The waterway was named by the local Ute Indians who thought there were as many branches of the river as there were tail feathers on an eagle. With the headwaters of the Eagle River nearby, anglers will find pockets of solitude, casting lines for rainbow and brown trout. 24, explaining the history and accomplishments of Camp Hale. There are interpretive signs along US Rt.
The 99th Infantry Battalion (Viking Battalion) also trained at Camp Hale. Most of the buildings have been torn down, but foundations and other "footprints" remain. Camp Hale is historic because the 10th Mountain Division, an unit of 15,000 men, trained here in mountaineering and skiing techniques during WWII.
An optional hike to a gorgeous snowmelt waterfall is also a highlight of early season trips.Camp Hale Memorial Campground sits at an elevation of 9,200 feet, offering guests a wonderful setting for recreation and relaxation. You may even get to enjoy a mid-summer snowball fight in this prime high-country viewing location. Plus, it offers the best possible view of the elusive cross on Mount of the Holy Cross, which towers high in the Sawatch Range at 14,005 feet. Massive, the Gore Range, and a 10th Mountain Division hut. This jeep tour spends a large portion of time above tree line, with spectacular views unfolding of Colorado’s tallest snow-capped peaks, including Mt. Let your guide entertain you with stories of the harsh training the 10th Mountain Division soldiers endured as you retrace the steps of the ski soldiers all the way up to Machine Gun Ridge at 12,168 feet.
As you proceed into the Homestake Valley, catch a glimpse of Homestake Creek, home to many trout species and one of the most intense kayaking destinations in the United States.įrom the Homestake Valley, your deeper exploration of the Colorado wilderness will begin in the Pando Valley, home of the historic Camp Hale. Founded in 1879, Red Cliff maintains its rustic charm, and you’ll love seeing the 1800s-era cabins and Victorian style houses as well as the quartzite formations that give Red Cliff its name. Follow the 10th Mountain Division Memorial Highway all the way up Battle Mountain past the abandoned mining settlement of Gilman to Red Cliff, one of Colorado’s oldest and last authentic mountain towns. The Camp Hale jeep tour begins as you pass through historic Minturn, Colorado, a character-rich mountain town set alongside the abandoned Rio Grande Railroad and surrounded by views of the picturesque Lionshead Rock, Meadow Mountain, and the infamous Minturn Mile. This trip features some of the highest jeep-accessible terrain available and tops out at 12,168 feet. You’ll pass by historic Colorado mining towns, some abandoned and some thriving, on the way to explore some of the best Colorado jeep trails near the World War II training facility known as Camp Hale, a national historic site where more than 14,000 soldiers honed their expertise in skiing, mountaineering, and winter survival to prepare for the rugged mountain battles they’d fight in Europe during World War II. The Camp Hale jeep tour is a favorite for those in the Vail area and a must-do for history buffs and mining enthusiasts who also want to experience Colorado’s majestic mountain scenery.