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Eagle Ranger District

Quick Facts

Derby/Sunnyside General Forest Area

Outfitters and Guides

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

The Derby/Sunnyside General Forest area takes in the east side of the Flat Tops Wilderness. The three main forks of Derby Creek, North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork dominate the area, with the smaller Sunnyside Creek drainage to the north of these. These creeks flow down from some of the highest peaks of the Flat Tops. The Derby Loop (Eagle County road #39) and the Sunnyside road, (Eagle County road #43/Route County road #3), provide the main improved road accesses to the area. Other than these and the very rough, Stump Park and South Derby four-wheel drive roads, the area is relatively roadless. There are a number of trails, popular for hikers and horseback riders which access the upper drainages and the higher elevations of the Flat Tops. There are no developed campgrounds in the area but if you stay at least 100 feet from lakes streams and trails, dispersed camping opportunities abound. Some of the recreation opportunities in the area include hiking, horseback riding, fishing, dispersed camping, four-wheel driving, and hunting.

Directions from Eagle: Travel 12 miles west on I-70 to the Dotsero exit. Follow signs for Burns, turning north onto the Colorado River Road. Go about 20 miles to Burns, where the Derby Loop road can be accessed either by turning left at Derby Junction, or further up the road at Cabin Creek. Most access into the Derby/Sunnyside area is from this loop road.

Directions from Vail: Travel 43 miles west on I-70 to the Dotsero exit. Follow signs for Burns, turning north onto the Colorado River Road. Go about 20 miles to Burns, where the Derby Loop road can be accessed either by turning left at Derby Junction, or further up the road at Cabin Creek. Most access into the Derby/Sunnyside area is from this loop road.

Directions from Beaver Creek: Travel 43 miles west on I-70 to the Dotsero exit. Follow signs for Burns, turning north onto the Colorado River Road. Go about 20 miles to Burns, where the Derby Loop road can be accessed either by turning left at Derby Junction, or further up the road at Cabin Creek. Most access into the Derby/Sunnyside area is from this loop road.

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Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Fishing		Yes
	Forest Areas	Derby/Sunnyside General Forest Area	Yes
	Hiking & Walking		Yes
	Hunting		Yes
	Mountain Biking		Yes

Related Activities

High Trail Four-Wheel Drive Road - This road begins along the Colorado River at the mouth of Red Dirt Creek. It travels up Red Dirt Creek then up onto Derby Mesa, where it intersects the Derby Mesa Road/County Road 39.

Island Lake Trail (east end) - The Island Lake Trail (#1842) begins at Stump Park, northwest of Burns. It leads past Island Lake before linking with several other trails in the Flat Tops Wilderness.

North Derby Trail - This trail in the Bear River area leads from Stillwater Reservoir over a pass to the North Fork Derby Creek.

South Derby Four-Wheel Drive Road - This very rough four-wheel drive road leads from the Derby loop road, near Burns, to Crescent Lake.

South Derby Trail - Leaving the Trappers Lake Trail you head east on the Island Lake Trail. At the Chinese Lake Trail you travel the tundra until the Island Lakes Basin lies below.

Stump Park Four-Wheel Drive Road - This rough four-wheel drive road leads from the Derby Loop road, near Burns, up to Stump Park, along the North Fork of Derby Creek.