dan3jeeps

I'll be heading out to the St Elmo and Leadville areas in a couple weeks. How's the snow conditions (if any) on the higher elevation trails?

Thanks!

Mark Doiron

This is a good site to keep an eye on when headed to CO ...

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<BR>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

jpjunkie

I'm headed that way in July. Please post any conditions you find. I'm hoping Mosquito Pass will be open by then.

MangoWilly

Thanks a ton for posting this. I love to use traildamage.com and the funtreks books but havent found anything with much accuracy of when trails will open. Been out exploring and have encountered nearly a dozen locked gates in the past couple weeks :(

dan3jeeps

[QUOTE... Been out exploring and have encountered nearly a dozen locked gates in the past couple weeks :([/QUOTE]

+1

I was all set to do the McAllister Gulch/Ptarmigan Pass last year in June from Shrine Pass coming in from Redcliff. Seasonal gate was still closed. What a let down. Not sure if snow was still an issue or if something more sinister (local politics) were at fault. It killed my idea of wheeling that gorgeous area that day. I WILL be trying it again this summer though.

junoh

+1

I was all set to do the McAllister Gulch/Ptarmigan Pass last year in June from Shrine Pass coming in from Redcliff. Seasonal gate was still closed. What a let down. Not sure if snow was still an issue or if something more sinister (local politics) were at fault. It killed my idea of wheeling that gorgeous area that day. I WILL be trying it again this summer though. [/QUOTE]

Shrine pass is open, at least from the i-70 side. I'll check it out soon, but we still have a lot of snow up high. Looking back I usually run McAllister Gultch mid July.

dan3jeeps

The fella who runs the General Store in St Elmo indicated last Saturday (June 28) that Tin Cup, Cumberland, Tomichi, Handc-ck Passes were all still snowed in. Also wheeling Grizzly and Lake Pomeroy Trails you would encounter snow blockage as well.

tschingeck

Went to Webster Pass today. Still snowed in.

Mstef3

A friend and I are planning to be there on the Aug. 24, 25 and 26. We plan on starting from Lake City the morning of the 24 on Engineer Pass have lunch in Silverton then do Ophir Pass in the afternoon. Make camp at Alta Lakes that night. The 25, start out on Imogene Pass from Telluride in morning have lunch in Ouray then Black Bear Pass in the afternoon (if weather permits). If we make it do a little site seeing in Telluride Then take Last Dollar Road out and make camp along it. The 26, do a little sight seeing then head back by way of Cinnamon Pass and try to make it to Salida.

I know it's a lot of driving, my family and i flew out in June for a little recon of the area so we had been through the towns now I have to do the passes.

Does anyone know if your aloud to make camp along the trails (in a pull off area) as long as you stay near the trail? Or the camp site, like Alta Lakes. Are they first come or do you have to reserve them? Any tips will help, thanks.

Silverubicon

We went to Taylor Pass from Aspen yesterday; at 12,300ft there was still pockets of snow here and there. But 99% clear.