14ers.com • Trailhead Info and Status (Blue Lakes Trailhead)

Blue Lakes Trailhead

Location

Tenmile Range
39.38695° N, -106.09995° W
14ers: Quandary Peak

Road Difficulty

2 (0=Paved, 6=Very Difficult 4WD)
Rough 2WD dirt to the TH.

Driving Directions

From Breckenridge, drive 8 miles south on Colorado 9. On a sharp corner of Colorado 9, turn west onto the 850 road (Blue Lakes road). It is 2 miles to the trailhead below the dam. Continue on Blue Lakes road as it climbs west. After 1.2 miles, keep right. After 1.4 miles, keep right again. By early June, the road is usually open to the dam. If not, drive as far as possible and hike the remainder of the road. There is a large parking area below the dam.

Winter Access

Closed about 1/2 mile up from the 850/851 road junction.

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Status Updates
2008-02-16 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Blue Lakes road (850) is closed for the winter.
2007-07-09 Posted By: JohnnyZ Info: Road is closed .5 miles from dam TH, parking is available. Road up to parking area is clear, low rise Honda Accord made it just fine.
2007-05-20 Posted By: Wisco Info: 850 is clear for 2 wheel drive car travel to the dam.
2007-05-07 Posted By: mikekrauski Info: This TH is clear and open all the way to the damn! The road was cleared before the early May snow storm. I drove it in my 4wd truck on Sunday May 6th. It is accessible to any 4wd - maybe an AWD (i.e. Subaru).
2007-04-09 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Still snow blocking the road above the old Monte Cristo TH.
2006-05-10 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Today, the road was narrowly opened to 11,300’ before the final stretch below the dam. A 4WD is still recommended and you can drive to within 1 mile of the dam. The snow above this point will take at least a few more weeks to melt.
2006-05-04 Posted By: Jcwhite Info: Currently closed at about 11,000.
2006-05-01 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Still closed (snow) about 1/2 mile up from the 850/851 road junction.
2005-10-23 Posted By: mntnplay Info: The road is still dry as a bone all the way to the dam. There’s not even any snow accummulation along the roadside.
2005-06-07 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The road is now open to the end.
2005-05-25 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The Blue Lakes road is open (2WD) to within 0.2 miles of the dam. There is parking along the side of the road.
2005-05-10 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The Blue Lakes Road (CR 850) is still closed at the old Monte Cristo trailhead parking area. It is over 1.5 miles from the closure to the end of the road.
2005-02-18 Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The Blue Lakes road is closed in winter near the old Monte Cristo trailhead. It usually opens in late May or early June. Good-clearance 2WD vehicles can drive to the Blue Lakes Dam.