First Colorado Trip
Posted by ky13rl@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 24 comments
So I leave from missouri, Saturday, and have to be back the following sunday. Ive done some trips out east, but never Colorado. Here's what I have planned so far, and was wondering what your guys input is, or if I should change things up. Id like to add some of the alpine loop if its open, I know Imogen and engineer is apparently closed. What do you guys think?
SignificantOption349@reddit
I’ll be honest, we made a trip to the San Juan’s last year and it rained a ton while we were there…. We were unable to get up a lot of the trails just due to mud. However, there’s some shorter trails that we were fine and we got some good camping spots and stayed at the hot springs there which was pretty nice.
I think it was the million dollar road that we did which was lower elevation and easier but definitely doable if you can get to it on a sunny, dry day. It poured on us enough that we were sliding all over this road on the way up a hill and it actually got kinda sketchy.
I agree with others that the San Juan’s would be more worth while, but if you’re really wanting the off roading part of things then maybe the cripple creek thing isn’t a bad idea? I haven’t been down there recently enough to know what trails are like. All I know is that the San Juan’s are cool as hell, and I need to go back.
Currently looks like cinnamon and engineer pass are open but will have snowy and muddy conditions… so just know it might make for a helluva day. I guess a lot of this depends on what you’re driving too.
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
But yeah the muddy c9nditions dont bother me at all. Its the actually being able to get through everything that is more important. I grew up mudding and trail riding, but in larger lifted trucks.
Present-Delivery4906@reddit
Ehhhh.....muddy and snowy on flat terrain is one thing... Steep. Off camber exposed shelf roads.... Dramatically different. Don't do those alone.
Present-Delivery4906@reddit
Also, keep in mind... It can STILL snow at that elevation... Even into early June. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE WEATHER.
SignificantOption349@reddit
Yep. We were spinning our wheels and sliding close to the edge a couple times. I wanted to turn around but that wasn’t gonna happen in a truck on that road. It was sketchy
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
Im driving a stock height 95 dakota lol
ghetto_headache@reddit
I live very close to the first loop you’re referring to. It’s a beautiful drive but not worth a trip out here.
How long will you be out here?
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
Isn't most of the san juans fucked with snow right now?
Balooz@reddit
No. Nothing is fcked with snow
ghetto_headache@reddit
A surprising amount is open for how early in the year it is. But ya I don’t think it’s all open. Normally, it’s not open until July. We had a really bad winter this year
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
Updated route? What do you all think? Think I could leave this sunday and be back to missouri by Saturday night?
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
Its averaging 80 miles a day, that seems doable. But I dont want to rush shit. I want to be able to stop and fish and do stuff like that.
Love_Rocket_650@reddit
Have a look at Owl Creek Pass and Taylor Park area, you can also check out Los Pinos Pass into Lake City. All of those areas will be snow free, Cumberland might be snowed in still but shouldn't be with our weak snowpack. Kebler / Ohio Creek outside of Crested Butte are also pretty and will be open by now. Cinnamon will be open before Engineers, and if its too snowy on California and Engineers You should be able to work your way down into Eureka / Silverton and then take Red Mountain Pass (paved) up and over into Ouray.
fffff_fffff_fffff@reddit
I’d skip the trails near Colorado Springs and go straight to the San Juan’s. They’re a solid 5ish hours apart
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
I thought the majority of it was snowed out?
royhurford@reddit
This is the worst snow year on record. A lot of trails are now open.
royhurford@reddit
Alpine loop is open. Go from Silverton to Lake City. I am actually planning on driving that route this weekend, so hit me up if you want me to check out anything for you.
drewforty@reddit
I’d do Medano and Aspen Ridge since you’re coming from the east. They’re lower altitude and I imagine they’re open already but I haven’t looked. Also Ouray County runs a good social media page with daily trail statuses this time of year. Stuff will open earlier this year but we’re still several weeks ahead of schedule and some stuff will prob be closed for a bit longer.
refotsirk@reddit
There is some cool easy stuff with lots of neat rock formations on the west side of shelf road
s061ad1HaveAuserNam3@reddit
Old stage / gold camp to cripple creek and phantom canyon shelf road are pretty. But they're just dirt roads. There's some actual 4x4 stuff adjacent to there but you'll legit see like Toyota camrys and Honda civics comfortable on those roads.
They're all neat but won't scratch your itch if you were looking for something where you get to use lockers or crawl rocks or something.
La salle pass is a fun one near there that's more entertaining. Still pretty easy.
If you want to really pucker up. Rainbow falls ohv area has mini moab.
Then there's all the stuff between the san Juan's and here. Like down by poncha springs and monarch.
That old stage to cripple creek takes a good part of an afternoon to do. And phantom creek shelf is about an hour.
Have fun. Stay safe. And remember we're in a drought here. Camp Fire is a no no for now until rains come and fix that.
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
How long do you think the first route i listed before the San juans would take to drive? If I just stuck to the dirt road portions of it for the scenic drive out there?
pallidamors@reddit
Generally speaking I agree with you, but for someone who’s never actually seen Gold camp and Phantom Canyon it’s a great little loop, and it takes you back to Highway 50 which will eventually get you into the San Juans. It’s not the worst idea.
ky13rl@reddit (OP)
Id love to do some crazy offloading, but im stuck to mild. I have a stock height 95 dakota. I have not had the privilege of solid axle swapping it. So mild is my best bet. No crawling 😂
MojaveMac@reddit
There’s some really cool stuff around Cañon city. Just north of town, off shelf road, is Red Canyon Park, Oil Well Flats, and Dinosaur Flats. Some of my favorite dispersed camping is in this area. It’s mountainous, but arid and has cactus and cool desert vibes (which is unique on the Colorado front range). Then south of town, there’s Temple
canyon road, which takes you to the backside of the Royal Gorge. The people talking shit about this area on this subreddit haven’t taken the time to truly explore the area.