Trip
Hiking – Geneva Creek Iron Fens
We will hike to Clear Creek County open space of the Unique Geneva Fen, very unique acidic stream flowing over terraced rocks. We will then hike uphill, approximately 500 ft gain, including 1/4 mi use trail thru bushes to an old road & 360 degree view of nearby mountains. If desired one can hike to the old mine.
Contacts
- Mon, Aug 11, 2025
- Denver
- Hiking
- Adults
- Moderate
- Moderate
- Mileage: 9.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,800 ft
- High Point Elevation: 11,400 ft
- Pace: 1.5 -2mph, pace will be slow to moderate, uphill 45min mi, 1.5mph flat terrain, downhill faster
- 5 (8 capacity)
- FULL (3 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Iron fen begins with a series of the creek water flowing over highly fractured, highly mineralized bedrock rich in pyrites producing extremely acidic (pH3), mineral rich water.
Plan on a full day trip, maybe returning as late as 6-7pm.
meet at 7am at the Fort Restaurant. Park at the first parking lot on hwy 8 before the turn into the restaurant parking lot. DEPART PROMPTLY AT 7:15PM
We will drive hwy 285 to Grant CO, then turn right and drive approximately 10 mi up Guenella Pass Rd. We will park at the Shelf Lake trailhead parking lot. This is a very rough road, about 3 mi, with lots of potholes. A Subaru Outback or similar vehicle can drive this road slowly. True 4wheel drive is not needed. Drive from Denver up takes nearly 2 hr.
We will be walking a dirt road, except for about 1/4mi where we will bushwack steeply uphill from 1 road to another.
Required Equipment
Trekking poles may be beneficial for the 1/4 mi uphill bushwack.