7/20/2026 Posted On: 7/20/2026 By: jeromeaigner Info: People are still parking along the road before the trailhead in spite of the signs. Better options: 1) There are a few campsites about 3/4 mile before the TH, and they are on USFS land. 2) Drive past the trailhead, past the few campsites and then lots of areas open up to park- that road continues on. Road is rough but Subarus can make it no problem. | ||||
7/19/2026 Posted On: 7/20/2026 By: JuoZux Info: Got to the parking lot 7:30pm Saturday . Still had around 5 spots open. Parking lot was full by 9pm. The 3mile dirt road was pretty rough, drove Toyota rav4. Despite sheriffs warnings bunch of people still parking on the road… | ||||
7/18/2026 Posted On: 7/18/2026 By: CookinwithCoop Info: Would say it’s almost at the upper level for being “subaruable”. A week from now I wouldn’t do it. Currently you can do it, but you and your car will not be happy. | ||||
7/18/2026 Posted On: 7/18/2026 By: blonde_dinosaur Info: Lot was full Friday night for a Saturday morning summit. The road is in the best condition I've seen it in 6 years. Still fairly bumpy in spots, but nothing crazy. | ||||
6/29/2026 Posted On: 6/29/2026 By: walks_a_lot Info: The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has issued a Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Order for all unincorporated areas of the county. The temporary Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are effective at Noon today (12:00pm on Monday, June 29, 2026), and will remain in effect until further notice. Weather and fuel conditions, nearby fire activity, and resource limitations have prompted the transition to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions from the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions that were issued on March 26, 2026. The signed Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Order, with full details of restrictions, is on our website at https://www.clearcreekcounty.us/1607/Fire-Ban-Information. In short, during Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, the following is prohibited: - No igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using any Open Fire, including charcoal grills and barbeques, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves. (See the Fire Restrictions Order for a definition of “Open Fire.”) Propane or natural gas barbeque or liquid fuel stoves are allowed if attended at all times and in a fully enclosed, covered barbeque grill or contained within a liquid fuel stove. - No fireworks, including sparklers. - No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer, or building. - No possessing or operating motor vehicles off-roads, including off-highway vehicles (OHV), regardless of whether the OHV is classified as a motor vehicle. The only exceptions are: - Vehicles may be parked in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of a roadway or a driveway serving private property. - Overnight parking is permitted in Forest Service-developed campgrounds and trailheads. - All other outdoor spark- or flame-producing activities. - No shooting, except while hunting pursuant to a valid hunting license, or target shooting within the Clear Creek County Sport Shooting Park. - For details related to chainsaw, welding, and cutting torch use, see the Fire Restrictions Order. | 1 |
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6/19/2026 Posted On: 6/19/2026 By: The_Ramp Info: Arrived Thursday night (6/18) at ~09:30PM to a 2/3 full lot. Grabbed a parking spot and slept in the back of my car. When I left to hike at 04:30AM on Friday (6/19), main lot was mostly full. When I returned around 09:30AM, cars were parked in every conceivable spot, including beyond the TH as well as on the shoulder of the road a few hundred yards before the TH. No parking tickets observed. | ||||
6/13/2026 Posted On: 6/18/2026 By: CollinGibb Info: Got there at like 7:30 and the lot was long full so decided to risk parking along the side of the road at the trailhead with around 15 other cars. Didn't end up with a ticket or anything at the end of the day but did see a tow truck driving up the road on the way out. Wouldn't recommend parking along the road but seems like lots of people still doing it. Super easy drive up the road in a Subaru Crosstreck. | ||||
6/13/2026 Posted On: 6/28/2026 By: Nickborrego Info: Summited! | 1 |
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6/6/2026 Posted On: 6/8/2026 By: rmarria Info: I made it up to the summer trailhead in my Outback with no drama. The way down was a little dicey in a couple of spots but not bad overall. Arrived at 5am and the lot was filling up quickly | ||||
5/29/2026 Posted On: 5/29/2026 By: JaylenKorth Info: The road was definitely dry up to the trailhead, and it did seem to be in good condition overall. However, I would still not take any low clearance or 2WD vehicle up it. We parked at the winter trailhead and got a ride up, and the driver did need to use 4WD at a few spots and the road was still pretty rocky. | 1 |
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5/25/2026 Posted On: 5/25/2026 By: daway8 Info: No snow worth mentioning - road is almost dry all the way to the 4WD trailhead. Can confirm what others have noted that the road is drastically improved over previous years - I would almost not even bother to list it as a 4WD road at this point - at least until it degrades again. One oddity to note - there is a sign now at the upper trailhead saying: Employee Parking Only, Weekends Included. At first it appeared this was saying the entire lot was now off limits to the public but on the way out I found a ranger and he clarified it simply meant no parking in front of the outhouse because the cleaning trucks need to park there. | 3 |
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5/17/2026 Posted On: 5/17/2026 By: mjlucarelli Info: Road to the summer trailhead is dry. Just take it slow and any vehicle can make it. | 1 |
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5/3/2026 Posted On: 5/3/2026 By: sehessler92 Info: The road is clear of snow but there are a couple icy sections that I would take slower in the AM, but 98% of the road is basically dry. Also, the rut near the house that’s right before the trailhead seems to have been filled in. Did see a Hyundai Ioniq at the trailhead which was probably the car with the least amount of clearance up there this morning | 2 |
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3/29/2026 Posted On: 3/29/2026 By: Alpine_Exchange_36 Info: Road up to the winter trailhead is fine. No snow or if there is its marginal. The road up to the summer trail head still has some deep snow ruts that could cause issues for cars with low clearance or 2WD. These spots are small and I imagine will be gone before long. Plenty of CUVs at the summer trailhead today. Tires and clearance... as always I guess. Other then that the road is typical Grays and Torreys. Some rocks, not too bad, a few ruts. | 1 |
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1/19/2026 Posted On: 1/19/2026 By: jefwerner Info: Road was dry or snowpack to Grizzly Gulch turn. Became a mix of dry, ice, and snow pack after that point. Road was passable (though rutted) with four wheel drive and good snow tires from Grizzly Gulch to the summer trailhead. Saw 6-8 vehicles at the TH over the weekend. |




