This area is the gateway to the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, a pristine 140,000 acres of high mountain meadows, rocky trails, scenic mountains and numerous lakes and streams. Several trails just outside the wilderness provide views of the nearby scenic mountains.
Most of the trails in this area feature dense conifer forests and beautiful mountain meadows filled with flowers in summer. The Elle River is picturesque and offers some great fishing.
Hinman and Seedhouse Campgrounds provide space for tents and trailers. If camping is not your style, relax at one of the several guest ranches in the Clark area—contact the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association for more information.
SEEDHOUSE RD/HINMAN/GREENVILLE LOOP
OVERVIEW: The trip up Seedhouse Road can be a hot and dusty one. This gravel road receives quite a bit of traffic in the summer months. You can do these routes via shuttle by leaving a vehicle near the Clark Store and drive into Hinman Park, or you may choose to ride up Seedhouse Road. Route A2 is a loop beginning and ending at Hinman Park Campground.
TOPO MAPS USED: Floyd Peak, Clark
HOW TO GET THERE: Take County Road 129 north of Steamboat Springs about 16 miles to the town of Clark. From the Clark Store, travel north on CR 129 about 3/4 miles to Seedhouse Road. Turn right and follow 5.5 miles along the Elk River to the turnoff to Hinman Park Campground. Turn right onto FDR 440. Parking is available here near the signs for cross-country ski trails or about 1/4 mile up the road.
OPTION 1: Follow Road #440 west where you will pass the entrance to the Heinemann Park Campground. Stay on #440 (a gravel road) as it heads south and up the hill. Continue for 3 miles to the intersection of FDR #441. For the main loop, stay to the right and follow road #440. Continue for about 2 miles where #440 turns into a 4WD road. Continue following along road #440 through the marshy meadow. At the intersection in the meadow, take right fork and follow the road until it climbs into the conifer forest. The road will turn south and connect with #471. Turn right and follow #440 for 1.5 miles to the Forest boundary. You will pass the Greenville Mine on right. Just after the Forest boundary, you will cross private land. Please respect private land boundaries and stay on the main road. Continue on the gravel road descending into Clark. This route is approximately 8 miles to Clark.
OPTION 2: This alliterative begins approximately 3 miles from the start of Road #440 as described in Route above. Take a left onto FDR #441. Follow this road for about 1/2 mile and you will make two quick right turns to be on FDR #468 (the other roads will eventually dead-end). Follow Road 468 south another 3 miles where it intersects with FDR #471. Turn right and continue west for approx. 3 miles to connect with FDR 440 near Greenville Mine. Continue on FDR 440 into Clark. This route is approximately 8.5 miles into Clark.
OPTION 3: At the intersection with road #440 turn right and follow #440 through the forest into the meadow and continue north to return to the Hinman area, completing the loop. This loop is approximately 9 miles.
NORTH FORK/WYOMING TRAIL/TRAIL CREEK LOOP
TOPO MAPS USED: Farwell Mountain
HOW TO GET THERE: Take County Road 129 north past Clark to Seedhouse Road. Turn right. Continue approximately 8.5 miles to FDR #431, just before the bridge. Turn left on #431 and park.
OPTION 1: Take FDR 431 (a 4WD unimproved dirt road) north about 4.75 miles, where it branches right to Diamond Park. This scenic trail parallels the North Fork of the Elk River all the way into Diamond Park. Near intersection of #431 and trail #1101 you will cross the Elk River. Be careful especially when the water is high early in the summer. Turn right on trail #1101 and head south for approximately 4.25 miles where it intersects with FDR 433. Turn right onto this 4WD road and continue south for approximately 1/2 mile to the intersection with the Seedhouse Road. Turn right and head west, passing Seedhouse Campground to the parking area at #431. This loop is approximately 10 miles.
OPTION 2: Take FDR #431 north approximately 4.5 miles to the intersection with Trail #1177. Turn left continue on the trail for 6.25 miles (passing Hinman Lake). Continue south on #430 to the Seedhouse Road. Turn left and follow the gravel road approximately 2.5 miles back to the parking area. This loop is about 14.5 miles.
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