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Posted By: CaptCO Info: 2WD Heads up when I returned the next day, people started parking in the middle, making it harder for some to get out. Few googans on the trail for sure. |
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Posted By: hogantheepic Info: This trailhead is totally open and accessible to pretty much any 2wd regular clearance car. |
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Posted By: Posthole Pete Info: Trailhead is bone dry. Summer conditions up till about 10,500. Log jam is in great shape. Looked like there were 3 or 4 spots to camp by snowmass lake but we opted for a dryer, lower campsite right off the first switchback after the log jam. |
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Posted By: globreal Info: The TH is totally clear and easily accessible. The snow level is right at 10,000’. You’ll want snow shoes or skis above the log jam/switch backs above the ponds if going up to Snowmass Lake. There is still 3-5’ of snow at the lake. |
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Posted By: gabsimonelouise Info: Some large puddles but easily manageable for 2WD. Be sure you drive all the way to the end of the road as it mentions in the trailhead directions (there’s a large parking lot, an entrance to a ranch, and the TH you want for Snowmass Lake). There is a different TH about a quarter-mile from that parking lot, and we almost got off on the wrong foot there. |
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Posted By: TakeMeToYourSummit Info: We approached the TH from Divide Road (Snowmass Village), the upper section of Divide is a little muddy & snow free. The lower section (from Old Snowmass) is almost certainly snow free due to the lower elevation & higher volume of traffic. A few snow patches were encountered AFTER the T (near the Snowmass Creek Bridge) in the road. My 4Runner did just fine to clear these - the melting is happening fast low, they should be entirely gone any day now. I have a little beta on the start of the trail: We hiked the first 2 miles of the trail (recon on the stream crossing to the West Snowmass Creek drainage). Patchy snow & a couple of downed trees up to that point. I would guess flotation would be needed for quite some time if your goal is Snowmass Lake or higher. Stay safe & have fun! pic1 - A good idea of the snow levels on the start of the trail. pic2 - James (for size comparison) next to the first notable downed tree. (shortly after you pass the rock in pic1) pic3 - Snow levels as you approach gate 2. pic4 - Looking back at another downed tree. (Just a bit after gate 2) |
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Posted By: Yikes Info: Parking at the bridge (for about 5-10 cars), . Road was snowpacked, but very easy to drive (much easier, wider and less steep than Capitol Creek). I would guess the road would be quickly plowed after a snow storm due to all of the mansions along the road. My GPS read 2/3 mile to the summer trailhead. |
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Posted By: mspalding Info: This is an easy drive even in the lowest clearance 2wd. But keep your directions as it is easy to take the wrong turn on the way back; especially in the dark. |
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Posted By: Carl Info: Trailhead is easily accessible. Was able to make it in a very low clearance sedan by going slow the last 1/4 mile. This trailhead is also accessible from the Snowmass ski area but the road is slightly rougher. |
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Posted By: giarcd Info: Hiked up the trail a couple of hours to about 9500‘. Two or three small slides over trail and the proverbial small trees to step over yet the trail was fine to that point.(short update) |
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Posted By: sgladbach Info: There is a parking lot plowed out at mile 10.7 just before you cross the creek. Walk the road 0.6 miles to the summer TH at Snowmass Ranch. |
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Posted By: AlexMack Info: Drove all the way to the TH in a stock Ford Ranger w/ 4wd pretty easily. On the way out, after going over the first bridge 1/2 mile or so from the TH i saw a Road Closed sign. Not quite sure how I would have driven past this without seeing it so it might have happened during the day while hiking (11.2. Still, should be able to drive within about 1/2 mile of the TH if not all the way. |
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Posted By: lordhelmut Info: Open to the very end. There is an area of snow literally right before the TH that high centered a Landcruiser, took around 30 minutes to dig out. With enough speed and clearance, it‘ll be a non-issue. Should be melted out within a couple days anyway. |
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Posted By: warg Info: As of 3/15/2009 only open to winter trailhead, just .7 miles from the actual trailhead. And the road to the actual trailhead has been used by snowmobiles and is easy travelling. |
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Posted By: Chicago Transplant Info: Open and dry, easily passable for 2WD from "Old Snowmass". Put it this way, there was a Miata at the TH. The creek crossing at the beaver dams is low enough to cross on the log jam cautiously. Above that there is snow patches in the woods as you near the lake. |
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