Posted By: mcookhines Info: I highly recommend parking at Halfmoon East campground. Up until there, the road is snowy, but generally flat and well packed out. I went as far as Emerald Lake Picnic Area (in a small AWD truck/SUV thing with all-weather tires and plenty of snow-driving experience), and had serious trouble getting back up the first hill on my way out. We weren’t the only ones who got stuck that day, either. Learned my lesson and plan to purchase chains asap. Parking and walking the extra mile would have been way faster. | ||||
Posted By: aholle88 Info: Road is snow covered the whole way from where it turns to dirt. The snow ruts/tire tracks get deeper further on, but I did make it to the trailhead in my Impreza Friday night. Wouldnt recommend it in that low of a car though. It was risky at best and I decided to go to the south TH this morning to avoid driving the road again. Nobody had pulled into the upper lot as of last night, deep snow there but parking on the side of the road by the TH is an option. | ||||
Posted By: jbferree Info: A dirt/gravel road for the last few miles to get to the parking lot but it was maintained and any car can do it. No snow remaining anywhere. I arrived at 4:45am on a Tuesday and there were maybe 10 cars there so plenty of parking. I assume on the weekend it is much tougher but there is room to park on the side of the road approaching the trailhead as well. The beginning of the trail is in the trees so make sure you have a headlamp if starting early. I met a few people without one who were just relying on others having them. Two vault toilets available at trailhead but no hand sanitizer. | ||||
Posted By: Jirwindisc Info: Road to NorthEast trailhead was completely clear up till 7:30 pm on 5/11/2023. Could have driven any car up there at that time. Some snow at the parking lot sides, and snow started up road after first 1/4 mile. Didn’t need Snowshoes till 1.75 miles in. | ||||
Posted By: dmgilmour Info: To Halfmoon West should be doable with AWD, to Elbert TH might be, we didn’t get the chance to try. Road is probably thawed for the first half of the dirt road and the rest should be manageable for any AWD car. Parked near the Halfmoon West campground, couldn’t continue to the Elbert TH because a car was parked in the middle of the road, though the conditions didn’t look much worse than the rest of the road. When we parked our car got a bit stuck, but a shovel was all we needed to get it out. | ||||
Posted By: eastcoast14er Info: Beautifully maintained 5 mile dirt road leading up to the trailhead (Mount Massive trailhead is just 0.5 miles further up the road). Arrived at the trailhead parking lot at 5:15 AM and the car in front of me grabbed the last of the ~30 spots. Ended up parking along the road just 100’ from the parking lot entrance. Plenty of dispersed spots available. Bathrooms available at trailhead. | ||||
Posted By: GuiGirard Info: A lot of work went into this road recently, unfortunately it receives high traffic and potholes are starting to show up in numbers. Nothing of an issue even for a 2WD vehicle but caution is advised, and driving fast is not advised (your Taco/Jeep will likely survive unscathed but the road will take a hit). The 15 MPH speed limit signs are posted for a reason. Careful about where to park whenever the Elbert lot is full. Lots of no parking signs along the road (as well as no camping/no fires at places). The FS/county (?) clearly spent a good amount of $ on this (and road upgrades) recently so they might wanna consider recoup some of the costs. Don’t be that fool who is going to get a ticket! The Forest Service was out there working on some fencing along the road near the Half-moon Campground. My first visit to this road in 10 years, and the overcrowding of dispersed camping sites is showing. Please be careful where you drive/camp and leave sites sparkling clean when "checking out". I had to do some cleanup at the dispersed campsite where I stayed, which was left littered. Let’s all work not to turn this area into the next Aspen (ie, only camp at designated places). | ||||
Posted By: madups1 Info: Arrived around 6:30am. Most of the main spots were taken and didn’t want box anyone in, so just parked on the road. No issues. | ||||
Posted By: Carrion3 Info: Completed a there and back to the summit of Elbert. 1. Trail Head is open. (Parked at the trail head) 2. Trail was cleared enough and easy to follow. (Yak-trak for sure) 3. At about 11,000 lots of snow. (Was frozen in the early AM) 4. Once you clear the tree line, smooth sailing. 5. Trail is very easy to follow the rest of the way. Expect 3 false summits.. 6. When descending back to tree line expect, lots and lots of post-holes. (up to my waist on the return) the post holes added another 30 to 45 minutes. (Not sure snow shoes will help) All in all. The trail head is open 5.2 from the start of the trail head to the summit. Round trip distance 10.4 miles from the trail head. 4300 feet of elevation gain. 4.5 hours up and 3.5 hours down. Good Luck | ||||
Posted By: Carrion3 Info: Completed a there and back to the summit of Elbert. 1. Trail Head is open. (Parked at the trail head) 2. Trail was cleared enough and easy to follow. (Yak-trak for sure) 3. At about 11,000 lots of snow. (Was frozen in the early AM) 4. Once you clear the tree line, smooth sailing. 5. Trail is very easy to follow the rest of the way. Expect 3 false summits.. 6. When descending back to tree line expect, lots and lots of post-holes. (up to my waist on the return) the post holes added another 30 to 45 minutes. (Not sure snow shoes will help) All in all. The trail head is open 5.2 from the start of the trail head to the summit. Round trip distance 10.4 miles from the trail head. 4300 feet of elevation gain. 4.5 hours up and 3.5 hours down. Good Luck | ||||
Posted By: Carrion3 Info: Completed a there and back to the summit of Elbert. 1. Trail Head is open. (Parked at the trail head) 2. Trail was cleared enough and easy to follow. (Yak-trak for sure) 3. At about 11,000 lots of snow. (Was frozen in the early AM) 4. Once you clear the tree line, smooth sailing. 5. Trail is very easy to follow the rest of the way. Expect 3 false summits.. 6. When descending back to tree line expect, lots and lots of post-holes. (up to my waist on the return) the post holes added another 30 to 45 minutes. (Not sure snow shoes will help) All in all. The trail head is open 5.2 from the start of the trail head to the summit. Round trip distance 10.4 miles from the trail head. 4300 feet of elevation gain. 4.5 hours up and 3.5 hours down. Good Luck | ||||
Posted By: Eagle Eye Info: Here about a month later, pretty much the same conditions I posted in early November; some sections of well-packed snow (and minor ice underneath) on the road, especially in the last couple of miles. But the road is still open and so this applies to the Mt Elbert (North) TH on the Halfmoon Creek Road as well. The Mt Massive TH parking area is completely dry. | ||||
Posted By: summit21 Info: TH closed at the west Halfmoon Creek Campground, adding 2 miles RT to the NE Ridge hike. | ||||
Posted By: dwoodward13 Info: Road to TH is closed per USFS order until Oct 31st now for construction. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd955559.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd955560.pdf | ||||
Posted By: random-dude Info: Drive is easy and open to any vehicle. The only reason im posting is to note that the bathrooms were locked at the trailhead and the surrounding campgrounds even though the Forest Service site made no mention of it. So, come prepared with whatever you might need for bathroom needs. | ||||
Posted By: dwoodward13 Info: Road to TH is closed per USFS order until September 30th now for construction. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd946371.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd946372.pdf | ||||
Posted By: vinesman Info: Road to trailhead was closed. Had to start from Halfmoon East Camping. RT was about 13 miles. Took my wife and I who are fairly active hikers and fit about 6 hours to complete. | ||||
Posted By: pruzicka67 Info: As reported by others, access to the trailhead parking lot is closed a mile or so down the road, and parking is very limited. We arrived at 3:45am and the closest spots were taken, but we were able to park on the side of the road maybe 75 yards down from the barricades. It paid to get there early because when we got back around noon, cars were parked on the side of the road almost a mile down from the barricades. Not mileage I’d want to add to this climb! | ||||
Posted By: Josh_CO Info: Had planned to hike Mt. Massive but the Half Moon Creek Road is actually closed at the Half Moon West campground so decided to make our day a bit shorter and went up Mt. Elbert instead. If you are heading for EITHER of the two mountains please track down current road conditions as this closure added over a mile to the "normal" Mt. Elbert route. The route itself is in good shape with all the recent rain. At the base, parts of the trail are part-stream/part-trail but once up the first few switchbacks it was clear. Lots of trail maintenance in progress so be watchful for volunteers! | ||||
Posted By: jweber1400 Info: The road to the Elbert NE Ridge trail head is closed due to construction. You can park 1 mile short of the TH, but parking is limited and starts to overflow down the road. No parking is enforced where signs are marked. Other option is the SE Ridge, but that may be farther a drive, it’s a longer hike and may work out to no added benefit. The road work to the Elber TH is done and should hopefully open up soon. I’m told they will move construction barriers back gradually. Honestly, the day we went, the road was great and the parking lot, so not sure why they have not opened it up yet. This impacts Mt Massive East Slope trail head as well. | ||||
Posted By: dwoodward13 Info: Road to TH is closed per USFS order until August 31st now for construction. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd933811.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd933812.pdf | ||||
Posted By: jaredemmons Info: Road to the parking lot is closed. You will have to park about a mile from the trailhead and walk. | ||||
Posted By: Taco14 Info: Road is closed 1.2 miles below the trailhead, 1.7 miles below Mt. Massive trailhead. | ||||
Posted By: metal190 Info: The last mile of the road leading to the North Mt Elbert trailhead is closed due to scheduled road work. Luckily there isn’t a lot of elevation covered in this mile, but it also takes that parking lot out of play. If you’re getting dropped off or already planning to hike from one of the camping spots, not a big deal, but if you planned to park at the trailhead, it may add anywhere from a total of 2 miles round trip to 3 or even 4 miles round trip depending on the crowds when you try to climb. Not a huge added effort, but plan accordingly for time and corresponding water and food. | ||||
Posted By: thebeave7 Info: Confirming the pervious report that the road is in fact still closed and gated off at the campgrounds (1mi from the TH). I talked to the Ranger who informed me it was a construction project gone wrong and would require at least a few more weeks of work (TBD). The road is open to riding/walking to the trailheads, though imagine you could get held up if there on a weekday when work is ongoing. At the closure there are numerous signs designating where one CAN NOT park and the Forest Service was ticketing people parked illegally. There’s plenty of parking down the road on the East bound side. |