Liberty Trail
Fremont County, Colorado
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Nearby Towns: Penrose
Nearby Trails: Independence Trail, Patriot Trail
Season: Year Round
Trail Length: 0.8 miles
Elevation: 5,747 to 6,013 feet
Named Obstacles: The Gap, The Waterfall, The V, The Wall, The Cube

Liberty Trail is the easiest of the trails in the Penrose trail system, but it is definitely not an easy trail. It intersects with Patriot Trail and Independence Trail, which also intersects with Freedom Trail. Patriot Trail is much more difficult (a 10 rating, 647 feet) and Independence is also difficult (a 9 rating, 0.2 miles). Freedom Trail is a fairly easy hill used as an escape route from the middle of Independence Trail (a 4 rating, 565 feet). Don't be fooled by the small distances -- these trails are difficult and will take you awhile to complete. You can expect damage from any of the trails.

You must have a winch and good gearing. It may be difficult to impossible to get through the trail without front and rear lockers. At least half of the trail requires a lot of clearance. Take spare parts for things that may break, and extra fluids. Be ready to clean up messes when things break. Do not run this trail alone. You should be able to get cell phone service on the trail or if you hike out to the top.

Liberty Trail is often run immediately after Independence Trail, or you can run in and out of just Liberty Trail to make it the easiest trip possible in the system. Be sure to walk the other trails to check out the crazy obstacles.

If you start at the north end of Liberty Trail you go down a steep hill. It is dirt on one side and rock ledges on the other side. Then you make a turn to go south.

The trail is most often covered in medium to large rocks, though there are two or three sandy sections where you could stop a few vehicles. The trail is almost always only wide enough for one vehicle, so keep a watch out for wider areas you could back up to if you meet anyone coming the other direction.

You get to enjoy rocks very early with the Gap in the middle. This obstacle is a waterfall with a large gap in the middle that is almost too wide for an entire vehicle to straddle -- an ATV could fit in it easily. You have to run right along the edges, or drop one side of your vehicle into the gap itself.

Next is the Waterfall and you have some options. If you go down the left side you get a very steep and tall ledge to drop off of. If you go to the right side there is a large slab of rock instead and the way is fairly easy in comparison with the rest of the trail.

There are more and more rocks, then you come to the section of trail that contains the most challenges. It starts as rocks, then moves to the "V" obstacle. This section is one of the few that is down a hill, and it is made out of big slabs of rock that are pushed together to make a V-shaped section. You'll get a lot of flex out of your suspension here, depending on the line you take.

After a small dirt area you'll then come to The Wall. This may be the most difficult section of the entire Liberty Trail because there is no way around it. It is a large ledge that you must drop down, and some of the lines down it could roll your vehicle over if you aren't careful.

There is a rough patch of rocks at the bottom of the Wall and for a few yards. Later you'll see the Cube, a big, square rock that you can pose on. It's fairly easy to go around if you don't want to test the flexibility of your suspension, though.

The trail is easier for a bit, though it is still quite rocky. There are a few rock sections to play in on your way down, as well as some larger ones at the end. The last few groups of rocks are especially difficult.

When you see another trail join to the left you are at the end. The trail to your left is Patriot Trail, and the trail you are on changes to Independence Trail and continues on. You can choose one of these trails to finish, or turn around and do Liberty Trail the other direction. It is definitely more difficult in the other direction because all of the obstacles are uphill instead of downhill like they were on the way in.

Member Reports

• June 27, 2010: ran by Bob S., Mark U. and Robert
• April 21, 2007: ran by Don, Mark G. and Monica
• September 9, 2006: ran by Mark G. and Monica
• June 17, 2006: ran by Austin III, Cheryl, Don, Eric B. and Monica
• May 14, 2006: ran by Bob S. and Monica

Driving Directions

From Denver, take I-25 south to Colorado Springs. Take the Tejon exit 140 and then turn right on Nevada Avenue, following signs to Highway 115 south. Take Highway 115 32 miles until just before you get to the town of Penrose. Turn right on 3rd Street off of 115 following signs to Brush Hollow Reservoir. Turn right on E Street (County Road 127) and continue until you have crossed over two cattle guards and you are in the trees. You will see the entrance to Independence Trail on your left, but keep going to get to the north end of Liberty Trail. Pass a large air down area marked with huge boulders gathered together in a flat area, then turn left at the next intersection. You will find the trailhead at a sign.

Meeting Places

Those coming from the Denver area might want to meet on exit 184 off of I-25 at the Conoco gas station to the west of the highway.