From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. Take your first right thru the round-a-bout on to North Frontage Road (you will now be traveling on the north side of the interstate). At Red Sandstone Road (.5 miles), turn right, and follow the paved road until about 0.7 miles. Just before the sharp curve to the right – the dirt road you need to take will be straight ahead, turn here. There should be a large green Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here). Continue for about 2.7 miles to a fork in the road at Lost Lake Road (#786). Do not turn right – Keep left here to stay on Red Sandstone Road. Around mile 6.5 you will pass Red and White Mtn Road/FSR 734 which forks to the left – Stay straight. At mile 6.7 you will pass another fork to the left for Muddy Pass/Moniger Road. Stay straight. When you are just over two miles from the ranch, you will cross a small bridge over Piney River. Follow the road as it curves to the right, where you will see a sign for Piney Lake two miles ahead. You will reach a Forest Service parking lot on the right at mile 10.65 before the entrance to Piney River Ranch. If you are only hiking, we request you park in this lot. The trailhead is on the north side of the parking lot (left side of the parking lot as one faces the Piney River Ranch entrance). If visiting the ranch, you may drive further to our parking lot.