We searched far and wide. We used Google when we could, and when we didn't have any cell service, we pulled off the road whenever we could and scoped out possible roads and trails from where we could see. We saw plenty of possible trails, but every trail we tried, it was either just a regular county road, a road to a private campsite, a road to a scout camp, or a driveway. We also ran into lots of traffic around Mount Evans, and while we contemplated driving up there, we knew the traffic would be even worse than it already was, so we passed. 

We drove for a few more miles before turning around and heading back to Idaho Springs, in hopes of getting some food and walking around a bit. Idaho Springs was a Labor Day zoo! Someone in a Volkswagen minivan from the 1990s almost took out my dirtbike on the back rack, and someone in a little Chevy Impala thought it was a good idea to pull out right in front of us, brake-checking my dad in the process, all within 15 feet in a parking lot. It was enough to make us call it a day, and we headed out of the mountains in one piece.