RM ORS #14-01 Air Down

Rocky Mountain (RM) Off Road Series (ORS) #14: Chinaman Gulch
A series by Team Red Rubicon members: RocketMan, zoltig, taylorsgeotracker, Red Ruby, Mountain Roamer, n0wae, QueenZelda & Cub Boy, and jpit .

This cache is the first of seven in the #14 series of Rocky Mountain off-road caches located along the difficult Chinaman Gulch Trail. The Chinaman Gulch Trail starts out just south-east of Buena Vista. This trail is somewhat challenging and should only be attempted if you have the right vehicle and some off roading experience. This trail can easily be done on foot also, so if your vehicle is not equipped, you can still do the series (a full trail description is included below).

Cache Information
This cache is perched above the air down/staging area with a good view of the surrounding area. There is plenty of room at the staging area to leave your Jeep and/or ATV trailers and to park vehicles to air down the tires. You will enter through two gates just before the staging area. Make sure you close the gates back up after your enter.

RM Off Road Series #14 Compete Cache Listing

1. Air Down
2. Rock Garden
3. Rock Pile
4. Whales Tail
5. The Stairs
6. The Chutes
7. Got View ?

Trail Information

Rating/Description
Chinaman Gulch trail is one of the premier difficult trails in Colorado . Because of the relatively low elevation of this trail (7,832 to 8,904 feet), it can typically be run very early and very late in the season when all of the higher trails are closed or impassable because of snow. If you are up for a bit of a challenge and want to test your vehicle, this trail is a good one to do and it's a blast. It has many rocky areas to negotiate and numerous named obstacles. From the staging area, the trail runs for approximately 1.7 miles before you reach "the loop". You should turn right to run the loop in the recommended counterclockwise direction, returning back to the same point after completing the loop. After completing the loop, you will return the way you came in by going back down the trail along the same 1.7 mile stretch.

This trail is rated difficult and many of the obstacles do not have a bypass so you must negotiate them. It is rated a 4 (easiest routes) to 7 (most difficult routes) out of 10 on the traildamage website. Team Red Rubicon members believe that the trail should be rated more like a 6-8. Disclaimer: You need to decide for yourself if it is safe to make the trip in your vehicle and if you have any doubts, don't do it.

The trail has the following named obstacles (most of the caches in this series are at the obstacles):

Rock Garden - On the way to the loop. Lots of rocks to test your flex and ground clearance.
Rock Pile - Optional pile of rocks (what else) to test your vehicle.
Whales Tail - A small rock waterfall you must climb. Has three approaches that are extreme, difficult and less difficult.
The Stairs - Optional obstacle. Extreme on the left and a bit easier on the right.
The Chutes - A V-notch that is not optional.
Note: You will find a more detailed descriptions of these obstacles on the namesake cache pages (see links above).

To get to the trailhead, head south on CR-301 from US 24 at N38 48.872 W106 05.970. Stay on CR-301 for approximately 1.6 miles and then go left at N38 47.507 W106 05.698. There is a gate at this point that you must open and then close behind you. You will go approximately 0.4 miles to the staging area N38 47.529 W106 05.129, passing through a second gate just before the staging area. From the staging area, you will head almost directly north on the Chinaman Gulch trail. The trailhead is at N38 47.556 W106 05.144. Note: If you head east from the staging area instead of north, you will be headed for Carnage Canyon. Unless you have an extreme rock buggy, stay away from that trail.

Note: All coordinates in the above description are included on the waypoint list below.

Winter Months
As stated previously, because this trail is at a relatively low elevation, it can often be run very early to very late in the season. Chinaman Gulch is generally accessible to off road vehicles from late April though late November although conditions can vary greatly from year to year.

Time/Distance
The trail is 7.3 miles from the start at the staging area until you get back to the staging area. You will spend some time at each obstacle, so the trail will typically take about 5 or 6 hours if you aren't trying to hurry. Make sure you leave some extra time to have lunch on the trail, find the caches and to do some exploring. To reach the trailhead from the Denver area takes about 2.5 to 3 hours so leave the house early.

Trail Waypoints
See waypoint list below.

Additional Waypoints

W11QY6B - Head South Here
N 38° 48.872 W 106° 05.970
Head south on CR-301 from US 24 at this point. Travel 1.6 miles to get to the next waypoint where you will turn left.
W21QY6B - Turn Left
N 38° 47.507 W 106° 05.698
Turn left here and got through the gate. Travel 0.4 miles to a second gate and the staging area.
W31QY6B - Staging Area
N 38° 47.529 W 106° 05.100
This is the location of the air down/staging area.
W41QY6B - Chinaman Gulch Trailhead
N 38° 47.556 W 106° 05.144
Start of the Chinaman Gulch trail.
W51QY6B - Bear Right
N 38° 47.731 W 106° 05.100
Bear right here and head up the hill.
W61QY6B - Go Left
N 38° 47.694 W 106° 04.459
Go left here. Right will take you down Carnage Canyon. You can drive part way down if you just want to check out the insanity.
W71QY6B - Optional Viewpoint to Left
N 38° 48.015 W 106° 04.639
If you take a left here, you can go to an optional viewpoint. Return here to continue the Chinaman Gulch Trail.
W81QY6B - Start of Loop
N 38° 48.206 W 106° 04.676
Turn right here to start the loop. You will end up back at this point when you complete the loop and return the way you came in.