Saints John Road #275 via St Johns Rd / Trail
7.2 mi
Distance
3 hrs 56 min
Time
terrain
2,208 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a moderate one way trail to Saints John Road #275 in White River National Forest.
This trail goes by Minnehaha Reservoir and Minnehaha Dam.
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
Public Tracks
Saints John
3-4/10
Saints John is a relatively easy 4WD trail that is mostly above treeline. There are two hills, one much longer than the other, that can be climbed in stock high-clearance vehicles with either a good driver or some good coaching.
Saints John can be run from north to south from Montezuma. However, this makes the the hills descents rather than climbs and steals away some of the fun. More often Saints John is the second half of a longer route along with a connected trail. Connecting with either Middle or North Fork Swan (moderate) makes a straight-through route from Breckenridge to Montezuma. Deer Creek (easy) and Radical Hill (difficult) both create loops.
NOTE: The high alpine tundra is very fragile and the Forest Service does not take it lightly when folks drive out on it. Unfortunately, this trail shows how common the practice is as well as how damaging. Yes, the trail is quite rocky in places. But if it's so rough that you feel you need to drive on the grass instead, maybe you should re-evaluate your hobby. PLEASE stay the trail! This kind of abuse can lead to permanent closure! Then we all lose!
Some sources call the southern half of this trail Glacier Mountain Road. The Forest Service Signage doesn't use this term.
Cell phone signal comes and goes throughout the route.
The nearest emergency room is at St. Anthony Summit Medical Center (970-668-3300), located just off CO-9 south of Frisco. Summit County Sheriff office (970-453-2232) is on CO-9 in Breckenridge.
