Future RC	New cattle guard

January 30, 2004 - We found snow in the dark canyons and on the north sides, but nothing that stopped us.
Road to prospect	An old prospector	I believe it's gold	Snowy canyon
Keep those feet up!	We coulda' used chains here	It's dry on top	There are lots of roads
Hi	Lookin for a dry patch	We need to go over there	Arkansas River is at the bottom