Kite Lake Trailhead

Posted On: 11/2/2024 By: madmattd
Info: A few small stretches of thin packed snow/ice down low, basically dry from the gate to the parking lot. Badly rutted just above the last switchback (nothing really new there), and a few similar spots afterwards to the lot. I was the only non-crossover or higher clearance vehicle to park in the lot that I saw - a couple Civic/Corolla types actually stopped just before the gate. Go get it before they close the gate!

Posted On: 10/30/2024 By: Town_of_Alma
Info: The Kite Lake access road gate will be closing Monday 11/4/24 for the winter season.

Posted On: 10/12/2024 By: butlerer
Info: Road to the trailhead was dry on 10/12. Took my Subaru to the end of the road and camped overnight at the trailhead. There were a couple other sedans at the trailhead. Any as long as the road is dry, any sedan should be able to make it to the station to pay your entrance fee. It's 1 mi from there to the trailhead. There were two deeper ruts in the road that I could drive around, but I wouldn't have been able to take the Subaru down through the rut. Enjoy!

Posted On: 8/3/2024 By: lesherhawk
Info: Just a heads up finding the road to the Kite Lake trailhead in Alma. Look for a road called Buckskin and turn there. The building directly across from the intersection is currently for sale and the Caniglia real estate building is down the road a bit so its a bit confusing. Also there is no Kite Lake sign until you turn into the residential area and then you will see it.

Posted On: 9/3/2024 By: jainanoel
Info: bumpy but reasonable 2wd for most of the road, gets much much worse after the final switchback. Got my Model 3 RWD to about 1/4 mile away from the main parking lot with only one minor scrape underneath but probably should've stopped sooner.

Posted On: 6/19/2024 By: mijoflynn
Info: Open since at least last weekend. Road is in typical condition -- easy 2WD till the last half-mile, then rough 2WD.

Posted On: 6/5/2024 By: HikesInGeologicTime
Info: Still closed at current winter gate ~1 mile below Kite Lake.

Posted On: 5/17/2024 By: Veory
Info: Road plowed up to 39.31603, -106.12138.
Continuous snow from there on out.

Posted On: 12/30/2023 By: starfishprime
Info: Still easily driveable to the gate 1mi below Kite Lake with AWD/4WD, there was a corolla parked about 2 miles from the Lake, unsure if they parked to be safe or if they had issues.

Posted On: 11/22/2023 By: tlgold1990
Info: Road is still accessible to the gate. A little snow here and there but nothing crazy. Same from the gate to the summer trailhead.

Posted On: 11/12/2023 By: sarahmariekirk
Info: Road to Kite Lake is basically dry all the way to the gate. There is some snow covering the road at the very beginning, but dry all the way after that. The gate is closed which adds 1 mile each way to the trip!

Posted On: 11/14/2023 By: Da Legit Master
Info: The road leading to the Kite Lake Trailhead is closed at a locked gate 1.1miles back from the trailhead at around 11,500'. There is enough room to park three vehicles here. There is hardly any snow on the road on either side of the gate.

Posted On: 10/23/2023 By: corkypeavy
Info: The cost of a day pass is now $8.

Posted On: 10/10/2023 By: MaryinColorado
Info: Honestly, this road has been in the best condition this season than any other years I've been up there. Not sure why. It's got some decent wear and tear in the form of "speed dips" as you get within a mile of the TH, but overall it is the most low-clearance friendly I've ever seen. Maybe not actual low-clearance friendly within a few hundred feet of the TH, but certainly to the big pull out at the curve below the TH.

Posted On: 10/2/2023 By: poseidon
Info: Arrived at 6 a.m. on a Saturday, the lot was about two-thirds full. The last quarter-mile leading to the trailhead parking lot was rough, and if you have a low clearance car (like I did with only 6"), you may want to go slower and find the right lane, or just pull off and park alongside the road a bit earlier.

This trailhead does require a paid permit, which comprises a paper envelope with a tear-off windshield display slip that you are required to fill out by hand and submit $8 cash with. They do not take card. Most cars did not display a permit slip on their windshield, but luckily, when I returned at around 12:30 pm there were no tickets that I could see. Please remember to bring a pen and cash. If they happen to enforce permits, there is a fine if you are caught without one ($47 I believe?)