GC6F70 Virtual Cache Hagerman "High Line"
Type: Virtual | Size: Virtual Virtual | Difficulty: 1 out of 5 | Terrain: 3.5 out of 5
By: Jeeperz 1&2 @ | Hide Date: 07/10/2002 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 15.131 W106° 29.044 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 10
This virtual cache is for historical R.R. buffs and for folks who just like beautiful scenery. The coordinates shown above are for the east portal of the Hagerman Train Tunnel, which is your destination. The parking lot at N39 15.557 & W106 27.534 is on the Hagerman Pass road west of Leadville. The hike begins near the informative sign south of the road. The trail follows the old railbed to the tunnel. It's about a 4 mile hike on a gentle grade except for a few scrambles where the trestles are missing. The railbed meanders thru the forest, gaining altitude to the tunnel. There is a trail that cuts across these meanderings shortening the hike to just a little over 2 miles. We recommend hiking the railbed one way and taking the shortcut the other way. Pack a picnic lunch as you will pass a couple of beautiful little lakes on the way.

To log this cache, email us the answers to these questions.

#1 What covers the floor of the tunnel?

#2 Near the entrance of the tunnel is a large informative sign. In the upper right hand corner of the sign are two small metal tags. What is written on these tags?

Remember, don't put your answers in your log,only your comments.
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 Hints

The elevation at the tunnel is 11530 ft. so take it easy and don't over do it. Have fun!

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Driving Directions

 Logs

12 Logs: Found it 11  Write note 1  

Found it 09/23/2018 By EntropyEndeavor
Was looking for some caches as practice and for acclimatization, and this group looked perfect. Plan was to make my way to the tunnel and then see how I was feeling to decide whether to continue or not. Decided to go for the other virtual and starting at the tunnel seemed like a good place to do it. The climb up started a bit hard, but then got relatively easy along the part with lots of large rocks. Then however it got very hard being already three quarters of the way there trying to climb up the loose gravel with few rocks for hand and foot holds. Knowing from the bottom what it would be like to get up I would have had to decide not to do it. Became very easy to get around up there though so getting the traditional was no problem. Decided there was no way at all I was going down the way I came, so bushwhacked through the forest to make it to the road for a very easy hike but much longer hike down.

Had very little trouble climbing up to the tunnel. Really neat hike too. Passed by the ghost town of Douglas City (photo sphere: https://goo.gl/maps/MYoZTSxDrRC2). Nice lake up near the tunnel.

Photo sphere near tunnel: https://goo.gl/maps/Le7NXuY3ERz

Found it 09/08/2018 By PayMeCache
It is that time of year where I am forcing myself to catch up on old saved logs. Slowly I am chipping away at these one by one and sending needed answers in to the cache owners.

Enoying the day with DimensionGarret, Landen24 and weasel311 doing some hiking. This was our first time here and really enjoyed ourselves.

Answers have been sent in for the group of us.

Found it 07/14/2018 By miriamethubert
We did a backpacking weekend to Hagerman Lake with the forest school, first time for the boys! They had a great time. The hike to the tunnel was great with all these wild flowers everywhere!! Answers sent. TFTC!
Hagerman Lake

Found it 08/11/2016 By Jkparmfamily
Heading in from previewing power line climb, grabbed a few caches. Awesome area

Found it 09/30/2015 By estes01
Fun drive to the top of Hagerman's Pass in WingsAndTales vehicle. We hikes along the ridge and after doing a couple of other caches we debated on the best way to get to your virtual. The fastest way is not always the best, and in retrospect, we think it would have been more scenic and interesting to have followed one or both of the trails below. At any rate, what we found at GZ was fascinating. Thanks for bringing us to this spot.

Found it 09/30/2015 By WingsAndTales
Estes01 and I headed up here for a few caches today. We also parked at the top of the pass to start our hike. I had originally planned to drive back down and get this one from below but it was actually less elevation to drop down from the ridge and then hike back up. Note to self - Less elevation does not mean easier. It was interesting to see some of our Colorado history out here. TFTC

Found it 09/27/2015 By kenyansherpa
Came off the ridge to this one. As Icezeebra11 mentions in his log, we could have made an easier descent but regardless it was worth the effort. Thanks to jeeperz1&2 for an excellent and educational virtual! Will send the required info for claiming this one. TFTH!!

Found it 09/27/2015 By icezebra11
Kenyansherpa and I met in Leadville this morning with the target being the caches near Hagerman Pass. We had a terrific day in the high country with clear skies, pleasant temps, and little wind. After parking his car at the USFS office, we headed up to the top of the pass in my pickup. The last 3 miles or so are rough but we made it ok.

This cache was our second of the day. After parking at the top of the pass, it was a matter of hiking the ridge top all the way to the saddle above the tunnel entrance and then making the descent to GZ. We picked what turned out to be the harder way down, sticking to the south side of the drainage. At the tunnel we gathered the required information and were impressed with what was accomplished in the 1800s building this tunnel. When we returned back to the top we stuck to the north side of the drainage which was still as steep but had better footing.

Once on top we headed down the west side to the Telegraph virtual. Thanks jeeperz1&2 for luring us to this interesting artifact of history!!!
Me at the sign

Write note 08/23/2015 By Keep On Trekking
This is a long shot, but . . . . . If anyone sees a Nikon pocket-size camera along the trail to / from this cache, it's ours. Please contact us. Thx.

Found it 08/18/2015 By Keep On Trekking
Today we parked at the recommended parking coordinates and followed the trail and RR grade to the Hagerman Tunnel. Beautiful scenery and some interesting mining and RR history along the way and at the tunnel. We were surprised by the interior of the tunnel and have already sent our answers to the CO. We took a more circuitous route back, and the total distance was a little over six miles. Thanks for this virtual and bringing us to this interesting location. Awarding a favorite point.

Found it 07/18/2015 By nickgatt
@12:26:00 PM #20624 Found a few on the way to hiking to Hagerman "High Line". TFTV

Great hike to the tunnel. Tried to climb over the ridge to get the "CO Midland" Virtual, but got caught in a storm and turned back.

Found it 09/18/2014 By COpackrat
Had a nice hike up to the east portal, then over the divide to the other virtual - the trees are gorgeous right now and the weather was blue-bird sky. Thanks for the hike and cache!