Saints John Trail

Saints John sits forgotten in a cirque below Gray’s Peak, accessible only by a rough 4WD track that winds through some of Colorado’s most unforgiving high country. The trail branches off Montezuma Road near Keystone, immediately dropping you into serious terrain with multiple creek crossings and boulder fields that’ll test your line choice. At mile 4, you’ll cross the actual Saints John Creek — no bridge, just rocks and rushing water that can run tire-deep during snowmelt. The ghost town itself is worth the beating: several intact structures including the old assay office, all backdropped by the Continental Divide’s jagged skyline.

This is legitimate difficult-rated country that demands real 4WD capability, not just high clearance. Approach and departure angles matter here, along with decent articulation for the rock gardens above 11,000 feet. July through September only — earlier means impassable snow, later means early storms. No services for 20 miles, so carry extra fuel, water, and recovery gear. The creek crossings can be impassable during heavy runoff, typically late May through early July. Dispersed camping is excellent if you can find level ground among the rockfall.