14ers.com • Trailhead Info and Status (Gibson Lake Trailhead)

Gibson Lake Trailhead

Location

Front Range

Road Difficulty

3 (0=Paved, 6=Very Difficult 4WD)
As of 12/1/12, the trailhead is accessible to a Subaru Outback. The creek crossing is shallow and lined by ice on both sides, but there was no problem with exiting the creek.

Driving Directions

From the US 285 / Hall County Road junction, drive West on Hall County Road for approximately 5,5 miles. There is a very clear sign directing you to take a left fork in the road to the Gibson Lake Trailhead. Continue approximately 1.5 miles until the well-signed trailhead.

Winter Access

Unknown

Status Updates
2018-03-30 Posted By: eskermo Info: Road is clear until a snowbank blocks further driving at 3.8 miles from 285, around 9,660’. From there, it’s about 2.6 miles of road walking to the Gibson Lake Trailhead. Road is mostly snow covered and packed by snowmobiles, but there are lots of dry stretches making hiking more efficient than skinning. However, we were able to ski much of the snowy patches back to the car on the way down.
2017-12-12 Posted By: JosephG Info: CO60 is 60-70% snow-packed from 285 to the campground, mostly the first two miles and the last mile before the 4WD road. The 4WD road (Rd 120C) from the campground is 100% snow covered to the Gibson Lake TH. That said, there were obvious tracks where someone with large tread had driven up.
2017-03-16 Posted By: emgordon Info: See whale peak conditions report
2015-03-29 Posted By: Taillon75 Info: Drove all the way up to the picnic area right before the Webster Pass Junction and walked to the Gibson Lake TH. The road is 75% covered in snow. Don‘t bother trying you‘ll just get stuck. Frozen in the morning.... Slush in the afternoon. Park at the Picnic Area. About a mile walk. Skied Whale Peak. Fun.
2013-07-30 Posted By: edhaman Info: I decided not to take my Honda CR-V past the stream crossing, about 1.2 miles below the trailhead. The stream was shallow, but the road got considerably more rocky after that point. On the way up, I saw a few vehicles at camping spots, but none at the trailhead. On the way down, I was able to walk as fast as the Jeep Wrangler I followed.