Lake City to Ouray

[HikerGuy]

Bush Ducks has Cinnamon open from the west but that individual did not drive the Hinsdale CO (east) side and said they thought the gate was still locked on that side:

Gate was still locked just beyond Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch as of last Saturday, 5/18. I spoke with the lady at the Lake City Bakery yesterday on my way out of town and she said that the ORV rental places were opening in two weeks. So it will be open by mid-June.

[Idahosummits]

I think Engineer has gotten worse this year on the Silverton side. I just drove it in a SxS on Sunday and there are 2 tricky switchbacks, that are off-camber and require clearance. Maybe made worse by snow on both sides, not allowing different lines. Once over the pass, it's just an easy 4x4 road IMO.

[deepdarkseas]

Don't know if anything has changed here but I am headed out next week and wondering what the status of the county roads is. Is it still:
- 25 (Blue Mesa Rd) completely closed
- 26 (Lake City Cutoff) open a few times a day via pilot car

I am still hoping to come from Purgatory to Lake City this way without crossing the US 50 bridge under repair.

Thanks!

[bdloftin77]

Don't know if anything has changed here but I am headed out next week and wondering what the status of the county roads is. Is it still:
- 25 (Blue Mesa Rd) completely closed
- 26 (Lake City Cutoff) open a few times a day via pilot car

I am still hoping to come from Purgatory to Lake City this way without crossing the US 50 bridge under repair.

Thanks!

You are correct regarding 26. After a 15 minute wait near the south junction, took about a half hour to go the 15 miles northward following the train of cars. Here are the time windows.. if you miss your half hour window, you’ll have to wait an additional hour and a half til the next window, or even longer if they’re doing road maintenance.

https://www.codot.gov/projects/us50bluemesa/access

[deepdarkseas]

Exactly the link I was looking for, thank you!

[HikerGuy]

If you time it right or the timing works for your plans, you can cross the bridge that is under repair. https://www.codot.gov/projects/us50bluemesa/access

One lane of the bridge is open twice daily for single-direction traffic between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. One lane on the US 50 Middle Bridge will be open during those times and a pilot car will lead smaller vehicles across the bridge one direction at a time. Flaggers will be posted to separate which traffic can go over the bridge and which traffic will need to use the County Road 26 detour.

[bdloftin77]

If you time it right or the timing works for your plans, you can cross the bridge that is under repair. https://www.codot.gov/projects/us50bluemesa/access

One lane of the bridge is open twice daily for single-direction traffic between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. One lane on the US 50 Middle Bridge will be open during those times and a pilot car will lead smaller vehicles across the bridge one direction at a time. Flaggers will be posted to separate which traffic can go over the bridge and which traffic will need to use the County Road 26 detour.

Yep! I took advantage of that on the way back going eastward. I waited maybe 3 or 4 “light changes” and then got through in the evening weekday rush hour opening, waiting about 40 min.