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Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail

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Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail MP 232 – 233: The Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail Between mileage posts 232 and 233 are two great places to explore. The first is the Moffat Tunnel and the second is the National Sport Center for the Disabled (NSCD) Jim Creek Trail. Route Mile Marker X Y Longitude Latitude 1U. S. Highway 40 232 434937.87 4415976.08 -105.761002 39.891356 233 435602.43 4414603.84 -105.753094 39.879044 What was to become the Moffat Tunnel was the dream and idea of David Moffat of the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific (DNW&P) railroad. His idea was to build a tunnel under the Continental Divide and James Peak making the trip from Denver to the Fraser Valley quicker and safer. (See MP 231-232 – Rollins Pass Road for what was in store for the train traveler before the Moffat Tunnel.) This photo is taken from a Kiosk exhibit describing the Moffat Road at Inspiration Point on the Trough Road west of Kremmling. The Moffat Road started at Utah Junction north of Denver (today at Pecos and 25th). The original depot remains at Delancey and 15th Streets and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.2 1 Taken from the Colorado Department of Transportation’s website: http://apps.coloradodot.info/dataaccess/Highways/index.cfm?fuseaction=HighwaysMain 2 Information on the Moffat Road provide by David Naples and members of http://moffatroadrailroadmuseum.org/moffatrdmaps.html MP 232 – 233: The Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail (PAW 2012) 1 Photo by author - 2011 Once leaving Denver, the Moffat Road went through 33 tunnels (now there are 29 remaining) as it climbed up into the Rocky Mountains. The Moffat Road continued on to Craig, Colorado but was never built beyond that city. David Moffat died in 1911, but his dream did not. In 1922, the Colorado state government passed a bill to fund the construction of the Tunnel. It would take until 1927 for the tunnel to be completed. It cost $18 million, which was three times more than the expected cost. A higher cost was the 28 lives lost during the five-year construction project. Photo provided by and used with permission from the Denver Public Library After several years of politics and battles between the Denver & Salt Lake (D&SL) and the Denver & Rio Grande Western (Rio Grande) (D&RGW) Railroads, work was begun in November 1932 on the Dotsero Cutoff. The Cutoff which was 45 miles long would begin at the junction at Orestod (Dotsero spelled backwards) near Bond, Colorado. On MP 232 – 233: The Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail (PAW 2012) 2 June 15, 1934 the construction was completed on the cutoff, and the route was complete. The north set of tracks followed the original Moffat Road to Craig, but the southern route followed beside the Colorado River to Dotsero and met the D&RGW which would take it to Glenwood Springs and on to Salt Lake City. This is the route that Amtrak follows once it comes out of the Moffat Tunnel. There is a pull-off on the west side of US Highway 40 between these two mileage posts that is on top of the Moffat Tunnel. The site has some historic plaques telling about the Tunnel and Ski Area. The view of the ski area and the railroad is a good one. At one time there was an accessible path from the pull-off area to the walk-ways into the ski area. These have now been eroded. The two tunnels can be seen. Photos taken by the author – August 2011 The pale green tunnel beside the Moffat Tunnel, which is labeled Moffat Water Tunnel, was the original pioneer tunnel. The contractors cut side bores into the larger tunnel. This allowed for several areas to be worked on at the same time. When the construction of the Moffat Tunnel was finished, the smaller tunnel was used to carry water under the Divide to supply water to the City of Denver. The Moffat Tunnel is 24 feet high, 18 feet wide and 6.4 miles long. Each portal is covered with a MP 232 – 233: The Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail (PAW 2012) 3 canvas door which is part of the ventilation system. Detectors in the track are supposed to open the doors eight seconds before the train goes in or leaves the portal and then close after the train has passed. Sometimes the train is through the door before it opens, thus the canvas, which can be easily replaced. Seeing the train suddenly coming out the tunnel is truly exciting. As you stand at the Moffat Tunnel viewing area, the mountain in front of you is part of the Winter Park Ski Area. Their history is long and rich. Much has already been written about it. Several excellent books and internet sites are available. The author’s favorite resources are Grand County Historical Association Journal Volume IV, Number 1 dated March 1988: 1859-1950 Skiing in Middle Park and Volume IX, Number 1 dated December 1989: Mountain, A Dream, A Train – Winter Park. These booklets are available at their museums as well on line at http://www.grandcountymuseum.com/GiftShop.htm There is also information about Winter Park’s ski history at http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/areahistory/winterpark.html Note the skiers. Photo provided by and used with permission from the Denver Public Library The second place to explore is found at the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Winter Park Outdoor Center. Turn east at the stop light which is opposite the entrance to the Winter Park Resort and the Vintage Hotel. Here is a trail that can be enjoyed by the family no matter their age or abilities. The trail was built by 600 volunteers for the National Sports Center for the Disabled. The trail is part boardwalk and packed soil. The loop trail is about a mile and half long. It is broken into two sections. The first is the Discovery Trail MP 232 – 233: The Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail (PAW 2012) 4 which is part of the loop trail and is easily wheel chair accessible. The second part of the trail is called the Challenge Trail. This trail has a natural material surface and has some challenging areas for persons with mobility impairments. The area’s restrooms are open after the snow melts and closes once the snow falls. This special place has benches along the trail and there are accessible picnic areas and fishing ponds. Photos by author – August 8, 2011 MP 232 – 233: The Moffat Tunnel and the Jim Creek Trail (PAW 2012) 5 .
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