If you're heading up toward Red Feather Lakes, Deadman Road is one of those routes you absolutely have to experience at least once. It's not just a shortcut through the mountains; it's a rugged, scenic stretch of dirt and gravel that really captures what the Roosevelt National Forest is all about. Whether you're looking for a place to pitch a tent, a trail to hike, or just a long Sunday drive that gets you away from the crowds on I-25, this road delivers.
Known officially as County Road 162, it starts right near the heart of Red Feather Lakes village and climbs way up into the backcountry. It's the kind of drive where you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for moose and your hands firm on the steering wheel, because while it's generally manageable, it's definitely not a paved highway.
What to Expect on the Drive
Starting out from the village, the road begins fairly mildly, but don't let that fool you. As you push further west, the terrain starts to change. You leave the cabins and the small private lakes behind, trading them for dense stands of lodgepole pine, shimmering aspen groves, and massive granite outcrops.
The road itself is dirt, and its condition can vary wildly depending on when the grader last went through. In the early summer, you might deal with some muddy ruts from the snowmelt, and by late August, the washboards can get pretty intense. If you're driving a low-clearance sedan, you might want to take it slow or reconsider. Most people prefer a truck or an SUV with a bit of ground clearance just to make the ride a little less bone-jarring.
One of the best things about this route is how the air changes. You can feel the temperature drop as you gain elevation, and that crisp, pine-scented breeze is enough to make you want to roll all the windows down, even if it means getting a little dust on the dashboard.
The Iconic Deadman Lookout Tower
You can't really talk about this area without mentioning the Deadman Lookout Tower. It's one of the few remaining fire lookouts in the region that you can actually visit, and the view from the top is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
To get there, you'll take a turn-off from the main road and head up a slightly steeper spur. There's a small parking area, and then it's a short but steep walk up to the tower. When the tower is staffed—usually during the peak summer months—the rangers are often happy to let a few people up at a time to look around.
From that vantage point, you're looking at over 10,000 feet of elevation. You can see clear across to the Snowy Range in Wyoming, the Medicine Bow Mountains, and deep into the Rawah Wilderness. Even if you aren't a big "scenic overlook" person, this one usually wins people over. It puts the vastness of Northern Colorado into perspective in a way that's hard to describe until you're standing there with the wind whipping around you.
Finding a Spot to Camp
For a lot of folks, the primary reason to hit the red feather lakes deadman road is for the dispersed camping. While there are plenty of established campgrounds closer to the lakes—like Dowdy Lake or West Lake—they fill up months in advance. Deadman Road offers a more "choose your own adventure" style of camping.
As you drive along, you'll see dozens of little pull-offs and fire rings tucked back into the trees. Some are right on the edge of the road, while others require a bit of a bumpy crawl to reach. The beauty of dispersed camping here is the silence. Once the sun goes down and the day-trippers head back to Fort Collins or Loveland, it gets incredibly quiet.
Just a quick heads-up: because this area is so popular, it's really important to follow "Leave No Trace" principles. There's no trash pickup out there, and no toilets. You've got to bring your own water and be prepared to haul everything back out with you. Also, always check the fire restrictions before you go. This part of the forest can get dry as tinder, and the wind doesn't help.
Hiking and Side Trips
If you're the type who can't stay in the car for more than an hour without needing to stretch your legs, there's plenty to do. Aside from the lookout tower, there are numerous forest service trails that branch off the main road.
One popular detour is heading toward Creedmore Lakes. It's a bit of a hike to get to the lakes themselves, but they are stunning and tucked away from the main hustle and bustle. The fishing can be hit or miss, but the scenery never misses.
For those who want to keep driving, Deadman Road eventually drops down the other side of the ridge and connects with the Laramie River Valley. This transition is one of my favorite parts of the trip. You go from the high, rocky forest down into a wide-open valley with sprawling ranches and the winding Laramie River. It feels like you've stepped back in time about fifty years.
Wildlife and Nature
Keep your camera ready because the wildlife sightings on this stretch are pretty frequent. It's common to see mule deer grazing near the road in the mornings and evenings. However, the real stars of the show are the moose.
The Red Feather area has a very healthy moose population, and they love the marshy willow bogs that you'll pass along the way. If you see a group of cars pulled over, there's a 90% chance they're looking at a moose. Just remember that they're way bigger than they look and can be surprisingly grumpy, so give them plenty of space.
In the fall, the aspen trees along the road turn a brilliant gold. It's a popular spot for "leaf peepers," but because the road is long, you can usually find a quiet corner to take photos without twenty other people in the frame.
Seasonal Access and Timing
It's important to remember that this isn't a year-round road. The Forest Service typically closes the gates on red feather lakes deadman road once the heavy snow starts to fly—usually in late November—and they don't open them back up until the ground dries out in late spring or early summer, often around mid-June.
If you try to go too early in the season, you might run into "seasonal closure" signs. They do this to protect the road from being torn up when it's muddy and to keep people from getting stuck in deep snow drifts that linger in the shadows. Always check the Roosevelt National Forest road status page before you make the trek up there in the shoulder seasons.
A Few Tips for the Trip
If you're planning to spend the day exploring, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Fuel up in town: There's gas in Red Feather Lakes village, but once you hit the dirt on Deadman, there's nothing. Make sure you've got a full tank.
- Download your maps: Cell service is basically non-existent once you get a few miles past the village. Use an app like Gaia GPS or download offline maps on Google so you don't take a wrong turn down a logging road.
- Pack for all weather: Even in July, it can get chilly at 10,000 feet. A sunny afternoon can turn into a hail storm in about fifteen minutes. Bring layers and a rain jacket.
- Spare tire check: It's a rocky road. Make sure your spare is aired up and you know where your jack is. Getting a flat out there isn't the end of the world, but it's a lot easier to deal with if you're prepared.
Driving the red feather lakes deadman road is a classic Colorado experience. It's dusty, it's bumpy, and it might make your truck rattle a bit, but the views and the sense of solitude you find at the top make every bit of it worth the effort. Whether you're there for the lookout tower, the camping, or just to see where the road ends, it's a trip that never really gets old.