Flat Tops Trail is in northwest Colorado about 100 miles northeast of Grand Junction. It crosses the White River and Routt National Forests between Meeker and Yampa. The byway follows CR 8 and FSR 16 over a combination of paved and gravel-surfaced roads. Most vehicles are able to complete the entire 82-mile route. Flat Tops Trail receives two to ten feet of snow in winter and is not maintained for automobile use. It is open for snowmobile and cross-country ski use.
The Flat Tops Trail crosses sage-covered hills, meadows, and working ranches as it winds through two national forests. Byway travelers are also treated to forests of lodgepole pine, spruce, fir, and aspen. The byway climbs across 10,343-foot Ripple Creek Pass before leaving White River National Forest. Vaughn Lake is nearby and offers fishing for rainbow and brown trout.
A side trip on FSR 205 will take you to Trappers Lake, an area known as the “Cradle of Wilderness.” In 1919, Arthur Carhart made recommendations to cease further development of roads and homes around the lake. His efforts to protect the natural beauty of the area led to a wilderness protection movement, which ultimately led to the Wilderness Act of 1964. Visitors will find four camping areas with a total of nearly 60 RV and tent sites. An RV length limit of 22 feet exists for each camping area.