Huerfano/Lily Lake Trailhead

Posted On: 8/10/2025 By: Shane_R
Info: If driving in at night, the landslide area described around mile 20 isn't really visible. I guessed at where to park (low clearance AWD car) and turned out to be ok - daylight showed I was just past the landslide area. My trip odometer read 20.4 mi at the No Trespassing sign at the edge of the trees. I hiked 2.1mi from there to the trailhead.

Posted On: 8/11/2025 By: WinterisClimbing
Info: Drove this road same time last year, and that must've been after a storm or something. Water everywhere, puddles the size of stream crossings. This year however, the road was bone dry the entire way and quite easy to drive if you've done things like Huron, Princeton, Handies, G+T, etc. seriously watch the weather the day before on this one. Outback was able to make it both times, but if there's significant rain the day before, consider letting it dry a day or two before going.

Posted On: 8/4/2025 By: sehessler92
Info: Definitely a rough road especially the last mile or so. Saw a Corolla about 1/4 a mile from the main trailhead which surprised me. It’s a slow going 10 or so miles to the trailhead and google maps will tell you you’re at the TH about 3 miles too early. Did hear something brushing around my car at 1:45am but looked under my car and didn’t see an animal ( or boogeyman) so unsure what it was.

Posted On: 8/4/2025 By: rmlee29
Info: Plan for an additional 20-30 min: Although the coordinates are correct (on 14ers.com and Google Maps), Google Maps itself doesn't has the road stopping at what appears to be the winter closure. All 4 cars in our group had the same experience. The road up to that closure is a very smooth unpaved road. After that, it goes on quite a bit further (it can take you another 20-30 min to get to the trailhead (which has 2 small parking lots). You'll want 4WD for sure, but it's nothing any standard SUV ground clearance can't handle (I drove a Subaru Forester no problem). Numerous car camping spots exist along the way.

Posted On: 7/31/2025 By: nutella262
Info: Similar to previous reports. Probably the best TH road I've driven in the last 2-3 years in a stock 4Runner (Castle Creek, S. Colony, Steven's Gulch). Beautiful camping spots just to the right as you pull into the parking area.

Posted On: 7/20/2025 By: ColoNativeGal
Info: Made in a stock F150 with running boards no problem. My friend made it in her Mazda x90 suv/crossover no problem. Pretty tame IMO compared to upper TH for S Colony (Crestones and Humboldt) and the TH for Uncomprahgre. You need actual 4wd, good clearance vehicles for those.
We saw deer and elk. Talked to some people that saw a bear on their drive in.

Posted On: 7/13/2025 By: AurumSun13
Info: The road up to the upper trailhead is definitely bumpy, but my Jeep Renegade made it up without any scrapes. Only 6.7" of clearance and it was fine. No large boulders along the road that were a concern. Some dips and hills were steep, however, and the 4WD helped get me through them. If you've driven up to the upper trailhead to Humboldt/the Crestones outside Westcliffe recently, then that road was worse, but this one was a longer approach. I did hear some coyotes while out on the trail itself, so be wary

Posted On: 7/12/2025 By: MaryinColorado
Info: What a great road! I definitely think AWD or 4WD is ideal for the two miles leading to the TH. Standard SUV clearance is sufficient. Honestly thought the road, overall, was nicer than the Stevens Gulch Rd to Grays/Torreys.

I do recommend keeping mental note of available spots to pull over to let another vehicle pass because there are two stretches, in particular, where pull-offs are either slim or non-existent. I would say these aren't "uphill has right of way" sections, more so "whoever can, should" sections. On our way out, the three of us backed up to pull-outs because there was no way we could expect a large travel van to safely back up as far as would have been necessary.

Posted On: 7/7/2025 By: jennkmho
Info: I drove up on 7/5 and car camped for the night right before the TH. I'm a very mid driver in a 2020 VW Atlas with 8" of clearance. The road isn't bad at all. There are no large ruts or rocks to avoid. I thought the G&T road was worse. Accelerate going over the hilly parts. The puddle was very shallow. 8/22 miles are paved. Middle 7 miles are packed dirt/gravel. Last 7 miles are AWD road.

Posted On: 7/6/2025 By: sunbleached
Info: The road up to the trailhead is in good condition but for that remaining minor puddle. I got up there in my base model 2WD 2015 Jeep Compass, and I only had a very brief portion where my vehicle struggled on the second part of The Hill. (Which was fine, given that you can just go back to the dip and try again.) Caveat that I have a lot of experience driving this vehicle on rough roads.

Posted On: 7/7/2025 By: blonde_dinosaur
Info: I drove my Mazda CX-5 with 7.5 inches of clearance to within a quarter mile of the TH. Could have driven the whole way but stopped at a great dispersed camping spot. I am a baby when it comes to driving 4WD roads so probably anyone with 7.5+ inches of clearance can make it. I didn't scrape at all along the way. Hardest parts were the steep inclines on the way up where I couldn't see the road features well but had to keep my speed up. Clearance is definitely most important feature for this road.

Posted On: 7/7/2025 By: jennkmho
Info: Drove up on 7/5. Car camped for the night at a spot right before the trailhead. The road wasn't bad at all. There are no large ruts or rocks. I think the road to G&T is worse. On the steep parts, accelerate up the hill. The puddle was very shallow. I'm a very mid driver in a 2020 VW Atlas with 8" clearance.

Posted On: 6/29/2025 By: tlgold1990
Info: Completely dry with exception of one very minor puddle. Saw several subarus at the trailhead if that helps anyone with deciding if their vehicle can make it.

Posted On: 6/30/2025 By: E_A_Marcus_949
Info: Easily made it up in a 2018 Forester. One minor puddle, not to even worry about though. It's a long dirt road, just be prepped for that. Otherwise, you're good to go! Quite a few pulloffs and camp sites/flat areas along the road.

Posted On: 6/21/2025 By: Kbrown321
Info: Made it to the upper TH in a Subaru crosstrek. Didn’t feel like there were any major issue areas, though the road was totally dry given the lack of recent rain