Chinaman’s Gulch Trail – Johnsonville, Colorado

Follow the track log from highway 285 N from Johnsonville, Co. The track turns right after a mile or so onto a gravel road which proceeds to the prison grounds where you will have make a left turn and then proceed through the gate and make sure to close them. After passing through the second gate follow the track log left. If you were to proceed straight you would end up on carnage gulch trail.

This trail is extremely difficult and body and mechanical damage is to be expected. Proceeding on the trail the trail climbs through a wooded area with small but challenging obstacles. The track log turns right in a fork in the road. The right track leads to two obstacles one called a waterfall. The right line of the first obstacle is difficult but there is a bypass to the left. The waterfall has three different options.

The far right side is the easiest of the choices however it is still very challenging. The middle option is harder by far. Big tires, lots of clearance and lockers are needed. The left side is only suitable to highly modified rock crawlers with very experienced drivers due to a high risk of rollover. As you proceed the trail becomes easier. If you follow the track log you will loop back to the starting position. There is a right turn that can be taken to take you back the highway.

The final major obstacle is called the chute. Two lines are commonly used. The right line requires keeping the right tires very high on the wall. This may be a slightly more difficult line than the right side. The right side however has a large rock protruding into the trail about window high, judging from the amount of paint on the rock many trucks have had a run in with the rock.

The rest of the trail winds back around to take you back to the starting position of the trail. It has its fair share of difficult obstacles but nothing too difficult. This is a difficult trail and mechanical or body damage is possible.