What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Lorax Trail Short Loop
The Lorax Trail Short Loop, located near Carbondale, CO, is a lush, forested trail that offers visitors quite a bit of quiet solitude. Excellent for both hiking and mountain biking, the trail features stunning views of the surrounding area, colorful wildflowers, and great opportunities to observe some of the local wildlife species. Feel free to bring your dogs along, but make sure to keep them leashed.
Length: 3 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Perham Creek Trail
The Perham Creek Trail lies within the White River National Forest. The out-and-back trail is popular with hikers and mountain bikers, but it's long enough that you'll only see other people sporadically. You can visit the beautiful trail at any time of year, but most visitors report that the ideal time lies between May and October. While navigating the trail, you'll walk through lush greenery and enjoy the pleasant sound of rushing water from the nearby river. The trail has quite a bit of elevation gain, so be sure to pace yourself and bring plenty of water.
Length: 8.8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Mushroom Rock
Mushroom Rock is a unique and scenic out-and-back trail located right within the Red Hill SRMA. The trail features the same recognizable red-rock landscape as much of the area and offers stunning views of nearby Mt. Sopris. Mushroom Rock is a popular route for hikers, trail runners, and rock climbers, so you'll most likely be sharing the area with other visitors and adventure seekers. You'll probably have the best experience if you visit Mushroom Rock any time between April and November.
Length: 2 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Fishing and Boating
The clear water of Roaring Fork River flows only a few minutes west of the Red Hill SRMA, and you'll find it to be more than suitable for several forms of water-based recreation. If you're looking to cast out your fishing line, the river will offer a great chance to catch a few large rainbow and brown trout, averaging between 12 and 18 inches in length. The river, which features a strong current in some sections, also offers visitors fantastic opportunities for kayaking and floating.
Climbing
With the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains so close by, the Red Hill BLM site has no shortage of nearby climbing opportunities. For one, many of the trails around the Red Hill SRMA, including the aforementioned Mushroom Rock, are popular rock climbing destinations of varying difficulties. There are also numerous mountains in the area that skilled, adventurous climbers can attempt to summit. A few of the nearby peaks are Sunlight Peak, Huntsman Ridge, Basalt Mountain, Flagpole Mountain, Sloane Peak, and many more.
Wildlife Viewing
The mountains of Colorado feature a unique ecosystem and a fantastic variety of native species for animal enthusiasts to observe. Around the forests and meadows, spotting elk is a common occurrence for visitors. Bighorn sheep are seen roaming near the Sheep Lakes regularly during spring and summer, and mule deer can be spotted just about anywhere in the region. Among the rockier sections of the area, you may get to observe marmots or pikas. If you monitor the sky and stay diligent, you may also catch a golden eagle or prairie falcon flying overhead.
Picnicking
You may find scattered picnic tables at the Red Hill SRMA. However, because the area is primarily used for hiking and mountain biking, they may be few and far between. Most likely, you'll find that the most pleasant option for a picnic is to stroll down to the shores of the Crystal or Roaring Fork River. Along the riverbank, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a perfect spot to set up your picnic lunch.
