Divide Trail
Begins at the forest's mile 0, 39.6790, -105.9375 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins
Cayton Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
No fee · reservation required
The Cayton Trailhead is located 20 miles south of Silt in the West Divide region of the Rifle Ranger District. The trailhead features the historic Cayton Ranger Station and provides access to Cayton Gulch Trail and Lake Fork Trail.
The Cayton Ranger Station is named for James Grimshaw Cayton, who was one of the nation’s first forest rangers. The Ranger Station is the second oldest building of its kind in the United States, having been built in 1910. James Cayton and his wife Birdie (a school teacher) built the cabin and were the first individuals to live in the structure. In addition to serving as James and Birdie’s home, the station functioned as the headquarters for managing what was then known as the Grand River Ranger District on the Battlement National Forest. James and Birdie conducted a variety of official activities while living and working at the Ranger Station, including: surveying boundaries, posting signs, building and repairing telephone lines, inspecting homestead claims, monitoring ranchers’ cattle, selling hunting licenses, and looking after the station’s garden and livestock.
The Cayton Ranger Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Today, visitors can interact with and learn about the Station in a variety of ways. Visitors can take a hike up Cayton Gulch, explore the grounds, or enjoy a picnic near the Station. Visitors can also look inside the interior of the cabin, which is still decorated as it appeared when James and Birdie lived on site. Interpretive brochures and posters available outside the Station provide information about the lives of James and Birdie, as well as the history of the structure.
The Forest Service manages this site in partnership with the Cayton Ranger Station Foundation. The Station is available for special events, and the Foundation also periodically hosts interpretive programming on the grounds. For more information, please contact the Rifle Ranger District at the phone number listed below.
Miller Divide #1930 the Forest Service's write-up
This trail accesses some of the finest deer and elk habitat in the country. It also provides scenic views of the Fryingpan Valley and Rocky Fork Creek. The first part of the trail is steep but flattens out on top with a short downhill to Rocky Fork Creek. It is hard to follow on top.
Old Dillon Reservoir TH #87 the Forest Service's write-up
This is a short, easy trail that has spectacular views of the mountains of the Tenmile Range and the Continental Divide. The Old Dillon Reservoir was built in the 1930’s to supply water to the original town of Dillon, which is now covered by the new Dillon Reservoir. Water is supplied to the old reservoir via a diversion ditch from Salt Lick Creek, north of I-70. The Old Dillon Reservoir offers great fishing during the summer.
Ptarmigan Peak TH #35 the Forest Service's write-up
The Ptarmigan Peak Trail is an excellent trail to experience a panoramic view of all the mountain ranges in the Dillon Ranger District: the Continental Divide, Gore Range, Tenmile Range and Williams Fork Range. At tree line this trail enters the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Area and provides opportunities to hike to Ptarmigan Peak or Ptarmigan Pass.
Restrictions <ul><li>Open to hiking and horseback riding </li><li>Mountain bikers may use the trail until it reaches the Ptarmigan Wilderness boundary; biking is not permitted in Wilderness Areas.<br /><br />Trail enters the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recarea/?recid=81106">Eagles Nest Wilderness Area.</a></li></ul>