S. Winfield/Lake Ann Trailhead

Sawatch Range

Road Difficulty

4 Moderate 4WD, good clearance

Location10,575 feet
38.96039, -106.46091

Driving Directions

From Leadville: Drive 20 miles south on U.S. 24 and turn right on the Chaffee County 390 road.
From Buena Vista: Drive 14.5 miles north on U.S. 24 and turn left on the Chaffee County 390 road (dirt).

On 390, drive 12 miles to Winfield. Turn left and measure from here. Drive 0.1 mile to reach the lower, 2WD trailhead in south Winfield. There's a large parking/camping area or you can park on one of the many pull-offs a bit further up the road. 0.4 miles after Winfield the road turns to 4WD and good clearance is required to drive to the Lake Ann trailhead. The road is rough and narrow. After 0.7 mile, stay right at a junction. Near 1.7 miles, the terrain opens up and you'll find parking and along the road in several areas. Continue to the end of the road and Lake Ann trailhead, at 2.1 miles.

Notes

2WD dirt to Winfield.
4WD to upper TH. SUVs with good clearance can usually make it if the road is dry.

Trailhead Status Updates

Most Recent Update 8/4/2026:

About an hour drive in from US 24. Most of the road (at least up to the start of the 4WD road) in should be navigable by any vehicle with reasonable clearance as long as you can tolerate nine miles of jarring from a mostly unmaintained road. Just pick good lines. The last two miles of 4WD road probably could be done by an AWD, but you truly need high clearance. Got through it without bottoming out...

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Winter Access

Closed near 9,200 feet - many miles below the TH.

Trailhead Facilities & Fees

Parking: Lots of parking at the 2WD trailhead and along the road before it turns to 4WD. Less at the 4WD trailhead but there are many spots to pull-off along the upper road.
Camping: Dispersed camping just south of Winfield, at the base of the 4WD road and more near the upper trailhead.
Restrooms: No
Fees: No

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