Key Points:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Pike National Forest<\/a> Long Scraggy Peak West Side<\/p><\/div>\n For a long time I believed that Long Scraggy Peak<\/a> was essentially off-limits, due to difficult access and private land around the peak. After some research on the internet, I found that climbing Long Scraggy might be practical and legal. There\u2019s no marked trailhead for Long Scraggy, but there\u2019s access via public land all the way to the mountain. A good cairned trail runs right up to the top! However, having a fun day on Long Scraggy requires research and accurate navigation \u2013 GPS is very useful, and good map skills are required.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Summit Trail with Cairns<\/p><\/div>\n Private property, including the Long Scraggy Mountain Ranch<\/a>, lies along the west side of the mountain. This area is accessed from Highway 126 by private Spring Creek Road. The Ranch is a Christian Retreat, and trespassing is forbidden. Because of its location near the mountain, the Ranch effectively has priority use of Long Scraggy. Marked trails lead directly from the property up the mountain, as well as north into the National Forest. The land east of the ranch, including almost all of Long Scraggy Peak, is in Pike National Forest, according to the Forest Visitor Map.<\/p>\n Access to the National Forest is available from paved Highway 126 northwest of Long Scraggy. The trailhead is the gated Raleigh Peak Road, FR-538, which leads southeast and then north for several miles. The Colorado Trail also provides access from both north and south of the private property.<\/p>\n Climbing Long Scraggy legally requires knowing where the public land is, and navigating to avoid the private land east of the Peak. This is not hard, and the route I found requires only moderate bushwhacking.<\/p>\n Driving Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Start by driving to the town of Buffalo Creek. The road is gated, with room for a few cars to park off the highway; the road’s popular with mountain bikers. It\u2019s not posted; hiking and non-motorized access is OK. Park off the highway and away from the gate.<\/p>\n The Hike:<\/strong><\/p>\n Walk southeast on the dirt road and follow it up the hill as it bends north. Long Scraggy Peak stands beyond private property to the southeast. The Colorado Trail runs parallel to Raleigh Peak Road, 100-200 yards to the east; it roughly follows the 7600 foot contour.<\/p>\n After reaching about 7640 feet, the road runs up over a little rise; a low ridge runs out to the east. Leave the road and head east – there\u2019s a faint trail along the ridge.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Route East from FR-538<\/p><\/div>\n Stay north of any fence you see. This land was burned in the Buffalo Creek fire, and visibility is excellent. To avoid any chance of error, stay on the ridge, or just north of it. The route soon crosses the Colorado Trail. Continuing east, the path eventually becomes a real trail. This east-west route is easily visible on the Google satellite image. Horses, people, and wild animals all share this unmarked trail, which probably predates the fire. Eventually the trail drops steeply east into the valley of Spring Creek.<\/p>\n Before the route reaches the creek, a fence runs near the south side of the trail. Stay north of any fence to avoid private land. The ranch owns land along Spring Creek, northeast and downstream from most of their other property. Near Spring Creek, I saw ranch buildings to the south. I didn\u2019t cross any fence. A \u201cno trespassing\u201d sign on a fallen fence indicated that the land south of the fence line was\/is closed to the public. I also found a USFS Cadastral Benchmark, as well as USFS signs, indicating that they have accurately surveyed the public land, and marked it accordingly. Clearly the trail north of the fence is on USFS land, close to the private land.<\/p>\n At a marshy area near the creek, a small boardwalk conveniently leads across the creek. The land east of the creek is in Pike National Forest, according to the Forest Visitor Map. This includes all of Long Scraggy Peak and most of the land for more than a mile all around the summit. Anyone considering climbing Long Scraggy should study the USFS map to see where the green National Forest land is in relation to the white private land. Private land should be respected, and there\u2019s no need to cross posted land to access this mountain.<\/p>\n Just east of Spring Creek, there\u2019s a trail junction. The GPS coordinates of this junction are:<\/p>\n N39 21.856 W105 13.329<\/strong><\/p>\n This is a useful waypoint to put in your GPS, because it\u2019s key to the route in and out.<\/p>\n A sign points to a trail leading downstream to a waterfall. This trail is likely mostly on USFS land, but the sign and trail condition suggests it\u2019s often used by the ranch guests.<\/p>\n \u2022 To avoid ranch land, hike east into the woods from the junction into the forest \u2013 this route isn\u2019t posted or marked. Long Scraggy Old Road<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022 Using any convenient route, hike uphill southeast for about 0.6 mile, in the direction of the summit Long Scraggy Forest Road Leading South<\/p><\/div>\n \u2022 Various signs along the road indicate it\u2019s National Forest land N39 21.646 W105 12.628<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Follow the obvious trail east into the forest<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Secret Summit Trail<\/p><\/div>\n This trail is mostly used by folks from the ranch \u2013 they have direct access. However, their trailhead isn\u2019t open to the public. Long Scraggy Peak is on National Forest land adjacent to their property, and it\u2019s no surprise that they have a trail up there. This trail isn\u2019t posted or signed on the mountain, and there\u2019s nothing to suggest that it\u2019s private. I saw no signs at all. It has been maintained for a long time, possibly for decades. Large trees lying near the trail were sawed long ago.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Long Scraggy Trail leads up the mountain \u2013 there are cairns. Long Scraggy Peak Summit Area<\/p><\/div>\n Additional Details:<\/strong><\/p>\n The huge top of Long Scraggy Peak consists of massive granite outcrops of orange Pikes Peak granite. The actual summit is just south of the end of the trail \u2013 one large step is required, but the granite has excellent friction, and there\u2019s little exposure.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Peak Summit<\/p><\/div>\n The prominent mountain falls away about half a vertical mile to the south and east \u2013 it feels very high \u2013 and the views of the South Platte Canyon region are spectacular.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Peak Summit, South View<\/p><\/div>\n The activation zone is large, and it\u2019s practical to erect a pole right on the granite, as I did. The peak is an ideal HF site, much like a very high tower. No nearby peaks are high enough to block HF signals. There\u2019s almost no man-made RF noise – the closest development is far down at the ranch.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Peak Activation Sep 21, 2016<\/p><\/div>\n There\u2019s some limited VHF\/UHF coverage east of Long Scraggy \u2013 the eastern Plains are visible in a few directions. Long Scraggy looks across part of the Rampart Range to the northeast. Nevertheless, most populated areas to the east are not visible.<\/p>\n \u2022 Return via the same route – be sure to stay north and east of the ranch land near Spring Creek.<\/strong><\/p>\n The total round-trip length of the Long Scraggy hike, starting at the Raleigh Peak Road gate, is about 8.4 miles. It requires about 2-1\/2 to 3 hours each way, assuming some route-finding and breaks. The total vertical ascent is about 1700 feet from trailhead to summit. There\u2019s an additional 360 feet of gain on the way out, from Spring Creek up to the ridge-top east of Raleigh Peak Road; the total vertical gain for the trip is 2060 feet.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Sub-peak on North Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n Even though the hike is a lot of work for a 2-point summit, Long Scraggy Peak is a SOTA Classic!<\/p>\n \u2022 Requires good navigation and route-finding \u201cTake nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints\u201d is especially good advice for this amazing summit. People from the Ranch may visit the summit or use the trails \u2013 please respect their interests. Their Christian retreat is just as important as our SOTA activations.<\/p>\n Long Scraggy Peak stands close to nearby SOTA peaks and might be combined for a dual activation:<\/p>\n \u2022 Raleigh Peak W0C\/FR-195<\/a> \u2013 only about 3 miles north, same trailhead The National Forest around Long Scraggy Peak looks like good hunting territory \u2013 many deer live there \u2013 wear hunter orange clothing in the fall, and be aware of hunters.<\/p>\n It would be difficult to climb Long Scraggy from the South Platte Canyon on the east side. That side of the mountain is very steep and rocky, with many cliffs, and the net vertical gain from the River, at about 6200 feet, is 2600 feet. Even more critical is that the road in the canyon is on the wrong side of the river the entire way. There\u2019s a public foot bridge across the river where the Colorado Trail crosses several miles northeast of the mountain, but it\u2019s a long off-trail hike through burned-up land just to the base of Long Scraggy.<\/p>\n Both the long north and south ridges of the mountain are craggy and challenging to ascend.<\/p>\n In September of 2016, signs on trees indicated that a large forest management project had started. Please be aware that parts of route described here may be affected \u2013 contact Pike National Forest, South Platte Ranger District, \u00a0at 303-275-5610, for more information.<\/strong><\/p>\n 73<\/p>\n George Long Scraggy Peak View Northeast<\/p><\/div>\n Long Scraggy Peak, Northeast Side<\/p><\/div>\n Long Scraggy Peak Ridge<\/p><\/div>\n \n W0C\/FR-071 Long Scraggy Peak 2686 m \/ 8812 ft Sep 30, 2015 1st Activation Sep 21, 2016 2nd Activation By KX0R Long Scraggy Peak is a very prominent mountain in the South Platte Canyon near Deckers, southwest of Denver. Key … Continue reading
\n\u2022 No marked route to the mountain
\n\u2022 Trail leads up the summit
\n\u2022 Navigation and route-finding required
\n\u2022 Private land nearby
\n\u2022 None of the recommended route is posted
\n\u2022 In 2016 signs on trees suggested that a large forestry management project was about to begin
\n\u2022 ~ 8.4 miles round trip
\n\u2022 ~ 2060 vertical feet total, including return trip<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4736-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 Northern routes are via Highway 285 and Highway 126 from Pine Junction, or via 285 and Foxton Road from Conifer.
\n\u2022 From the south, take Highway 24 west from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park; turn north on Highway 67 and go to Deckers; and continue north on Highway 126 to Buffalo Creek.
\n\u2022 All of these roads are good paved mountain highways.
\n\u2022 From Buffalo Creek, drive almost 2 miles south on 126,\u00a0most of the way up the big hill, to Raleigh Peak Road, FR-538, on the east side at about 7440 feet
\n\u2022 This is about \u00bd mile north of a highway maintenance facility near the hilltop
\n\u2022 This road is shown on the Google satellite image<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4742-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 Follow an old abandoned road\/track east up a ridge.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4727-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 An OK route leads up along a wide draw
\n\u2022 Intersect a modern forest road shown on the Google satellite image
\n\u2022 This road provides access to the east slopes of Long Scraggy.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4719-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 Using GPS, hike south on the road to a trail junction at this point:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4718-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 The trail isn\u2019t shown on maps that I have seen, and most of it\u2019s hidden on the Goggle satellite image.
\n\u2022 The route climbs up through various rocky outcrops.
\n\u2022 The path ascends about 1200 vertical feet from the forest road.
\n\u2022 The summit forest wasn\u2019t burned by the Buffalo Creek Fire, so the trail is very pleasant trail to climb
\n\u2022 The steep trail leads efficiently up to the summit area<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4674-2.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 Some traveling off-trail
\n\u2022 Fun hike up the mountain on a trail marked with cairns
\n\u2022 Huge, prominent, exciting summit
\n\u2022 Large activation zone
\n\u2022 Massive orange granite outcrops
\n\u2022 High cliffs
\n\u2022 Amazing views of the South Platte Canyon region
\n\u2022 Almost perfect HF peak<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Little Scraggy Peak W0C\/FR-059<\/a> \u2013 about 4 miles to the southwest<\/p>\n
\nKX0R<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/IMG_4665-2.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Long-Scraggy-Peak.jpg\")
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\n![\"ATTENTION\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Achtung.svg\/877px-Achtung.svg.png\")
\n\n!! WARNING !! There are old<\/b> mountaineers, and \nbold<\/b> mountaineers... there are no old-bold mountaineers. \nHiking and mountain climbing are potentially hazardous activities particularly in Colorado with its extreme elevations. I am not accepting responsibility for any death or injury resulting from activations based on my trip reports. Proper training, experience, and personal capability assessment is required - enjoy!\n<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"