LIME CREEK ROAD - FSR 743 / 728

Length: 9 miles (one way)   Trail Use: Low
Difficulty: More Difficult    Open To: 4WD, OHV, Biking, Hiking,
Beginning Elevation: 8,928 ft.   Ending Elevation: 10,674 ft.
Elevation Gain: +1746 ft.    USGS Map(s): Red Cliff

Access from Vail: From I-70, take Exit 171 for Minturn and Hwy. 24. Turn right and continue south on Hwy. 24 for 10 miles to the Red Cliff access road on the left, immediately before crossing the historic green expansion bridge over the Eagle River. This road will lead into Red Cliff and to Shrine Pass Road #709. Turn left onto Shrine Pass Road and follow 1.9 miles to Lime Creek Road - FSR 743 on the left.
Trail Highlights: (This road is numbered both 743 and 728. This sheet will describe the difficult route up 743 to 728. For an easy route, take 728 from Shrine Pass Road for the first 4.4 miles before it changes to 743.) Reset odometer where you turn off of Shrine Pass Road onto FSR 743. The bridge at mile 0.4 and the rocky climb after it are very tough and should be traveled cautiously. Also, the stretch between the first two crossings of Lime Creek is very tilted and can be dangerous in wet weather. The climb gets gradually easier after this section. At mile 3.7, the road turns right and again crosses Lime Creek. One rocky climb remains before reaching the easier FSR 728 at 3.8 miles. At the top of the hill, turn left and follow the easy winding road, bearing right at mile 8.6 where FSR 712 joins from the left. Shrine Pass Road is reached at mile 9.2.