Horse Ranch Park/Oh-Be-Joyful Trail BCM Course Area Guide Backcountry Trip Code ________________________ Team Leader ________________________ Table of Contents Trail Summary ...................................................... 3 Trail Information .............................................................. 3 Trail Description .............................................................. 4 Route Description............................................................ 5 Trail Distances ................................................................ 5 Trail Elevation Profile ...................................................... 5 Map ....................................................................... 6 Key to Trail Map.................................................... 8 Camp Site Information .................................................... 8 Map Legend .................................................................... 9 Hazards ........................................................................... 9 Recommended Destinations ......................................... 10 Fishing ........................................................................... 10 Summits ........................................................................ 11 Daily Outline ....................................................... 12 Curriculum Checklist ........................................... 13 Team Leader Recommendations ....................... 14 Team Leader Comments .............................................. 14 Team Leader Feedback Form ...................................... 15 Emergency Information ....................................... 16 BCM Phone Numbers ......................................... 16 2 Trail Information Trailhead Name: Horse Ranch Park Trailhead Dark Canyon Trail Sign Trailhead Camp: Camp at Horse Ranch Park at trailhead Camp up the road (NW) from the trailhead Permit (Expiration): Use Code 153, ID#PAO9869 (12/31/2011) Permit Pick-Up: Permit is in the Team Leader Trip Binder. Wilderness Permit: Not required Permit Pick-Up: N/A Trail Name(s): Dark Canyon Trail Silver Basin Trail Oh-Be-Joyful Trail Type of Trail: Out and Back Mileage: 17 miles Alternate Routes: Loop (& Devil's Stairway) Alternate Mileage: 22 miles (25 miles) Trail Location: Gunnison National Forest Paonia Ranger District Raggeds Wilderness Maps: BCM provides USGS &Trails Illustrated Maps: T.I. #133 (Kebler Pass/ Paonia Reservoir) USGS Marcellina Mountain (optional) USGS Oh-be-joyful Pass (optional) USGS Anthracite Range (just trailhead) Flora/Fauna: Rocky Mountain Wildflowers - Pocket Guide Rocky Mountain Tree Finder (Nature Guild) Mountain State Mammals (NatureStudyGuild) Rocky Mountain Birds (Pocket Naturalist) Weather Trends: Average High 90 °F / Average Low 50 °F 3 Trail Description The trail from Horse Park Ranch Trailhead to Oh-be-joyful Pass is stunning. Hikers begin in aspen forests, glimpsing ruby-colored mountains through the trees. During the ascent, wildflowers be- come increasingly prolific, culminating in beautiful displays of wild- flowers and views of mountain peaks at Buck Basin and Swan Ba- sin. The assent into Buck Basin is the most physically challenging sec- tion of the trail. Hancock Peak is an excellent summit for beginners, however Oh-be-joyful Pass is a very good alternative if storms threaten or you deem the summit to Hancock Peak too challenging. While summiting Hancock Peak, you may encounter a few meters of pea gravel over smooth rock and a few meters of snow at the peak. If your group is up for a challenge, there is an alternate return route which follows Silver Creek Basin Trail toward Devil’s Stairway, then Dark Canyon Trail to the trailhead. This alternate route follows a gradual descent to the trailhead with some uphill after Silver Creek. This route is 5 miles longer than the main out-and-back route. If you decide to descend along Devil’s Stairway to Middle Anthracite Creek, you would be adding 3 more challenging miles to the return loop. The perk is that you could go dipping at Middle Anthracite Creek. Be aware that along the alternate return route, there is no water be- tween Buck Basin and Silver Creek, unless you descend the trail along Devil’s Stairway. If you do make the Devil’s Stairway side trip, you will likely need to camp on the bluffs above Silver Creek, and hike the quarter mile to Silver Creek for water. The established campsite at Silver Creek is too close to the trail and the creek, violat- ing the camping permit. If you do not take the side trail, you will likely be able to reach the preferable Gold Creek West Campsite. If you are following the main route, be aware that there is no water at Dyke Creek between One-mile Spring and Gold Creek. Also, be aware that the fishing is not good along this trail. Bringing fish gear is not recommended here. 4 Route Description Overview From the Horse Park Ranch Trailhead hike to Oh-Be-Joyful Pass, out and back. Summit Hancock Peak. Details Start hike on Dark Canyon Trail heading toward Oh-Be-Joyful. After about 2 1/2 miles, switch to Silver Basin Trail following signs toward Oh-Be-Joyful. During the second day of hiking, Silver Basin Trail heads west at the junction with Oh-Be-Joyful trail. At this junction switch to Oh-Be-Joyful Trail toward Oh-Be-Joyful Pass. For a challenge, return via the alternate loop route heading west on Silver Basin Trail then south on Dark Canyon Trail. For an extra challenge, descend 1,100 feet on Devil’s Stairway for a dip in the creek. Trailhead-1 to Gold Creek East-3: 3.6 miles Gold Creek East-3 to Buck Basin-8: 3.25 miles Buck Basin-8 to Silver Creek West-10: 5.5 miles Buck Basin-8 to Gold Creek West-11: 8.15 miles Silver Creek West-10 to Trailhead-1: 6.34 miles Gold Creek West-11 to Trailhead-1: 3.7 miles Devil’s Stairway side trail (round-trip): 3 miles Trail Elevation Profile* Elevation Gain:5,835 ft. Min. Elevation:8,876 ft. Elevation Loss:5,842 ft. Max. Elevation:12,200 ft. * The elevation details and corresponding graphic pertain to the main route only—not alternate routes. 5 6 7 Camp Site Information Favorites 3- Gold Creek East at Pond- UTM 313133E 4307493N Camping is available in the meadow near the pond or up out of the meadow, just inside the aspen trees. A good kitchen area is to the east of the meadow, marked with a square on the guide map. 11- Gold Creek West- UTM 311892E 4307539N Dispersed camping is available around a small pond on Dark Can- yon Trail. This camping area is good from an LNT perspective. 8- Buck Basin UTM 315444E 4311262N Camp just below tree line. Hike past the north fork (not on map) of Buck Basin Creek then head west into the aspens. This is a beauti- ful, inspiring location with views and wildflowers. Cook east of the trail, in the rocky area marked with a square on the guide map. Good Alternative 1- Horse Park Ranch- UTM 312615E 4303715N Camping available at the trailhead or up the road (northwest) from the trailhead (UTM 312010E 4304077N). 5- Silver Creek East (trail left)- UTM 313915E 4310332N Nice, need to be very careful about LNT 7- Buck Basin (alternate)- UTM 315184E 4311018N Camp just south of the trail before reaching Buck Basin Creek in the trees. Cook east of the trail, in the rocky area marked with an X on the guide map. 9- Silver Basin Trail Horse Camp- UTM 313633E 4310789N Established campsite with a fire ring Not Recommended 2- One-Mile Spring- UTM 312737E 4305209N Water is available. Site is adequate, but not recommended. 4- Gold Creek North- UTM 313151E 4308290N Horse carcass (2009), otherwise very nice, shale floor, aspens 6- Silver Creek East (trail right)- UTM 314250E 4310270N Terrible, overused, marshy 10- Silver Creek West- UTM 310574E 4310715N Beautiful established campsite right on Silver Creek and Dark Can- yon Trail violates permit, because it is too close to the creek and trail. Suggested camping area is about ¼ mile north or south of the creek, west of the trail, in the bluffs Refer to trail map for corresponding numbered campsites. 8 Map Legend Campsites (Not all sites are recommended.) Kitchen area Reported Water Source (River, Pond, Creek, Spring) Portages Point of Interest Hazards Fishing Main Route --- Alternate Routes Points of Interest Buck Basin and Swan Basin Middle Anthracite Creek at Devil’s Stairway: Dipping Fishing Fishing is allowed, however, the fishing is not good. Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards. 9 Hazards Summit to Hancock Pass has minor hazards. Dogs guarding grazing sheep: “If you encounter sheep during your visit, approach them with respect and caution. Guard dogs are used to protect the sheep from predators. Try to pass a fair distance from the sheep. If you have a dog, keep it restrained. If approached by a guard dog remain calm, tell the dog “Go back” in a firm authoritative voice. If you do not appear as a threat to the sheep, the dogs will just watch as you pass.” -Paonia Ranger District Animals • Guard dogs Poisonous • Poison Oak and Poison Ivy Plants Weather • Afternoon Thunderstorms Hazards Lightning • Above the treeline during summit Exposures No Water • Buck Basin and Silver Creek West Between • Spring and Gold Creek at Dyke Creek Scree • A few yards of scree along summit hike Slopes Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 10 Summit Hancock Peak (Class 2)- UTM 316512E 4311719N There are a few meters of pea gravel over smooth rock. A hiker could slide about ten feet if they fell. Snow sometimes prevent sum- miting the last few meters. Oh-Be-Joyful Pass- UTM 316686E 4312187N Summiting the pass is