Norton Gulch

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Trailhead access:
From I-90, take exit 211 and travel West along Fairmont Rd. Just after passing the Fairmont RV Park but before the Fairmont Hot Springs, take a left onto German Gulch Road. Follow this mostly dirt road up and over a hill for almost 6 miles until arriving at a fork where you turn left. Norton Trailhead is about half a mile down this road and clearly signposted.

Other Access:
Can be accessed from Lone Pine Gulch Road which is more of a 4wd road.

Norton Gulch is a narrow ATV trail that follows alongside the Norton Creek up to meet the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) at the top of a ridge. The trail is rideable in both directions and nowhere is it especially steep or loose. The trail passes through some pretty landscape and is worth the ride on a Mountain Bike for riders who are more about exploring landscapes rather than being singletrack focused.

The trail has its own trailhead with no facilities, but plenty of parking. The first mile or so of trail is in a small narrow valley, and although it's not steep it is very rocky, and from a technical perspective is probably the hardest part of the trail. Just after passing the trail junction with Ditch Saddle Trail, the landscape opens out into a large grassy meadow where you have a small stream crossing, pass by a small reservoir and the remains of an old building foundation with a brick chimney. It is also the end of Lone Pine Gulch Road which is another entry point onto this trail.

After the meadow, the trail heads back into the trees and continues it's climb up the Gulch. This part of the trail is more what you would expect from this region - a narrow and sandy ATV that twists and winds up the hill. There are several places where the trail passes though small clearings or marshland. It will be obvious when you finally reach the CDT as there will be a signposted trail junction.