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Eagle Ranger District White River National Forest Looking for a four-wheel drive road that offers spectacular scenic and panoramic views, big game sightings and carpets of colorful wildflowers? The Red Table/Red Creek Loop is the road for you. The road receives minimal use due to the difficulty of the road. It is also a good road for mountain bikers. Hikers can find the Mount Thomas trail along the drive. Navigation: After turning onto County Road 10A, travel 11 miles and take a left onto the Red Table 4-wheel drive road, FDR 514, just before Cottonwood Pass. There is parking at the beginning of Red Table Road for vehicles and trailers. This road which follows the ridge top of Red Table Mountain is moderately rough with some narrow spots and rocks. It travels through aspen at first, then spruce/fir forest and into alpine meadows. The last mile or so of FDR 514 is difficult shelf driving. The road is built on loose rock that slants to the outside. Often times rocks need to be cleared from this section before continuing on. Take a left just after the switchbacks and before the Red Table Road ends on Red Creek Road, FDR 425. This road begins in dense spruce/fir forest and descends into aspen following the Red Creek drainage. The Red Creek road is very steep and narrow in areas with many large protruding rocks. The middle 2-3 miles are slow-going, only 5 mph at most. Once completing the 8.8 miles of FDR 425, it ends at the Gypsum Creek Road. Take a left and continue north to town. The average time of the 50 mile loop takes about 6 hours. SCENERY All along the Red Table Mountain ridge top, there are spectacular panoramic views. The Gypsum Creek drainage, a series of cirque lakes, and the sky scraping Sawatch Mountain Range are visible to the northeast. To the southwest, the Roaring Fork Valley, Ruedi Reservoir and the Maroon Bells near Aspen, are in view. WILDLIFE There are good chances of spotting big game such as elk or mule deer in the meadows or aspen woods of Red Table Mountain. Yellow-bellied marmots, golden-mantled ground squirrels and least chipmunks are common in the rocky areas. WILDFLOWERS The road winds through woods of evergreens, timberline and alpine meadows. Many species of brilliant-colored alpine wildflowers are found along the mountain ridge top. For more information on the Red Table/Red Creek Loop, or the Mount Thomas trail please contact the Eagle Ranger District (970) 328-6388. Directions from Eagle: Take I-70 7 miles west of Eagle and get off at the Gypsum exit (#140). Take a left into Gypsum, then a right at the Forest Access sign onto Gypsum Creek Road, FDR 412. Travel 2.5 miles up the Gypsum Creek Road. Begin the loop by taking a right onto County Road 10A the Cottonwood Pass Road. CAUTION, this gypsum-base dirt road through sagebrush and oak becomes impassable when wet. Directions from Vail: Take I-70 west to Gypsum (exit #140). Take a left into Gypsum, then a right at the Forest Access sign onto Gypsum Creek Road, FDR 412. Travel 2.5 miles up the Gypsum Creek Road. Begin the loop by taking a right onto County Road 10A the Cottonwood Pass Road. CAUTION, this gypsum-base dirt road through sagebrush and oak becomes impassable when wet. Directions from Beaver Creek: Take I-70 west to Gypsum (exit #140). Take a left into Gypsum, then a right at the Forest Access sign onto Gypsum Creek Road, FDR 412. Travel 2.5 miles up the Gypsum Creek Road. Begin the loop by taking a right onto County Road 10A the Cottonwood Pass Road. CAUTION, this gypsum-base dirt road through sagebrush and oak becomes impassable when wet. Seasonal Information: Normally Accessible: July through September .
