Mt. Elbert North Trailhead

Posted On: 7/26/2023 By: jbferree
Info: A dirt/gravel road for the last few miles to get to the parking lot but it was maintained and any car can do it. No snow remaining anywhere. I arrived at 4:45am on a Tuesday and there were maybe 10 cars there so plenty of parking. I assume on the weekend it is much tougher but there is room to park on the side of the road approaching the trailhead as well. The beginning of the trail is in the trees so make sure you have a headlamp if starting early. I met a few people without one who were just relying on others having them. Two vault toilets available at trailhead but no hand sanitizer.

Posted On: 5/12/2023 By: Jirwindisc
Info: Road to NorthEast trailhead was completely clear up till 7:30 pm on 5/11/2023. Could have driven any car up there at that time. Some snow at the parking lot sides, and snow started up road after first 1/4 mile. Didn't need Snowshoes till 1.75 miles in.

Posted On: 4/23/2023 By: dmgilmour
Info: To Halfmoon West should be doable with AWD, to Elbert TH might be, we didn't get the chance to try. Road is probably thawed for the first half of the dirt road and the rest should be manageable for any AWD car. Parked near the Halfmoon West campground, couldn't continue to the Elbert TH because a car was parked in the middle of the road, though the conditions didn't look much worse than the rest of the road. When we parked our car got a bit stuck, but a shovel was all we needed to get it out.

Posted On: 9/19/2022 By: eastcoast14er
Info: Beautifully maintained 5 mile dirt road leading up to the trailhead (Mount Massive trailhead is just 0.5 miles further up the road). Arrived at the trailhead parking lot at 5:15 AM and the car in front of me grabbed the last of the ~30 spots. Ended up parking along the road just 100' from the parking lot entrance. Plenty of dispersed spots available. Bathrooms available at trailhead.

Posted On: 9/6/2022 By: GuiGirard
Info: A lot of work went into this road recently, unfortunately it receives high traffic and potholes are starting to show up in numbers. Nothing of an issue even for a 2WD vehicle but caution is advised, and driving fast is not advised (your Taco/Jeep will likely survive unscathed but the road will take a hit). The 15 MPH speed limit signs are posted for a reason. Careful about where to park whenever the Elbert lot is full. Lots of no parking signs along the road (as well as no camping/no fires at places). The FS/county (?) clearly spent a good amount of $ on this (and road upgrades) recently so they might wanna consider recoup some of the costs. Don't be that fool who is going to get a ticket! The Forest Service was out there working on some fencing along the road near the Half-moon Campground. My first visit to this road in 10 years, and the overcrowding of dispersed camping sites is showing. Please be careful where you drive/camp and leave sites sparkling clean when "checking out". I had to do some cleanup at the dispersed campsite where I stayed, which was left littered. Let's all work not to turn this area into the next Aspen (ie, only camp at designated places).

Posted On: 6/13/2022 By: madups1
Info: Arrived around 6:30am. Most of the main spots were taken and didn't want box anyone in, so just parked on the road. No issues.

Posted On: 5/8/2022 By: Carrion3
Info: Completed a there and back to the summit of Elbert.
1. Trail Head is open. (Parked at the trail head)
2. Trail was cleared enough and easy to follow. (Yak-trak for sure)
3. At about 11,000 lots of snow. (Was frozen in the early AM)
4. Once you clear the tree line, smooth sailing.
5. Trail is very easy to follow the rest of the way. Expect 3 false summits..
6. When descending back to tree line expect,
lots and lots of post-holes. (up to my waist on the return) the post holes added another 30 to 45 minutes. (Not sure snow shoes will help)

All in all.
The trail head is open
5.2 from the start of the trail head to the summit.
Round trip distance 10.4 miles from the trail head.
4300 feet of elevation gain.
4.5 hours up and 3.5 hours down.

Good Luck

Posted On: 5/8/2022 By: Carrion3
Info: Completed a there and back to the summit of Elbert.
1. Trail Head is open. (Parked at the trail head)
2. Trail was cleared enough and easy to follow. (Yak-trak for sure)
3. At about 11,000 lots of snow. (Was frozen in the early AM)
4. Once you clear the tree line, smooth sailing.
5. Trail is very easy to follow the rest of the way. Expect 3 false summits..
6. When descending back to tree line expect,
lots and lots of post-holes. (up to my waist on the return) the post holes added another 30 to 45 minutes. (Not sure snow shoes will help)

All in all.
The trail head is open
5.2 from the start of the trail head to the summit.
Round trip distance 10.4 miles from the trail head.
4300 feet of elevation gain.
4.5 hours up and 3.5 hours down.

Good Luck

Posted On: 5/8/2022 By: Carrion3
Info: Completed a there and back to the summit of Elbert.
1. Trail Head is open. (Parked at the trail head)
2. Trail was cleared enough and easy to follow. (Yak-trak for sure)
3. At about 11,000 lots of snow. (Was frozen in the early AM)
4. Once you clear the tree line, smooth sailing.
5. Trail is very easy to follow the rest of the way. Expect 3 false summits..
6. When descending back to tree line expect,
lots and lots of post-holes. (up to my waist on the return) the post holes added another 30 to 45 minutes. (Not sure snow shoes will help)

All in all.
The trail head is open
5.2 from the start of the trail head to the summit.
Round trip distance 10.4 miles from the trail head.
4300 feet of elevation gain.
4.5 hours up and 3.5 hours down.

Good Luck

Posted On: 12/6/2021 By: Eagle Eye
Info: Here about a month later, pretty much the same conditions I posted in early November; some sections of well-packed snow (and minor ice underneath) on the road, especially in the last couple of miles. But the road is still open and so this applies to the Mt Elbert (North) TH on the Halfmoon Creek Road as well. The Mt Massive TH parking area is completely dry.

Posted On: 10/9/2021 By: summit21
Info: TH closed at the west Halfmoon Creek Campground, adding 2 miles RT to the NE Ridge hike.

Posted On: 2/2/2022 By: dwoodward13
Info: Road to TH is closed per USFS order until Oct 31st now for construction.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd955559.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd955560.pdf

Posted On: 9/27/2021 By: random-dude
Info: Drive is easy and open to any vehicle. The only reason im posting is to note that the bathrooms were locked at the trailhead and the surrounding campgrounds even though the Forest Service site made no mention of it. So, come prepared with whatever you might need for bathroom needs.

Posted On: 8/24/2021 By: dwoodward13
Info: Road to TH is closed per USFS order until September 30th now for construction.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd946371.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd946372.pdf

Posted On: 8/23/2021 By: vinesman
Info: Road to trailhead was closed. Had to start from Halfmoon East Camping. RT was about 13 miles. Took my wife and I who are fairly active hikers and fit about 6 hours to complete.