CO Route 317, Telluride to Crystal Mill
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
CO Route 317, Telluride to Crystal Mill - Schofield Pass
Has anyone run the trail/route from Crested Butte to Crystal Mill, aka Schofield Pass? I am looking for info for a trip I am planning in July, and most of what I have read is the pass is pretty tough. Any info would be appreciated!!
Thanks
JH
Thanks
JH
Last edited by Jhsmith; Jun 8, 2017 at 07:20 AM.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
From: Alb., NM
Schofiled Pass Crested Butte to Cyrstal, Marble CO.
Schofield pass is not a really technical trail but it is a very narrow trail in several areas.
A lot of Razors run this trail also. This can cause delays in the narrow section of the Devil’s Punch bowl.
I have done this trail several time both ways. I wouldn't say it easier eitherway.
If you are going from Crested Butte to Gothic to Crystal Mill you will be driving it downhill.
The sections that you need to be cautious around is in the area name the Devils Punch Bowl. There is a very narrow 1 mile section above the punch bowl. This area has a small area around the middle that allows for some passing room. This is by a big boulder in the middle of the trail. I would say that 2 Jeeps (maybe 3 MAX) could squeeze a side to let others pass. I would highly suggest having someone walk down to this point and help direct traffic. You will need radio’s. It would be even a better idea to have them go all the way down to just above the punch bowl. This way they can help control traffic on the narrow section. Stopping anyone coming up at the bridge is the best place to control traffic. The bridge area has a pull out which can fit several Jeeps, maybe 4-5 max.
Below the bridge there is another section maybe ¾-1 mile long that is also very narrow. You should have someone direct traffic at the corner on this. It should be obvious where to have people do this once you are there and walk that trail.
By the Devils Punch bowl there is an area that is base rock that can get slippery when wet. Other than that it shouldn’t cause issues if you are careful. This is the area that has had the vehicle’s slip over the edge into the stream, ie, the Devils Punch Bowl.
There are cliff jumpers and even kayakers that play in this area which can be fun to watch.
I have a couple video’s on you tube if you want to lookat them. Under JKJeepit.
A lot of Razors run this trail also. This can cause delays in the narrow section of the Devil’s Punch bowl.
I have done this trail several time both ways. I wouldn't say it easier eitherway.
If you are going from Crested Butte to Gothic to Crystal Mill you will be driving it downhill.
The sections that you need to be cautious around is in the area name the Devils Punch Bowl. There is a very narrow 1 mile section above the punch bowl. This area has a small area around the middle that allows for some passing room. This is by a big boulder in the middle of the trail. I would say that 2 Jeeps (maybe 3 MAX) could squeeze a side to let others pass. I would highly suggest having someone walk down to this point and help direct traffic. You will need radio’s. It would be even a better idea to have them go all the way down to just above the punch bowl. This way they can help control traffic on the narrow section. Stopping anyone coming up at the bridge is the best place to control traffic. The bridge area has a pull out which can fit several Jeeps, maybe 4-5 max.
Below the bridge there is another section maybe ¾-1 mile long that is also very narrow. You should have someone direct traffic at the corner on this. It should be obvious where to have people do this once you are there and walk that trail.
By the Devils Punch bowl there is an area that is base rock that can get slippery when wet. Other than that it shouldn’t cause issues if you are careful. This is the area that has had the vehicle’s slip over the edge into the stream, ie, the Devils Punch Bowl.
There are cliff jumpers and even kayakers that play in this area which can be fun to watch.
I have a couple video’s on you tube if you want to lookat them. Under JKJeepit.
Last edited by jedg; Jun 9, 2017 at 06:24 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Thanks for the info!! I will be running it by myself and my daughter, so not sure no being able to have someone head downtrail to help with traffic. Should I pass on this, and plan for another time then, with more people?
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 2,089
From: Willow Park, TX
Did you throw some feelers out there in the Colorado staging area? Maybe a local or two would be willing to run it with you. It's dangerous going out anywhere alone....even on things that might seem easy. You never know the circumstance you'll run across.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
Schofield pass is not a really technical trail but it is a very narrow trail in several areas.
A lot of Razors run this trail also. This can cause delays in the narrow section of the Devil’s Punch bowl.
I have done this trail several time both ways. I wouldn't say it easier eitherway.
If you are going from Crested Butte to Gothic to Crystal Mill you will be driving it downhill.
The sections that you need to be cautious around is in the area name the Devils Punch Bowl. There is a very narrow 1 mile section above the punch bowl. This area has a small area around the middle that allows for some passing room. This is by a big boulder in the middle of the trail. I would say that 2 Jeeps (maybe 3 MAX) could squeeze a side to let others pass. I would highly suggest having someone walk down to this point and help direct traffic. You will need radio’s. It would be even a better idea to have them go all the way down to just above the punch bowl. This way they can help control traffic on the narrow section. Stopping anyone coming up at the bridge is the best place to control traffic. The bridge area has a pull out which can fit several Jeeps, maybe 4-5 max.
Below the bridge there is another section maybe ¾-1 mile long that is also very narrow. You should have someone direct traffic at the corner on this. It should be obvious where to have people do this once you are there and walk that trail.
By the Devils Punch bowl there is an area that is base rock that can get slippery when wet. Other than that it shouldn’t cause issues if you are careful. This is the area that has had the vehicle’s slip over the edge into the stream, ie, the Devils Punch Bowl.
There are cliff jumpers and even kayakers that play in this area which can be fun to watch.
I have a couple video’s on you tube if you want to lookat them. Under JKJeepit.
A lot of Razors run this trail also. This can cause delays in the narrow section of the Devil’s Punch bowl.
I have done this trail several time both ways. I wouldn't say it easier eitherway.
If you are going from Crested Butte to Gothic to Crystal Mill you will be driving it downhill.
The sections that you need to be cautious around is in the area name the Devils Punch Bowl. There is a very narrow 1 mile section above the punch bowl. This area has a small area around the middle that allows for some passing room. This is by a big boulder in the middle of the trail. I would say that 2 Jeeps (maybe 3 MAX) could squeeze a side to let others pass. I would highly suggest having someone walk down to this point and help direct traffic. You will need radio’s. It would be even a better idea to have them go all the way down to just above the punch bowl. This way they can help control traffic on the narrow section. Stopping anyone coming up at the bridge is the best place to control traffic. The bridge area has a pull out which can fit several Jeeps, maybe 4-5 max.
Below the bridge there is another section maybe ¾-1 mile long that is also very narrow. You should have someone direct traffic at the corner on this. It should be obvious where to have people do this once you are there and walk that trail.
By the Devils Punch bowl there is an area that is base rock that can get slippery when wet. Other than that it shouldn’t cause issues if you are careful. This is the area that has had the vehicle’s slip over the edge into the stream, ie, the Devils Punch Bowl.
There are cliff jumpers and even kayakers that play in this area which can be fun to watch.
I have a couple video’s on you tube if you want to lookat them. Under JKJeepit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFjr3hSzEu4&t=511s
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
From: Alb., NM
if you want a even pretty trail do Pearl Pass from Crested Butte to Aspen..
You could also probably find a group to jump in with in Crested Butte.
make sure the trails are open with as much snow that Colorado got this year they may take awhile to open.
Here's a good link for status.
Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<br>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates
Trending Topics
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
From: Alb., NM
Thanks for that info. I have some friends who will be running it in a week or two pulling trailers, so the detail on numbers of vehicles should prove useful to them. Oh, and they're experienced overlanders. Only people to have ever pulled trailers up Blanca Peak ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFjr3hSzEu4&t=511s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFjr3hSzEu4&t=511s
I've seen that video you posted also.
Blanco peak is still on my list to do...
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Jhsmith- did you do Schofield? We were there last week and went a ways back in it from the Crested Butte side, but we had learned from the previous day on Pearl that you shouldn't be alone on these trails, so we turned around when the trail got really narrow (it's actually narrow from the start). Plus I already have enough brush stripes on the side of my Jeep and it was really brushy. A few years ago we also took my old stock TJ on it from Marble (I think it was Marble) but we didn't make it far from that side either.
Last edited by MikeOK; Aug 30, 2017 at 06:45 AM.