Question re: Road in to West Slope Snowmass

[greenonion]

There was a post in the Forum or other section within a couple of years ago about 2 options on the road in to Lead King Basin/west slopes of Snowmass. Seems like 2 folks were talking about the pros/cons of a shorter vs longer route due to the road being very rough and narrow in places. Tallgrass might have been one of the posters/responder. Does anyone remember that and can they point me to that discussion? Would like to use that road beta for planning a trip there maybe in 2019. I've got a 4Runner so should be able to make it, but don't want to unnecessarily tear it up if I avoid really rough stuff.

[hellmanm]

This one?
https://www.14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... slope+road

I've driven the Lead King road in a climbing partner's lifted 4Runner and it went fine. I wouldn't have even thought of touching it in my Forester (or the Outback that this dude somehow got up there) though. If you do take the Lead King road, be prepared for some steep switchbacks. They're horribly exposed and you probably don't want to end up sidehilling there. This may just be my timid-driver perspective though.

[greenonion]

hellman - that's not the original one I was looking for, but it is one of the ones I just recently found. Thanks for sending!

[IntrepidXJ]

You'll have no problems getting your 4Runner up either route, but the easier route is the one on the north side of Sheep Mountain.

[kaiman]

I once drove the Lead King Basin Road to the Geneva Lake/Snowmass Trailhead in a stock ‘94 GMC Sierra pickup. On the way out I made a loop by taking the Crystal/Schofield Pass Road back to Marble. I had no issues on either road and in a 4Runner you should be fine as it has a shorter wheel base and just as much if not more clearance.

As others have pointed out, the Lead King Basin Road is steep and narrow with exposed switchbacks, and the Crystal/Schofield Road is easier but rougher. Whatever you do, DO NOT drive the Lead King Road after it rains as it looks like it would be a muddy mess. Also there were a couple of switchbacks that I had to have my passenger roll down their window and spot me and one that required backing up once to get around safely, but it’s not really that bad.

Good luck, the West Slope and S-Ridge are great routes!

Kai

[flagship47]

Drove the Lead King Basin road FR 315 this past summer in a stock 2010 Nissan Xterra with no issues. Road was a little slow going in some spots, but nothing that someone with a little 4x4 experience can't handle . We went out the same way so I have no intel on the road to Crystal. Plan on it taking about 60 minutes from the time you leave Marble to arrival at the LKB TH via FR 315. Hiking through the Basin was awesome and well worth the drive in.

Just leave the beers back at your hotel/campsite, this road will definitely shake them up good.

I'm too lazy to write a complete trip report so here is my abridged version:

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/timesvie ... ecnum=4377

[angry]

Hiked snowmass s-ridge in July, no issues getting up road in 4Runner, car camped at lead king basin.