Cuba Gulch Trailhead

Posted On: 8/22/2024 By: pjcolorado
Info: Cuba Gulch road?! I agree with CCU_Jim below. What a disaster. Ive taken my car up South Colony Lakes and Nellie Creek but there was NO WAY I could make it even 1/4 mile up Cuba Gulch from Cataract Gulch. And even if I could get up there, there were several other areas that would have been very iffy. I salute those of you who have been able to get all the way to Cuba Gulch. Thats a beautiful trailhead and I was sure looking forward to spending the night up there and NOT adding 6 miles onto my hike.

Posted On: 7/9/2024 By: vascdoc
Info: Drove up in a Wrangler. The first mile had a few areas where the clearance was necessary and also needed to be in 4L. There is also an area at about mile 2 that was washed out and had large boulders. Bottomed out once. Past that there were no issues. Going down we were able to pass the bad portion without a problem. I agree that the road has changed since people were driving Subarus up this. Now, no way.

Posted On: 6/23/2024 By: mjlucarelli
Info: Got my stock Chevy Silverado to the trailhead yesterday and drove out this afternoon without issue. I just put it in 4wd drive, and drove slow. You definitely want a vehicle with a decent amount of clearance.

Posted On: 8/28/2023 By: CCU_Jim
Info: Drove most of the road today in a Wrangler. My 4WD was acting up, so I went in 2WD the whole time, but traction wasn't the issue as much as clearance was a major need. I absolutely do not think a '3' rating is appropriate - this was definitely '4' territory, possibly even bordering '5'. For reference, compared to other THs I've done in the last 2 years, this was harder than Baldwin Gulch, S. Winfield/Lake Ann, and South Colony. Frankly thought the upper road to Lead King was easier in the same vehicle, and that's listed as a '5' (although I did have 4wd working then!). Several rough patches in the first .5 mile, as many have noted previously. Need a lot of clearance to get through these, and even the Wrangler scraped slightly on the way down. A couple more rough patches ~1.5 miles, and then a spot at 2.1 miles that stopped me. I might have given it a go if my 4wd was working, but definitely wasn't trying it in 2wd. Fortunately, there is a pullout with room for two vehicles there, and I walked the rest of the way. Beyond the obstacle at 2.1 miles wasn't bad, including the stream crossing. If you can get past the 2.1 mile mark, you can definitely make the TH. Previous reports indicate that only the first mile is tough, but really it's about 2 miles now. Previous reports also mention Subarus, but I just don't see it in the current condition.

Posted On: 7/14/2023 By: jsf80238
Info: Open

Posted On: 5/20/2023 By: 9patrickmurphy
Info: Per the Hinsdale County facebook page: "NOTICE! A large rock slide has come down on County Road 35, past the Sherman Townsite and approximately one mile past the Cataract Gulch trail head. The road is currently impassable in the area of the slide and the Cuba Gulch trailhead is unreachable by vehicle. Hinsdale County Road and Bridge Department will be addressing the issue but the road will be closed for the foreseeable future. Anyone recreating in the area should do so with extreme caution. County Road 35 is located off of CR 30 the Cinnamon Pass side of the Alpine Loop approximately 8 miles from Hwy 149."

Posted On: 7/3/2022 By: Doomhammer
Info: Made it up in a 2021 Subaru Forester, managed to not scrape at all but definitely at the limit of what this vehicle can do, very slow going a few sections where we had to get out and spot. Would only recommend doing in a similar vehicle if experienced driver and or with a spotter.

Posted On: 5/28/2022 By: Reg0928
Info: Rough road, but totally dry if youve got the vehicle. My Tacoma made it with no issues

Posted On: 10/5/2021 By: madmattd
Info: Rough road, probably more a 3.5 rating due to a few tricky spots. We took a lightly lifted Tacoma up and only used 4L in a couple spots on the ascent, no problems but we both agreed that lesser vehicles should steer clear (a very careful driver might get an Outback or similar AWD vehicle up this road, but it's really not a good idea). The first rough spot is only 1-2/10mi up the road, and another a few tenths after. A few more rougher spots in the middle, then a fairly mild 4WD road from there to the TH. I've included a couple pics of the lower obstacles, they are rougher than the pictures make it seem, clearance is the major need on these.

Posted On: 8/31/2021 By: GordoByrn
Info: Hasn't been one this year so I thought I'd add. Drove this last Wednesday, after doing Nellie Creek the afternoon before. Rolls like you'd expect for this rating - used 4Lo the whole way. Agree that Cataract is 2WD right now, up from there it gets tougher. Drove it clean on up, touched twice on the way down 4Runner with off-road package and no lift. If you are heading up, or down, Cuba Gulch trail then make sure you have your navigation sorted. Avy debris (~0.5M up) and mud slide debris (~1M up) the trail have destroyed the track. Flagging tape has been placed through the avy debris, then the trail ends just before the mud slide. As old trip reports state, the trail comes and goes - in fact, I think it's being maintained by animals - lots of large game around and the "trail" winds around with multiple options. From Half Peak, I came direct into the first drainage (rather than CDT to the top of Cuba Gulch) so I didn't see the condition of the top of the Cuba Gulch trail. Took the furthest south gully (west side of south ridge) straight down. Stayed descender's right, and high, to avoid the willows until treeline. I passed the "bump" in the basin to its right (Pt 12,522 on the quad) Once at treeline, used animal tracks down to where the gulch trail shows on the USGS Quad sheet. Trail wasn't there but I found it with about ~1M left to the trailhead (between mud slide and avy debris). The bushwhacking was not that tough, just slow. Heading west from the TH there is an old road which gives straightforward, and quick, access west, and northwest, into the basin. American, Niagara, Crown, Jones - trip reports on all those on the site. Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/5853909484

Posted On: 10/11/2020 By: Trotter
Info: Immediately past Cataract Gulch TH, road goes 4WD. Possibly suburuable with very slow and experienced driver, but I think stock 4WD is necessary. 3 or 4 tough places in the first mile, but then gets easier. Not many passing spots

Posted On: 8/6/2020 By: Unknown
Info: Tougher than expected. Easier version of Nellie Creek/SCL but clearance and 4wd/AWD recommended. Easy access to Jones, wasnt able to attempt half peak unfortunately

Posted On: 6/22/2020 By: Alrightmax
Info: Cuba Gulch is Subaruable to the trailhead for an experienced driver. The fist mile or so is the worst, if you can get past that you're golden. There is severe avalanche damage to land in the first half of the road; some lower campsites may be inaccessible, but the road is clear.

Posted On: 2/3/2020 By: Furthermore
Info: Road is plowed and accessible by any 2WD to the Cataract Gulch TH.

Posted On: 9/3/2019 By: Danger_D
Info: I made it all the way up with my stock RAV-4, but this is about the limit of what the car could handle. A few gentle dings, but it was all doable. If you have a mid-sized SUV you should be fine, but I wouldn't make this your introduction. There are about a dozen campsites along the road, but a lot of avy debris got rid of a few. The last good campsite is about .7 miles before the trailhead