About W. Mountain #1817
The W. Mountain trail begins at Forest Road #616 and ends at Island Lakes Trail #1842. The first 2.5 miles ascend towards the rim of the White River Plateau at a very steep grade. Once you are on the White River Plateau the terrain is mostly rolling hills near above timberline with very long sections of meadows. In the meadows the trail may be faint at times, but it is marked with rock and log cairns.* There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which is complete with directions, a map, details, and other information about this trail. Or to see quicksheets for other recreation areas across the Forest, click on the "Recreation Quicksheets" link in the right column and select the appropriate Ranger District.
How to Get There
Travel 13 miles west of Eagle on I-70 to the Dotsero exit and follow the signs for Sweetwater/ Burns by turning north, right, onto the Colorado River Rd.Follow this road for 22 miles to the Derby Junction and turn left onto Derby Mesa Rd.Travel on this road for 6.5 miles and turn left onto South Derby Jeep Rd., FDR 613, a high-clearance 4-wheel drive only road.Follow FDR 613 for 3.7 miles to the intersection with FDR 616 and turn left.FDR 616 will end 2 miles up at the intersection with the trailhead, “W” Mountain-FDT 1817 is to the right and Ute-FDT 2032 is to the left.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to W. Mountain #1817
Heading to W. Mountain #1817? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for W. Mountain #1817?
No central reservation system listed for W. Mountain #1817. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10084488) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to W. Mountain #1817?
Travel 13 miles west of Eagle on I-70 to the Dotsero exit and follow the signs for Sweetwater/ Burns by turning north, right, onto the Colorado River Rd.Follow this road for 22 miles to the Derby Junction and turn left onto Derby Mesa Rd.Travel on this road for 6.5 miles and turn left onto South Derby Jeep Rd., FDR 613, a high-clearance 4-wheel drive only road.Follow FDR 613 for 3.7 miles to the i…
References & Official Resources
