High Park Road and Colorado Highway 9 were originally trails that connected the ranches and farms of the mountain parklands west of Cripple Creek to Cañon City. The Currant Creek Trail followed the route of present-day Colorado Highway 9. Well-traveled by American Indians moving between the Arkansas River and South Park, this trail became an important route for mountain men, explorers, and eventually people and freight headed for the mining camps of Leadville and South Park.

To settlers, the grassy meadows of High Park seemed ideal for raising cattle and horses. However, ranching and farming proved to be challenging occupations here. Settlers endured summer drought, harsh winters, unpredictable markets, rustlers, and isolation. With the gold boom in Cripple Creek, ranchers and farmers enjoyed a convenient market for their products, bringing renewed prosperity to the region.

In 1897, the Fremont County Cattlegrowers Protective Association formed, allowing ranchers to work together on common problems and share information on important issues. Today, a few of the original ranches remain as a testament to the tenacity of early settlers who carved out a living in this beautiful but demanding landscape.

The 5,000-acre Deer Haven Ranch includes lands that were once part of the Switzer Ranch. Homesteaded in the early 1870s, this was one of the first cattle ranches in Fremont County. The ranch operated continuously for over a century, providing beef and other products to local markets and the mining communities to the north.

In 1992, the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Conservation Fund donated Deer Haven Ranch to the Bureau of Land Management to protect and enhance its rich wildlife habitat. The ranch provides critical habitat for elk, mule deer, wild turkey, and numerous other species that thrive in the transition zone between the plains and the mountains.

Historic structures on the ranch include the one-room Wilson Creek Schoolhouse and several buildings and foundations associated with ranching operations. Visitors can explore trails through the property and observe the wildlife that now flourishes in this protected landscape.

In 1896, prospectors founded the Bare Hills Mining District in this area. Promoters selling lots declared Bare Hills City "the future great town" of the area because it was "surrounded by veins... assaying high in gold" with "the whole formation being the same as the gold belt of Cripple Creek." Soon, people flooded into the area, including some reputable investors eager to stake their claims.

The 1898 Colorado State Mining Directory lists fourteen mining companies in the Bare Hills District, reflecting the initial optimism that swept through the region. However, the initial enthusiasm died as the promoters' claims proved to be more dream than reality. The gold deposits were not nearly as rich as those in Cripple Creek, and within a few years only a few families remained.

Today, the area is part of a cattle ranch and private property. The story of Bare Hills City serves as a reminder that not every gold rush town struck it rich, and that many hopeful communities faded away as quickly as they appeared.

A young cowboy arrived in the Fourmile area of Teller County in 1915. "Booger Red" he was called because of his thick red hair and his ornery nature toward others. He worked many of the ranches in the area, earning a reputation as a hard worker despite his difficult temperament.

While working in the valley, Booger Red met a rancher's daughter named Ruth Hall. The two developed a friendship during his time working the local spreads. In the fall of 1918, Red contracted Spanish Influenza during the devastating pandemic that swept across the world. He died around the age of 22, one of millions claimed by the disease.

Ruth suggested he be buried near Texas Hill, and the location became known as Booger Red Hill in his memory. The site stands as a poignant reminder of both the hardworking cowboys who built the West and the terrible toll of the 1918 pandemic on rural communities.

This building has been a focal point for local agricultural programs and social events since its construction in 1911 by members of the surrounding community. It was built of lumber milled at a sawmill just down the road and was first called the High Park Dance Hall, as it was built to host bi-monthly dances for the scattered ranching families of the area.

In 1926, the Four Mile Farmers Club organized the first Four Mile Fair here. Known to many in the region as "The Best Little Fair in Colorado," the Four Mile Fair consistently drew large crowds to enjoy the many exhibits of livestock, produce, and crafts until it ended during World War II. The fair was a highlight of the year for farming and ranching families throughout the region.

Today, this building hosts dances, meetings, and a variety of other events for area residents. It remains an important gathering place for the community, continuing a tradition of bringing neighbors together that spans more than a century.

Palmer Land Trust has conserved over 3,500 acres along the Gold Belt Scenic Byway, one of the country's premier scenic byways. The conserved lands contain impressive topography and a variety of ecosystem types spanning elevations from 6,900 feet to 10,000 feet. The area offers views of the back side of Pikes Peak, world-class rock climbing, and the valley floor of Fourmile Creek.

A variety of habitat types flourish here, including riparian shrubland, irrigated pasture, ponderosa pine woodland, piñon-juniper woodland, and montane grasslands. These diverse habitats provide homes to bighorn sheep, wild turkey, black bear, mule deer, mountain lion, and numerous bird species. Historically, the area has been used for ranching, and some properties still remain productive today for rotational grazing and irrigated hay meadows.

Recreationists flock to the area to take advantage of the scenic open space for hiking, biking, and fishing. The conservation efforts along the byway address all these attractions: Colorado's farming and ranching heritage, open spaces and scenic vistas, public access to recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat preservation for future generations.