The Sawtooth Mountain Loop Road incorporates Long Park - East Beaver Road, Forest Service Road (FSR) 786, Lick Park - Bead Creek Road, FSR 789, Muddy Creek Road, FSR 775, Homestead Road, FSR 854, and Beaver Creek Road, FSR 806. These roads form a loop that surrounds Sawtooth Mountain. The area is south of Highway 50 and immediately west of Cochetopa Canyon. It is lightly used during the summer months and heavily used during the fall big game seasons.Because of resource damage, many of the roads in this area - other than those mentioned here are closed. You will need to consult the Forest Travel map for timely information on travel restrictions in the Sawtooth Area.
Directions from Gunnison: Long Park - East Beaver - Lick Park - Bead Creek Loop; drive south on the Gold Basin Road (south of the Gunnison airport). Stay on the most traveled route to the Forest Boundary. An alternate route is via Colorado 114 to the Bead Creek Road turnoff at mile post 12+. Once again, stay on the most traveled route to the Forest Boundary.
Directions from Beaver Creek Road: Drive west nine miles from Gunnison to Colorado Highway 149. Turn left on to Highway 149 and cross Blue Mesa Reservoir. Drive one mile, after crossing the bridge, to a dirt road on the left, BLM Route 3043. Drive southward two and a half miles to a fork in the road. Take the right side of the fork and follow it nine miles to the old mining town of Vulcan. Continue to follow BLM Route 3043 another eight miles to the forest boundary. This road will cross the lower portion of the Sawtooth area and lead to the Old Ute Agency Work Center. You can return to Gunnison from there.
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