MoCo Treasures Day Trip: Douglas Mountain — dark timber in the desert
Sasha Nelson
Rising to the west from the river bottoms and dusty sagebrush steppe between the Little Snake and Yampa River drainages is Douglas Mountain.
The community of Greystone sits on the shoulder of the mountain.
The area is known for trophy deer and elk hunting and also offers primitive camping, hiking, backpacking, sightseeing and horseback riding. However, in the past the mountain was the location of mining activity.
There are no developed recreation sites or services in the Douglas Mountain Area. It is important to take plenty of water and supplies.
To get there
West of Maybell, take Moffat County Road 318 north, then take Moffat County Road 12 or 10 through Greystone to Moffat County Road 116 also known as Douglas Mountain Boulevard, which is a dirt road not always maintained, and is recommended for high clearance vehicles.
Stay longer to see the Coke Ovens
Four stone charcoal kilns dating from 1898 are the only remaining intact structures associated with the Bromide Mining and Milling Company’s smelter facility.
Operations at the facility extended through the end of World War I and included smelting copper mined from Douglas Mountain.
The ovens are said to be the best surviving examples of their type in the state and are found off a side road to Moffat County Road 10 about 5 miles from Moffat County Road 116.
For more information
Bureau of Land Management, 970-826-5000 or http://www.blm.govhttp://www.blm.govhttp://www.blm.gov
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