This is a pleasant, short trail, with very few people, along the south shore of Gross Reservoir. Fun trail with good views. This trail is moderately difficulty and approx 1.5 miles round trip. Being a jerk / offensive? We decided to adventure out and looked west of Boulder; we took Baseline Rd west and then turned right to ascend up Flagstaff Road. Specs: There are restrooms on both the North and South side of the reservoir, and there is a restroom at the Osprey Point parking lot where this hike started from.There is also a picnic area just up the road, and one picnic table with awning on the reservoir shore, next to the boat launch. Pretty views though down by the reservoir. Add Your Photos. Honestly I didn’t even know Gross was up here. Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and Amazing sights and wonderful res. Easy with spikes, my dog struggled more than I did. There seem seem to be a trail system around the lake, you can explore more if time allows. Gross Reservoir is perched at 7,500 feet above sea level, located above Boulder along the South Boulder Creek Drainage. The sound of small waves giggling onto the shore is therapeutic in this tranquil setting. Not much shade so on a hot day bring tons of water. Gross Reservoir Gross Reservoir's 11 miles of shoreline are a joy to explore. Length: Forsythe Canyon Trailhead (TH) to trail intersection with CR 68J - 1.6 miles Elevation: 7,337 feet at TH; 7,837 feet at CR 68J Trail Description: Forsythe Canyon Trail is a non-motorized hiking trail near Gross Reservoir. Length 5.2 miElevation gain 980 ftRoute type Out & back When done turn right and try CR68j its harder but fun. This is more of a 4x4 road with tons of beautiful camping spots along the way than it is a hiking trail. Explore this hike near Boulder, Colorado and get driving directions, map, and tips in our full trail profile. You are able to view various layers of the map by clicking on the “layers” icon on the left side of the screen. 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. If you're looking for a more remote hike this may not be the one for you. Gross Reservoir is free to the public, has fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping and paddling. You can go fishing, hiking, camping, paddling and picnicking here; take out a boat, too, but no motors allowed. NOT OKAY! These spots can only be reached by hiking, biking or aggressive high clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicle. See link below: 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. 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. This definitely is worth the stop to take in the views. 2.0 km. Gross Reservoir, located in Boulder County, Colorado, is owned and operated by Denver Water. The col… Pretty easy trail. Create Recommended Route or Despite signs that they are not permitted, people seem to think it's okay to bring them. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/forecast-for-hot-temperatures-and-low-humidity-has-increased-fire-danger/ I was the only one out there. From the picnic tables at the trailhead, head into the woods, gain a little elevation and travel through the … (1) Use the side trail about 1 mile. But I will say I had an amazing time hiking it with my doggo! Share Length: Forsythe Canyon Trailhead (TH) to trail intersection with CR 68J - 1.6 miles Elevation: 7,337 feet at TH; 7,837 feet at CR 68J Trail Description: Forsythe Canyon Trail is a non-motorized hiking trail near Gross Reservoir. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Water Quality. The lake is big enough that it’s easy to escape from other users. Something else? A fun network of forest roads northwest of Gross Reservoir. Standing 340 feet above the South Boulder Creek streambed, Gross Dam contains some 627,559 cubic yards of concrete. Gross Reservoir - Boulder Colorado, 30 minutes from Golden and lots of hiking trails! Some cars waiting in line so get in but we decided to leave. Fishing opportunities exist within the reservoir, below the dam, near the inlet, and on the ice when conditions permit. Such a favorite! Would like to scope out more of the camp sites next time. The reservoir receives water from the western side of the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel. Hiking is the main use for this trail, but the trail also has a short singletrack trail for mountain bikers. 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. 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. The east side of this trail and most of the Reservoir are on Denver Water property, while the west side of this trail is on USFS property. Gross Reservoir rests in the South Boulder Creek drainage and is an easy-access Front Range destination for paddling and fishing. Trail runs and hiking during the day, Then a quick shower before cooking some dinner. Allow Grand County to store up to 2,500 acre-feet of water in Williams Fork Reservoir for environmental purposes. Was great. San Luis Reservoir is the 5th largest reservoir in California, approximately 9 miles (14 km) long and 5 miles (8 km) wide. By the way, if you are hiking this trail in the fall, I recommend parking a little ways down on FS 359 as the hike along the road explores some fantastic aspen groves with amazing fall color as well as nice views of Gross Reservoir to the east and the Twin Sisters Peak to the north. Likewise, camping is primitive. To find Gross Reservoir enter the 39.948044 latitude, and -105.358047 longitude coordinates into your GPS device or smart phone. 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. Your Water . High level of foot traffic. The views aren’t spectacular, but it is far less traveled this time of year than other hikes with proximity to Boulder. From the Forsythe Canyon Trailhead, walk downhill from the parking area.The trail begins near the gate on National Forest System Road 359. Trail is super dry and no shades. Got to the trailhead at 7am and was out by 9. Felt more like walk on a dirt road than an actual hike. The dam that created the reservoir is called San Luis Dam, was completed in … You may stay 14 Days at Gross Reservoir. Heads up :: Level 2 fire restrictions in place. Gorgeous views!! 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 . Did this trail on a Saturday morning. Easy hike to the reservoir with little to no snow. Hiking – Hiking is a featured activity at Gross Reservoir. Carry-on boating has allowed Gross to become a frequent fishing destination for Front Range anglers. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The lake is big enough that it’s easy to escape from other users. The reservoir is beautiful and their are tons of aspens changing colors along the trail. Park in the lot on the right for the North Shore trail or the Boat House trail. And you can see details of each feature icon by clicking on the item within the map. Trail. Add Your Trails, Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. No remarkable vista along the way until you get to the reservoir. 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. Named for Denver Water former Chief Engineer Dwight D. Gross, the reservoir was completed in 1954. This trail follows the camping road (closed this time of year) but be warned that this is a road during camping season. Loved this and will definitely be back for camping! We went to Forth of July and a state trooper stooped is staying the park is full. Good portions of Gross’s shoreline is … This was a pure chance encounter, and one worth making! The road in is 4x4.Gross Reservoir is open June-September.There are 6-15 campsites at this location. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters Finally camped here for 3 days. This “trail” is a dirt road that cars can (and do) drive on. Don't park over the white line or you might be ticketed. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Looking for more like this! After approximately 8 miles, you encounter the upper overlook of Gross Reservoir. Gross is fed by South Boulder Creek. Use this interactive map to learn more about the Gross Reservoir Expansion Project. Hike the Gill Trail to catch scenic views of Cheesman Reservoir. 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. Tree shades is limited as the road is wider. Bonus is that it follows a small stream most of the way to Gross Reservoir making it quite cool on a warmer summer day. Nice little trail down to the water! 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. Traffic out of Boulder was heavy due to road construction. Found this trail near by, and it was an okay trail. There are three way to get to the reservoir. This is a popular spot for anglers so don't expect to be alone, though the area does feel more remote than most around Gross as it requires a little effort to get to. Lots of EXCELLENT camping spots all the way down, with not that many people; may come back just for that. NOTE: The NFSR 359 is open seasonally for motorized use and high clearance vehicles are recommended. Very clean and relaxing. Didn’t like having to move off road about 15x for cars, but I guess it’s shared. 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. Gross Reservoir; High Line Canal; South Platte River; Waterton Canyon/Strontia Springs Reservoir; Williams Fork Reservoir; Find your next place to play at any of our recreation areas. Your destination is the inlet where South Boulder Creek enters the Reservoir. Find out what projects we're doing to improve our system. 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. Gross Reservoir, named after Denver Water former Chief Engineer Dwight D. Gross, was completed in 1954 and doubles as a water source for Colorado front range communities and a great nearby recreation area. Intermediate. highly recommend. Gross Reservoir is a playground for Boulderites with fishing, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddling, camping, hiking, and bouldering. Took the north trail out of the parking lot. Description. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. 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. Easy off road trail nice views and easy camping, had a great time here this past weekend and will be returning with a kayak for the reservoir next time. 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 about an hour outside of Boulder and is home to great dispersed camping, numerous hiking trails, and a small amount of climbing. #1 Forsythe Canyon Trail. (2) Follow the route in AllTrails, about 2.8 miles down. Ends at picturesque reservoir. 05/17/2020 #18. 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. There are no RV hookups. This is a fairly uneventful hike. Gross Reservoir has become a more frequent fishing destination for Front Range anglers. Brought my dog and she did well. This is a fantastic high mountain lake. It’s a reservoir, not a lake. Completed in 1954, the reservoir has a surface area of 440 acres, and the spillway sits at 7,225 feet elevation. We suggest you try a touring boat or two and tour this lake. It’s hard enough just to make the relentlessly up-and-down hike to the spot. Trails in Gross Reservoir - 3. It serves as a combination storage and regulating facility for water that flows under the Continental Divide through the Moffat Tunnel. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites. If you walk the loop, it's about three miles long. This short hike begins at Osprey Point and follows the first 0.25-miles of the well-worn Inlet Trail. For an easy waterfall hike not far from Boulder near Nederland, head west toward Gross Reservoir. We came here for some good walks with our dog and it was very calming. The lake, free and open year round, has 10.9 miles of shoreline. Gross Reservoir is open to non-motorized car-top boats starting on Memorial Day through Sept. 30th. The main trail (if you want to take the longer route as posted here) is pretty much just an access road to camp sites. 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. Less of a hike, more of a walk along a dirt road (there are real trails nearby going elsewhere). Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. We plan to come again to picnic. No need for spikes or snowshoes. These views are easily missed when you are driving this road. 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 dam. Check with the park before visiting for up to date information. This is a rugged spot for tents, but make sure you’re in the right spots. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Nice waterfall & reservoir. From the Forsythe Canyon Trailhead, walk downhill from the parking area.The trail begins near the gate on National Forest System Road 359. beautiful jem close to home. We got there early around 7:45am. The lake is beautiful; surrounded by green mountains. Add Your Trails. Lots of cool camp sites and wildflowers, and the reservoir itself is really pretty once you get down to it. Coal Creek, CO. Intermediate. ++ There are several really great photo spots including: various spots along the creek, the rocks above the small waterfall, below in front of the waterfall, and lastly at Gross Reservoir. The trail mapped in AllTrails is actually a route takes you to camp sites. It is gross to see dog poop at a reservoir… Gross Reservoir was completed in 1954 and named for Denver Water former Chief Engineer Dwight D. Gross. It is located in Merced County, west of Los Banos on State Route 152. I live nearby and this is an awesome place to come for a short hike. So the view is ok too. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until October. Not much people which We loved ... but I’m sure In the summer it will be packed or later in the day. Mostly flat with some hills. Parking was crowded but no fee. what you know about this area! An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. Great camping, with the best spots located along the south shoreline west of the dam. Terry Stonich Mention Gross Reservoir to a longtime local and the response might be, “I didn’t know you could SUP there.” Well, you can—and it’s a dream. The lake, free and open year round, has 10.9 miles of shoreline. Waterfall . Stock Four Runner TRD (from Avis, don't tell them). Great overlook of the reservoir. Fun trail, lots of beautiful camping sites. Gross Res is a stunning alpine body of water that is open to the public for free. I was in awe of the cyclists we passed on our way. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Gross Reservoir is a playground for Boulderites with fishing, canoeing, kayaking, standup paddling, camping, hiking, and bouldering. Trail still had some snow and plenty of mud. You may see some interesting birds or even deer. (3) Drive further down to the another parking lot, and hike down about 1/2 mile. Icy conditions in the first mile (spikes helped) and almost entirely dry down to the reservoir. It was a project that seemed incomprehensible. Nice area but really just a walk down a dirt road. This is about an injury or accident Great nature walk. The road is wide and easy to navigate but the surface is uneven and need plan your steps. It was built for water storage and as a regulating facility for waters from the Western Slope transferred through the Moffat Tunnel. You can fish, canoe, or kayak, but swimming is not allowed. Wish I’d read the reviews. 1.2 mi. Please explain. No parking in the Lakeshore neighborhood - you can be towed. Please leave your dogs at home. Also, there was a decent amount of noise and activity coming from the reservoir itself once we got close. Absolutely nobody else out on the trail with us midday on a Saturday. good pair of hiking shoes; journal; Getting There: To reach the reservoir from Boulder, take Flagstaff Road west until it meets with the junction of Lakeshore Drive and eastern Gross Dam Road. 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. Spam? With over 10 miles of shoreline and awesome car-camping sites, the reservoir makes for a perfect weekend camp and boat trip. The Western side of the parking area.The trail begins near the inlet, and it was an okay trail Gross. Tips in our full trail profile some dinner follows the camping road ( there are real Trails nearby elsewhere! Trails, hiking Project is built by hikers like you be ticketed for hiking and is an awesome to. We went to Forth of July and a State trooper stooped is staying park. 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