What is road like off Crooked Creek Pass east'ish towards Peter Estin Hut area?

[jibler]

FS road 416 ?

I seem to be hearing conflicting versions of what road is like in the summer.

Wondering if I may be driving up it or walking it up on quest to hit Fools Peak (+ Eagle ideally).

Any info welcome. Thanks.

[Chicago Transplant]

Generally when dry the road is fine. There are a few points on the Eagle side that are a little rocky, so depending on what you drive and the condition of your tire you may need to take it slow. If it gets really muddy it can be slick near the pass, I drove over it late fall once when there was some snow/mud near the pass in my Outback with Blizzaks and was worried about traction.

[kaiman]

I'm not sure what your objectives are (which route you are hiking/climbing) but most people hiking or climbing Fools Peak drive the 2WD Road from Brush Creek/Eagle to the Fulford Cave Campground and hike the the Lake Charles trail for 4-5 miles to Lake Charles or Mystic Lake and then start their summit bids from there. The last mile to the campground is narrow and a bit rough, requiring some clearance, but still 2WD.

FSR 416, also known as the Hat Creek Road, starts beyond this and is usually used as part of a loop by mountain bikers or jeepers going over Crooked Creek Pass in the summer or by skiers going to the Peter Estin Hut in the winter. It's been 7-8 years since I've been in this area, but I remember the Crooked Creek Pass Loop road being mostly 2WD with some spots that required a bit of clearance, but no real 4WD sections. There are also a few spots that can get rutted after it rains, so I wouldn't take a low-clearance vehicle (car) up there unless it was a Subaru or the like, or just avoid it after it rains as it looks like it could get pretty slick and muddy.

Regardless, if you come in from the Eagle side, you really don't need to drive this section unless you are doing the loop and will be fine in a 2WD vehicle with some clearance.

Here is a map of the routes off the Lake Charles Trail and also a link to the Summit Post page on Fool's Peak:

http://www.summitpost.org/lake-charles/158922

Fool's Peak.jpg

[jibler]

I'm not sure what your objectives are (which route you are hiking/climbing) but most people hiking or climbing Fools Peak drive the 2WD Road from Brush Creek/Eagle to the Fulford Cave Campground and hike the the Lake Charles trail for 4-5 miles to Lake Charles or Mystic Lake and then start their summit bids from there. The last mile to the campground is narrow and a bit rough, requiring some clearance, but still 2WD.

FSR 416, also known as the Hat Creek Road, starts beyond this and is usually used as part of a loop by mountain bikers or jeepers going over Crooked Creek Pass in the summer or by skiers going to the Peter Estin Hut in the winter. It's been 7-8 years since I've been in this area, but I remember the Crooked Creek Pass Loop road being mostly 2WD with some spots that required a bit of clearance, but no real 4WD sections. There are also a few spots that can get rutted after it rains, so I wouldn't take a low-clearance vehicle (car) up there unless it was a Subaru or the like, or just avoid it after it rains as it looks like it could get pretty slick and muddy.

Regardless, if you come in from the Eagle side, you really don't need to drive this section unless you are doing the loop and will be fine in a 2WD vehicle with some clearance.

Here is a map of the routes off the Lake Charles Trail and also a link to the Summit Post page on Fool's Peak:

http://www.summitpost.org/lake-charles/158922

Fool's Peak.jpg

Thanks for responses. I've been scouting out an approach via google earth to just either head up that Hat Creek Road (via foot or car depending) heading right up past the Hut and hit that whole ridge out towards Fool and Eagle Peaks.

Seems pretty straightforward - if not a little cheating due to starting from ridge rather than below by Fulford cave (or Woods Lake) approaches.

[DaveLanders]

I drove from Crooked Creek Pass up to the Estin Hut parking lot last summer; it was no big deal. There is a good trail that goes past Charles Benchmark and heads towards Fools Pk; I think this is the trail marked as the Lake Charles trail on your map.

[jibler]

I drove from Crooked Creek Pass up to the Estin Hut parking lot last summer; it was no big deal. There is a good trail that goes past Charles Benchmark and heads towards Fools Pk; I think this is the trail marked as the Lake Charles trail on your map.

word.

I need a quick simple outing to get back and meet family the next day. This seems like it could be just the one.

I'm trying to think something simple and cool to do the night before - I hit this area few yrs ago and went along Red Mtn a ways.

Might just hike up behind Woods lake I suppose - but I was hearing talk of there being powerlines and/or infrastructure back there?