American Basin Trailhead and 2WD

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
Kcmartinez22
Posts: 67
Joined: 7/15/2016
14ers: 58  9 
13ers: 74 2
Trip Reports (0)
 

American Basin Trailhead and 2WD

Post by Kcmartinez22 »

I drove my 2WD Buick Encore to the American Basin yesterday at 4am. It definitely took a steady hand and maneuvering, especially on the shelf road. Parked in a pull off just after the FIRST stream crossing inside the American Basin Gate. Possibly earlier in the season this crossing may not be doable in a 2WD. It was only a .3 mile walk to the trailhead from where I parked. No marmot activity and in asking folks camping, no complaints.

Posting this to clarify it can be done. You have to pay attention, and not be in a rush. There are spots where if you don't turn your wheel and maneuver appropriately you will bottom out. I only scraped my bumper underneath once. Otherwise, it was totally fine. It took me 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to my parking spot from Lake City.

The worst part was being stuck behind 20 plus Polaris ATV's on the way down. What a drag!
jbradish
Posts: 13
Joined: 6/26/2015
14ers: 58 
13ers: 224
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: American Basin Trailhead and 2WD

Post by jbradish »

Thanks for update!
Aspen Gold
Posts: 12
Joined: 8/26/2017
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: American Basin Trailhead and 2WD

Post by Aspen Gold »

What about taking a Toyota Camry to the American Basin trailhead for Handies? Next two weeks.
User avatar
JQDivide
Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/25/2007
14ers: 58  33 
13ers: 123 1
Trip Reports (64)
 

Re: American Basin Trailhead and 2WD

Post by JQDivide »

Aspen Gold wrote:What about taking a Toyota Camry to the American Basin trailhead for Handies? Next two weeks.
You could probably get to AB with careful driving, but not to the trailhead, creek crossing and significant rocky road to the TH parking area once in AB.
User avatar
TravelingMatt
Posts: 2198
Joined: 6/29/2005
14ers: 56 
13ers: 439
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: American Basin Trailhead and 2WD

Post by TravelingMatt »

OP, we have the Trailhead Status area for posts like this. This info will be useful for others in the future and that's where they'll be looking for it.
You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. -- William Blake