If you've been on the Nellie Creek road since it recently was recently "improved," does the 4/6 rating still apply? I won't have time to get down there any time soon.
On the site, it's been rated at 4/6, which is the following:
"Moderate 4WD, long wheel base vehicles not recommended. Good clearance required."
For reference and comparison, all 14er trailheads can be seen on the following page, grouped by rating:
https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/trailhea ... iculty.php
I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
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BillMiddlebrook
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I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
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denvermikey
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Re: I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
Was just there Saturday. 4/6 definitely does not apply. Can easlily be changed to 3/6.
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XterraRob
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Re: I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
I think 3-4/6 is pretty accurate. I was able to get my Ram 1500 Crew Cab to the 4WD TH this summer but I wouldn't recommend it to other folks.
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BillMiddlebrook
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Re: I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
Thanks!denvermikey wrote: ↑Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:52 pm Was just there Saturday. 4/6 definitely does not apply. Can easlily be changed to 3/6.
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samenos
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Re: I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
Agreed. It is well graded, but there are fairly large water bars that would give problems to lower clearance vehicles.denvermikey wrote: ↑Wed Jul 30, 2025 12:52 pm Was just there Saturday. 4/6 definitely does not apply. Can easlily be changed to 3/6.
Also, maybe others can chime in, but I felt that the final 0.7 mi of Matterhorn creek was a 4/6 rather than 3/6 when I did it back in July.
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Cygnus X1
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Re: I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
I was there this past weekend but I didn't drive up the road, I walked it. I drive a stock 1/2T Chevy crew cab short box. I was at the bottom on Saturday contemplating going up and a SxS came down to the intersection. I asked the driver about it and he said he wouldn't recommend it for my vehicle. When I walked the road the next morning I was cussing him because it seemed pretty tame. At the switchback between the two creek crossings a couple in a Rivian SUV stopped and asked if they were on the right trail. I said yes and they proceeded on up. They were at the TH when I got there. (Thank you Scott and family for giving me a ride to the TH from the 2nd crossing.) On the way down in the daylight it didn't appear as tame but I still felt I should have driven up. As mentioned, there are several tall water bars that would take a good line with a longer wheelbase vehicle like mine. Also seemed there were a number of places to get by oncoming vehicles. What there aren't any of are rock obstacles of concern with my stock clearance, just some bumpy areas. I went up the 4wd road to the upper trailhead for South Colony Lakes last summer and this road is no way near as rough.
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BillMiddlebrook
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Re: I Need Nellie Creek TH Info
Nice, thanks.
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