Dave Wood Road

Trail Run on October 17, 2016
Report and photos by Monica I., Trail Leader

Walt S.

Gold 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

Roger R.

White 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Monica I.

Red 2010 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

We'd known about Dave Wood Road for years, and we were looking forward to finally checking it out. It paralleled Highway 550 south of Montrose, for the most part, and it had a rich history. We came off of Sanborn Park Road and headed north up Dave Wood Road, intending to turn around at the trailhead and head back south. That meant we'd do the northern half twice.

The intersection with Sanborn Park Road is well marked with signs, but it's an odd intersection in the trees. When we were heading north from there we had to go a short distance to make sure we were still on the right path. Then, at the next intersection with Divide Road South, we had to slow down a bit again to double-check our route. In the end, the most obvious road was the best one.

The road is pretty wide and easy, so we made good time. We wanted to find and map the beginning of the trail, so even though it had turned to pavement we kept going. We even took Highway 90 a bit farther than the Dave Wood Road trailhead, only to double back in a little while. We determined that the trailhead was at the first sign for Dave Wood Road, off of Highway 90. We were very close to the start of the Rimrocker Trail.

We turned around and headed back in, and it was a quick trip. We stopped at one kiosk for verification with the map, but then headed south. At the intersection with Sanborn Park Road, we turned left to keep going south.

The trail then popped out of the trees and we were on Howard Flats, a huge, wide, open space. We found a fancy ranch that looked like it took guests. It was very scenic, with the San Juan Mountains behind it.

As we moved south, the San Juans got closer and more magnificent. We put tops up and windows on as it was very windy and getting chilly. The straight roads got a little curvy at the end as we descended into Black Canyon, and then we were at Highway 62. This was a road we'd definitely take in the future instead of Highway 550. Very cool!