No need for spikes or snowshoes. Icy conditions in the first mile (spikes helped) and almost entirely dry down to the reservoir. Tree shades is limited as the road is wider. Pretty views though down by the reservoir. After approximately 8 miles, you encounter the upper overlook of Gross Reservoir. It’s a reservoir, not a lake. Something else? I was in awe of … Didn’t like having to move off road about 15x for cars, but I guess it’s shared. Would like to scope out more of the camp sites next time. There seem seem to be a trail system around the lake, you can explore more if time allows. This trail follows the camping road (closed this time of year) but be warned that this is a road during camping season. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . The trail follows a gentle ridge to a series of hill summits with wonderful views of the surrounding foothills and the Continental Divide to the west. Description This area has granite, freestanding boulders that are 15- 20 feet tall and … The trail begins near the gate on National Forest System Road 359. It started with my mid-week hike at North Table Mountain that left me couch ridden for a couple of days, followed by a long drive in the middle of the night to Jefferson lake to try to shoot the milky way … Denver Water's reservoirs, canals and canyons offer lots of opportunities to get out and play. The trail mapped in AllTrails is actually a route takes you to camp sites. Gross Reservoir is a well-kept secret just 45 minutes outside of Denver.. Not much people which We loved ... but I’m sure In the summer it will be packed or later in the day. Last week we were busy adventuring and living the good life. Winiger Ridge lies just west of Gross Reservoir, west of Boulder, off of Magnolia Road. You can camp in designated campsites, first come, first served; the road tends to be open May through October. Take hike #7 east to the Winiger Gulch Haul Road. One of the most popular hikes is a two-mile trek up the Forsyth Canyon Trail as it follows a stream to a small waterfall. Add Your Photos. Amazing sights and wonderful res. Great nature walk. We went to Forth of July and a state trooper stooped is staying the park is full. beautiful jem close to home. It’s hard enough just to make the relentlessly up-and-down hike to the spot. Brought my dog and she did well. Length 5.2 miElevation gain 980 ftRoute type Out & back Gross Reservoir, located in Boulder County, Colorado, is owned and operated by Denver Water.Completed in 1954, the reservoir has a surface area of 440 acres, and the spillway sits at 7,225 feet elevation. Fishing opportunities exist within the reservoir, below the dam, near the inlet, and on the ice when conditions permit. The 1937 report from Gross, the Denver Water engineer, still left open the possibility of building the reservoir. Such a favorite! 2.0 km. Trail Description: Forsythe Canyon Trail is a non-motorized hiking trail near Gross Reservoir. Heads up :: Level 2 fire restrictions in place. You can fish, canoe, or kayak, but swimming is … MTB Project is built by riders like you. High level of foot traffic. Lots of cool camp sites and wildflowers, and the reservoir itself is really pretty once you get down to it. We got there early around 7:45am. The sound of small waves giggling onto the shore is therapeutic in this tranquil setting. what you know about this area! See link below: Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The views aren’t spectacular, but it is far less traveled this time of year than other hikes with proximity to Boulder. This is about an injury or accident You can go fishing, hiking, camping, paddling and picnicking here; take out a boat, too, but no motors allowed. But I will say I had an amazing time hiking it with my doggo! The reservoir receives water from the western side of the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel. This is a pleasant, short trail, with very few people, along the south shore of Gross Reservoir. Add Your Trails, Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. It called for excavating a trench through the boulders, building a core wall 190 feet high, and then adding another wall on top of that, extending above the rock field. Good portions of Gross’s shoreline is also accessible to both anglers and hikers. Nice little trail down to the water! So the view is ok too. These spots can only be reached by hiking, biking or aggressive high clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Was great. Honestly I didn’t even know Gross was up here. Sign Up. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until October. The hike ends at Gross Reservoir, which is one of the rare places in Boulder County where you can camp overnight. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. very easy trail small walk to the reservoir not much off roading coming up here I saw a honda civic up, in one of the campgrounds, great viewing on the way up. Forsythe Canyon Trail is a non-motorized hiking trail near Gross Reservoir. Got to the trailhead at 7am and was out by 9. Parking was crowded but no fee. Felt more like walk on a dirt road than an actual hike. The lake, free and open year round, has 10.9 miles of shoreline. The main trail (if you want to take the longer route as posted here) is pretty much just an access road to camp sites. Being a jerk / offensive? Most of the hike is on jeep trails, but a short part is bushwhack; the return via Gross Reservoir involves 0.8 mile additional off-trail.) Not exactly a “hike” as you’re walking along the same dirt road cars use to get to gross reservoir, but it was very pleasant nonetheless. …. Some cars waiting in line so get in but we decided to leave. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. Please explain. There are fingers of the lake to explore and to disappear into. To find Gross Reservoir enter the 39.948044 latitude, and -105.358047 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. Photos of Gross Reservoir - 5. From the Forsythe Canyon Trailhead, walk downhill from the parking area. South Boulder … There was a guy a while back whose car was found out there and I cannot recall if he was ever … Nice area but really just a walk down a dirt road. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. When done turn right and try CR68j its harder but fun. This. Forsythe Canyon Trail leads off of a rocky point, following Forsythe Creek down its wooded, rocky … Gross is fed by South Boulder Creek. Did this trail on a Saturday morning. Gross Reservoir - Boulder Colorado, 30 minutes from Golden and lots of hiking trails! View from a field along the trail The summer weather has been beautiful lately, and I wanted to get into the foothills for a hike while all the wildflowers were still in bloom. Gross Reservoir is a 8.4 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Boulder, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Fun trail, lots of beautiful camping sites. Mostly flat with some hills. The thought of a man-made lake and a dam about the size of Gross Reservoir in Boulder County, holding enough water for 100,000 homes, nestled in such a remote region, was jarring. OR. Forsythe Canyon to Waterfall and Gross Reservoir, South Boulder Creek via Walker Ranch Trail, Bear Peak Western Ridge to South Boulder Peak, Walker Ranch, Ethel Harrold, and Canyon Falls. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. We plan to come again to picnic. Flatirons: drive up to Gross Reservoir - See 1,105 traveler reviews, 472 candid photos, and great deals for Boulder, CO, at Tripadvisor. 05/17/2020 #18. Forsythe Canyon Trail leads off of a rocky point, following Forsythe Creek down its wooded, rocky canyon. From the picnic tables at the trailhead, head into the woods, gain a little elevation and travel through the woods looking out on the Reservoir. For more information on activities, please see: The Denver Water Board Recreational Information website. Nice waterfall & reservoir. Hiking – Hiking is a featured activity at Gross Reservoir. You can reach the reservoir two ways: the first is to drive up Baseline until it turns into Flagstaff Road, follow Flagstaff until you reach the Gross Reservoir Road, this will take you to the … Gross Reservoir is a playground for Boulderites with fishing, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddling, camping, hiking, and bouldering. Trails in Gross Reservoir - 3. FS 359 is narrow and has rocky and steep sections. highly recommend. It was built for water storage and as a regulating facility for waters from the Western Slope transferred through the Moffat Tunnel. Trail still had some snow and plenty of mud. The lake is beautiful; surrounded by green mountains. Stock Four Runner TRD (from Avis, don't tell them). This is a fairly uneventful hike. Forsythe Canyon to Waterfall and Gross Reservoir is a 3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Nederland, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Share; Tweet; Pin; A busy week. Don't park over the white line or you might be ticketed. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters The road is wide and easy to navigate but the surface is uneven and need plan your steps. (1) Use the side trail about 1 mile. Per Bryan Baumgart: a ranger for the reservoir said the whole open space area that the boulders are in was closed for restoration. Create Recommended Route or Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Date Hiked: August 22, 2012 Distance: 3.1 mi (RT) Elevation Gain: 300ft Elevation Min/Max: 7,262 to 7,509ft Trailhead Lat/Long: 39.936620º N; 105.372801º W Managing Agency: Denver Water Fee: None No parking in the Lakeshore neighborhood - you can be towed. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. The trail begins near the gate on National Forest System Road 359. Sign Up or Log In. This out-and-back trail stretches about two miles, is not usually too busy and is considered easy. A fun network of forest roads northwest of Gross Reservoir. I was the only one out there. Coal … Intermediate. Very clean and relaxing. Hiking Gross Reservoir To get to Gross Reservoir from Boulder, we drove out Flagstaff Road, which wound and twisted up, up, up between South Boulder Peak and Twin Sisters Peak. This is a rugged spot for tents, but make sure you’re in the right spots. Great camping, with the best spots located along the south shoreline west of the dam. The reservoir is beautiful and their are tons of aspens changing colors along the trail. This “trail” is a dirt road that cars can (and do) drive on. Pretty easy trail. Gross Reservoir is a 5.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Boulder, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Gross Reservoir is free to the public, has fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping and paddling. S. Boulder Creek Inlet Trail Gross Reservoir. Next Generation Mountain Bike Trail Maps. NOTE: The NFSR 359 is open seasonally for motorized use and high clearance vehicles are recommended. Trail. Great for social distancing, I didn’t see another person the entire trail and the dirt road you follow is wide enough to separate yourself. Your destination is the inlet where South Boulder Creek enters the Reservoir. There are three way to get to the reservoir. Took the north trail out of the parking lot. Log In. Create an environmental pool in Gross Reservoir that will be managed by the Cities of Boulder and Lafayette to provide flows into South Boulder Creek during periods of low or no flows. Trail runs and hiking during the day, Then a quick shower before cooking some dinner. Easy hike to the reservoir with little to no snow. Man Gross Reservoir is a place where a lot of searches end up and is much further out than Chautauqua. There's more to water than drinking it. Finally camped here for 3 days. Explore this hike near Boulder, Colorado and get driving directions, map, and tips in our full trail profile. OR. From the Forsythe Canyon Trailhead, walk downhill from the parking area. There are no RV hookups. Sep 6, 2013 near Coal Creek, CO. But by 1944, the reservoir’s prospects were … Sharing is caring! Spam? Found this trail near by, and it was an okay trail. Not much shade so on a hot day bring tons of water. There’s still snow covering most of the trail - it was stiff and we could see snowshoe tracks on the top, but we post-holed a little deeper than ankles on the way when the snow had started to soften up. definitely is worth the stop to take in the views. (2) Follow the route in AllTrails, about 2.8 miles down. Add Your Photos. (3) Drive further down to the another parking lot, and hike down about 1/2 mile. Lots of sun exposure and the gate being closed at the start (opens in late spring for off-roading and camping) meant that it was a relatively peaceful hike in winter. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and Gorgeous views!! Add Your Trails. Traffic out of Boulder was heavy due to road construction. OR. Share Gross Reservoir “ An up-and-down trail from Osprey Point around the southern shore of Gross Reservoir. Check with the park before visiting for up to date information. Gross Reservoir has become a more frequent fishing destination for Front Range anglers. Ends at picturesque reservoir. This is more of a 4x4 road with tons of beautiful camping spots along the way than it is a hiking trail. Wish I’d read the reviews. Trail is super dry and no shades. NOT OKAY! Gross Reservoir is about an hour outside of Boulder and is home to great dispersed camping, numerous hiking trails, and a small amount of climbing. https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/forecast-for-hot-temperatures-and-low-humidity-has-increased-fire-danger/ If you're looking for a more remote hike this may not be the one for you. It was a project that seemed incomprehensible. Easy with spikes, my dog struggled more than I did. Loved this and will definitely be back for camping! Gross Reservoir is perched a… Gross Reservoir was completed in 1954 and named for Denver Water former Chief Engineer Dwight D. Gross. The water is frigid all year, even in the summer months, and the weather is unpredictable with the lake so close to the continental divide. We came here for some good walks with our dog and it was very calming. 1.2 mi. #1 Forsythe Canyon Trail. Looking for more like this! The east side, for day trips and picnics, is managed by Denver Water as its one of our water supply reservoirs filled with melted Colorado snow. We suggest you try a touring boat or two and tour this lake. Connect with Facebook. Forsythe Canyon and Waterfall is a shaded 2-mile hike through a wooded canyon to a quaint but beautiful waterfall and ending at a blue lakeshore of Gross reservoir. Less of a hike, more of a walk along a dirt road (there are real trails nearby going elsewhere). Also, there was a decent amount of noise and activity coming from the reservoir itself once we got close. Carry-on boating has allowed Gross to become a frequent fishing destination for Front … The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Likewise, camping is primitive. Great overlook of the reservoir. No remarkable vista along the way until you get to the reservoir. For those wanting to have a more direct experience, turn left from the overlook and you can follow a dirt road for a few miles to reach the water's edge at one of two locations. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Specific to parking - no road side parking along Flagstaff Road except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet - you can be towed. Explore our recreation sites for ways you can enjoy Colorado's great outdoors. The lake is big enough that it’s easy to escape from other users. Gross Reservoir Trail. 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