Lead King Basin

[Cygnus X1]

Update on the road conditions after driving it last Thursday. We took the road less spicy, and it made all the difference. 5781029F-CEC8-4172-8E68-1DB98AA38AAE_1_105_c.jpeg

It took a little over an hour to get to the Crystal parking area from the town of Marble. There were large puddles on the roadway up to 6" deep but overall the terrain was fairly manageable. The hike to the Lead King Basin trailhead from the parking area only took about half an hour on fairly easy terrain. I think, in retrospect, we could have made it all the way up to the trailhead but can't be sure since we didn't attempt it.

Your earlier post said you were driving an Outback. Circling back to my original post, would the additional length and width of a full size, crew cab, short box, 1/2 ton be any issue getting to the parking spot just past the mill?

[rmcpherson]

Update on the road conditions after driving it last Thursday. We took the road less spicy, and it made all the difference. 5781029F-CEC8-4172-8E68-1DB98AA38AAE_1_105_c.jpeg

It took a little over an hour to get to the Crystal parking area from the town of Marble. There were large puddles on the roadway up to 6" deep but overall the terrain was fairly manageable. The hike to the Lead King Basin trailhead from the parking area only took about half an hour on fairly easy terrain. I think, in retrospect, we could have made it all the way up to the trailhead but can't be sure since we didn't attempt it.

Your earlier post said you were driving an Outback. Circling back to my original post, would the additional length and width of a full size, crew cab, short box, 1/2 ton be any issue getting to the parking spot just past the mill?

Hard to say for sure, but I think you'd be fine. You may have to back up if you meet another vehicle on some parts of the road but that's par for the course on these roads and there are a good number of turnouts. The only turn on FS-314 that seemed a little sharp was the turn right before the parking area after Crystal. I don't think it's anything that couldn't be handled with a three-point turn at worst though. I recall seeing at least one extended cab truck on the road when we were driving it.

[Mtnman200]

Update on the road conditions after driving it last Thursday. We took the road less spicy, and it made all the difference. 5781029F-CEC8-4172-8E68-1DB98AA38AAE_1_105_c.jpeg

It took a little over an hour to get to the Crystal parking area from the town of Marble. There were large puddles on the roadway up to 6" deep but overall the terrain was fairly manageable. The hike to the Lead King Basin trailhead from the parking area only took about half an hour on fairly easy terrain. I think, in retrospect, we could have made it all the way up to the trailhead but can't be sure since we didn't attempt it.

Your earlier post said you were driving an Outback. Circling back to my original post, would the additional length and width of a full size, crew cab, short box, 1/2 ton be any issue getting to the parking spot just past the mill?

Hard to say for sure, but I think you'd be fine. You may have to back up if you meet another vehicle on some parts of the road but that's par for the course on these roads and there are a good number of turnouts. The only turn on FS-314 that seemed a little sharp was the turn right before the parking area after Crystal. I don't think it's anything that couldn't be handled with a three-point turn at worst though. I recall seeing at least one extended cab truck on the road when we were driving it.

A few years ago, I encountered someone towing a pop up trailer!

[Cygnus X1]

Update on the road conditions after driving it last Thursday. We took the road less spicy, and it made all the difference. 5781029F-CEC8-4172-8E68-1DB98AA38AAE_1_105_c.jpeg

It took a little over an hour to get to the Crystal parking area from the town of Marble. There were large puddles on the roadway up to 6" deep but overall the terrain was fairly manageable. The hike to the Lead King Basin trailhead from the parking area only took about half an hour on fairly easy terrain. I think, in retrospect, we could have made it all the way up to the trailhead but can't be sure since we didn't attempt it.

Your earlier post said you were driving an Outback. Circling back to my original post, would the additional length and width of a full size, crew cab, short box, 1/2 ton be any issue getting to the parking spot just past the mill?

Hard to say for sure, but I think you'd be fine. You may have to back up if you meet another vehicle on some parts of the road but that's par for the course on these roads and there are a good number of turnouts. The only turn on FS-314 that seemed a little sharp was the turn right before the parking area after Crystal. I don't think it's anything that couldn't be handled with a three-point turn at worst though. I recall seeing at least one extended cab truck on the road when we were driving it.

Thanks

[Phill the Thrill]

Update on the road conditions after driving it last Thursday. We took the road less spicy, and it made all the difference. 5781029F-CEC8-4172-8E68-1DB98AA38AAE_1_105_c.jpeg

It took a little over an hour to get to the Crystal parking area from the town of Marble. There were large puddles on the roadway up to 6" deep but overall the terrain was fairly manageable. The hike to the Lead King Basin trailhead from the parking area only took about half an hour on fairly easy terrain. I think, in retrospect, we could have made it all the way up to the trailhead but can't be sure since we didn't attempt it.

Your earlier post said you were driving an Outback. Circling back to my original post, would the additional length and width of a full size, crew cab, short box, 1/2 ton be any issue getting to the parking spot just past the mill?

Cygnus, you'll be fine in your truck. It's the "Upper Road" that would potentially present some problems for you IMO. Also, just to clarify, you not only pass Crystal Mill but drive through Crystal City and another 1/2 mile or so before you reach the "parking area".

[Cygnus X1]

Update on the road conditions after driving it last Thursday. We took the road less spicy, and it made all the difference. 5781029F-CEC8-4172-8E68-1DB98AA38AAE_1_105_c.jpeg

It took a little over an hour to get to the Crystal parking area from the town of Marble. There were large puddles on the roadway up to 6" deep but overall the terrain was fairly manageable. The hike to the Lead King Basin trailhead from the parking area only took about half an hour on fairly easy terrain. I think, in retrospect, we could have made it all the way up to the trailhead but can't be sure since we didn't attempt it.

Your earlier post said you were driving an Outback. Circling back to my original post, would the additional length and width of a full size, crew cab, short box, 1/2 ton be any issue getting to the parking spot just past the mill?

Cygnus, you'll be fine in your truck. It's the "Upper Road" that would potentially present some problems for you IMO. Also, just to clarify, you not only pass Crystal Mill but drive through Crystal City and another 1/2 mile or so before you reach the "parking area".

[Wentzl]

If you do not drive the last 1.5 miles from the Schofield Pass junction up to the Lead King Basin trailhead, then the lower road is absolutely the way to go. Getting to that point is just rough and slightly annoying. The road from Marble up to the upper/lower junction is worse than the lower road section to that point.