Flash of Gold to Grouse Ridge

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

An excellent climb up the Flash of Gold to an challenging technical descent of Grouse Ridge.

Grouse Ridge is an expert level downhill trail. Please use caution and care when descending, and keep in mind your own abilities and don't be embarrassed to walk some of the features. It's a great trail that will challenge your abilities.

Beginning in Dry Lake parking, start down Spring Creek Trail to the entrance of Flash of Gold (FOG) trail. Climb FOG for several miles past the exit to BTR across the creek, and onto the two track under the power lines (6.5mi). Continue up the power line two track past the third switchback and regain the upper FOG trail and continue climbing (7.3mi).

FOG empties back onto the power line two track, (9.3mi) FS301 which you follow to the end, or FS301 can return you to Buffalo Pass Road (FS60). Follow FS301 up to it's end looking for the upper upper FOG that continues in the rocks. Follow upper upper FOG on and off the two track all the way to it's end on FS306 (11.3mi), a primitive 4x4 road that will return you to Buffalo Pass Road (FS60) atop the third summit (1.5mi).

The total FOG climb is 11.3-11.5 miles from Spring Creek/Dry Lake trailhead. Turn left and ride down Buffalo Pass Road (FS60) for 1.25 mi to a camping/parking turnout on the north side of FS60, looking for the entrance of Grouse Ridge Trail on the left near the road as you pull into the turnout.

Grouse Ridge is an aggressive downhill trail with many drops, ridges, rocky technical problems, and cliffside exposure, use care and caution. It drops 1600ft in 4 miles to bring you out to the Dry Lake Ditch Trail. Follow this trail, back to the campground, and parking at Dry Lake. This ends up a 20.5 mile loop with 2300 ft of climbing. I rode it in around 2.5 hours.

FOG is a newly built multi-use trail built in 2017 to provide uphill access without needing to ride FS60. Grouse Ridge was an illegal user trail that has been "systemized" and upgraded to more sustainable trail. Both trails were funded by Steamboat's 2a hotel room tax.