You can access the roadless area from Frey Gulch Road near the ski area or from the Tenderfoot Mountain Trailhead off County Road 51. The trailhead parking lot is found just past the Dillon Water Treatment Facility. The trail runs 2.5 miles round trip, gaining 545 feet in elevation along the way. You'll have dramatic views of the reservoir below as you pass through aspen, lodgepole pine and spruce forests. The trail officially ends at 9,885 feet, well below Tenderfoot Mountain's 11,444-foot summit, but a faint, unmaintained trail used by wildlife and the occasional hiker leads a little farther into the forest before leaving you to navigate completely on your own.
White River National Forest allows backpackers to set up camp on durable surfaces such as packed dirt or rock as long as you are not making new impacts on the environment. Pitch your tent a minimum of 100 feet from the Tenderfoot Mountain Trail or any water sources. Designated roadless areas do not have regulations as stringent as those of wilderness areas, but you will need to bring a backpacking stove or use a firepan or mound-fire technique to cook food. Pack in your own water and pack out your trash. Use a human waste disposal system to remove waste and toilet paper in a sanitary fashion, or bury your waste 6 to 8 inches below the surface, taking care not to disturb the rare plant life found in the area. Toilet paper must be packed out if you choose the second option.
Enjoy the trail during the day and camp with more amenities in the evening at one of Dillon Reservoir's five family campgrounds. The east end of the lake nearest Keystone is home to Lowry Campground, with 24 reservable sites with electrical hookups for RVs up to 32 feet, as well as four walk-in tent sites. Electric hookups and wheelchair-accessible facilities are also available at Heaton Bay on the western end of the reservoir. Pine bark beetle infestation in the area has required the removal of many trees in the campgrounds around the lake, so you may wish to bring a shade canopy.
Tenderfoot Mountain Roadless Area can be accessed any time of year, but avalanche danger and deep snow are present from December through spring melt. You may wish to carry a pair of traction coils in your pack through late June to help navigate icy spots in the area. Campgrounds at Dillon Reservoir open the week prior to Memorial Day and close the week following Labor Day. Use bear-safe techniques such as packing your food in airtight containers and securing in a wildlife-resistant container at least 100 feet from your tent. Bring more water than you will expect to need, as the arid environment and high altitude will cause you to dehydrate quickly and leave you open to symptoms of altitude sickness.
