St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Trailhead condition requests, questions, alerts, etc.
Forum rules
  • This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
  • Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
  • Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
  • Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
User avatar
IHikeLikeAGirl
Posts: 1006
Joined: 9/5/2007
14ers: 58  6 
13ers: 346
Trip Reports (6)
 

St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by IHikeLikeAGirl »

I have heard rumors that parking is limited within the town of St Elmo and there are many "no parking" signs.

My 4WD is not the spry pup she used to be so, I may be taking a Hyundai roller skate to the town of St Elmo. Since I cannot drive to the Poplar Gulch Trailhead (proper), does anyone know where I could legally park a Hyundai low rider (somewhat near the TH) in St Elmo?

I will be gone for many, many hours and would be quite sad if my car was not where I left it....

- Vee
"Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time."
- Steven Wright
User avatar
Chicago Transplant
Posts: 4069
Joined: 9/7/2004
14ers: 58  12  24 
13ers: 699 46 35
Trip Reports (66)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by Chicago Transplant »

The town gets really overrun with tourists. We were surprised how many people were in town when we were hiking up some random peaks off Tincup Road earlier this year! The parking in town on the roads seems probelmatic, but maybe if you are early enough? If not just before the "main drag" there is a huge ATV/Trailer staging parking lot. We have parked there in winter before to hike peaks up Tincup Road. I think you could find a place for your Hyundai there. Otherwise farther down the road before town is a bathroom on the left and small parking lot. Near the Hancock Road turnoff. Would not be much extra walking, maybe 1/2 mile to town?

The initial hill up out of St Elmo on the Tincup Road that leads to Poplar is unfortunately rocky and steep, so you are correct that you wouldn't make it in a low clearance vehicle.
"We want the unpopular challenge. We want to test our intellect!" - Snapcase
"You are not what you own" - Fugazi
"Life's a mountain not a beach" - Fortune Cookie I got at lunch the other day
User avatar
IHikeLikeAGirl
Posts: 1006
Joined: 9/5/2007
14ers: 58  6 
13ers: 346
Trip Reports (6)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by IHikeLikeAGirl »

Perfect, thank you!

Yes, I will be arriving early. :)
"Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time."
- Steven Wright
User avatar
KansanClimber
Posts: 178
Joined: 9/17/2009
14ers: 58  5 
13ers: 18
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by KansanClimber »

There is parking around iron city and the campground too.
“Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.” W. C. Fields
User avatar
johnF
Posts: 105
Joined: 4/25/2007
14ers: 6 
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by johnF »

I did the same in mid-July, on a Saturday. Got there a little before 6am and parked on the left side of the "main drag," where the chipmunks are always scurrying around and getting fed. There was only one other car when I arrived. Returned at 8-something, and parking was filling up. I felt a little bad about hogging the space, but didn't have a ticket or anything. I imagine it's legal to park there as long as you want, but not positive.
User avatar
mtgirl
Posts: 1879
Joined: 3/11/2006
14ers: 58  2 
13ers: 104
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by mtgirl »

Hi ! I was parked in St. Elmo in July to ride a mountain bike loop. I parked in the lot on the right (north) side just before town, fairly early. There were only a couple vehicles there. Returned to a jam packed lot of later-arriving ATV trucks and trailers. There are also some spots along the road just before this lot for a smaller vehicle if you want to save some room in that lot for the trucks and trailers.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away."
User avatar
IHikeLikeAGirl
Posts: 1006
Joined: 9/5/2007
14ers: 58  6 
13ers: 346
Trip Reports (6)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by IHikeLikeAGirl »

Hey Vicki, what a pleasant surprise! Didn't expect to see you perusing this site, now that you're a kick @ss biker chick!
I guess you do it all now. :-D

Thank you all for the info. Sounds like I can do this sans 4wd...and not get towed, woo hoo!
"Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time."
- Steven Wright
User avatar
mtgirl
Posts: 1879
Joined: 3/11/2006
14ers: 58  2 
13ers: 104
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: St Elmo/Poplar Gulch Parking Question

Post by mtgirl »

IHikeLikeAGirl wrote:Hey Vicki, what a pleasant surprise! Didn't expect to see you perusing this site, now that you're a kick @ss biker chick!
I guess you do it all now. :-D

Thank you all for the info. Sounds like I can do this sans 4wd...and not get towed, woo hoo!
Been nursing a bum knee, which has been keeping me from hiking peaks. Hoping to get back at it, especially once this pesky thing called "work" is over with for good in four more months. \:D/ I gotta admit, the mountain biking has been pretty darn stellar though.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away."