Main Elk

The Clinetop Trailhead is located along Forest Road 603, at the base of Clinetop Mesa. This trailhead provides access to the Hadley Gulch and Main Elk Trails. Users can follow the Hadley Gulch Trail to intersections with the Hadley Point Trail, Zig Zag Trail, and Upper Forest Road 603. Clinetop Trailhead is also the main access point for climbing and fly fishing in Main Elk Canyon.

The main trailhead parking area is located next to the kiosk along the north shoulder of the road; this area has room for several vehicles. There is also a secondary parking area just to the west of the trailhead, with room for another 6 to 8 vehicles. If both parking areas are full, users can park along the side of Forest Road 603, provided that traffic flow is not blocked.

Hadley Gulch Trail leads visitors from Main Elk Creek to the top of Clinetop Mesa, gaining approximately 3,200 feet of elevation over a distance of 5 miles. Along the way, visitors will pass beneath steep slopes and picturesque rock faces as they follow the path through the bottom of the gulch.

The trail begins at the Clinetop Trailhead and initially heads north. This initial trail segment has a mild grade and offers good views towards Main Elk Canyon. At about 0.3 miles visitors will come to a fork in the trail; keep right to remain on the path for Hadley Gulch (the left fork leads to a popular climbing area above Main Elk Creek). From here, the grade begins to increase as the trail angles away from the creek. The trail soon enters Hadley Gulch and begins to steadily climb. Visitors will initially pass through stands of oak brush and aspen before reaching an old burn area. The gulch narrows over the final few miles, offering a close-up perspective of the surrounding slopes and rock faces.

At about 4.5 miles, the trail emerges from the gulch, turns north, and leads visitors to the top of the Mesa. At this point, visitors are treated to expansive views of the nearby meadows and surrounding topography. Hadley Gulch trail ends at Forest Road 653 near the Clinetop Cow Camp.

View the Recreation Opportunity Guide for the Hadley Gulch Trail (.pdf ).

The Main Elk trail is 2.5 miles long and connects the Clinetop Trailhead to the Mansfield Ditch Trail (#2291) . From the Clinetop side, the first 0.5 miles of trail are relatively flat. This initial section crosses through private land, so please stay in the designated trail corridor. The trail then begins steadily climbing up a ridge, offering visitors outstanding views of Hadley Gulch, the Main Elk Creek valley, and Deep Creek Point. The trail continues to follow the top of the ridge, gradually gaining elevation and winding its way through thick oak brush. At 2.5 miles, visitors will reach the Mansfield Ditch Trail. From here, a left turn will take visitors south to the Forest Boundary, and a right turn leads north toward the Cherry Creek Connector and Clark’s Point.

Main Elk Trail is open to foot, horse, and bicycle use.