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Half Moon (Tigiwon) Trailhead

  
Posted By: daway8
Info: Road is very... interesting right now. I would not consider doing at the moment without 4WD due to how sloppy it is - random mix of snow, ice, mud, etc. Clearance also important to not high center on snow in middle of road. Got 6.1mi in at about 10,100ft when decided to put chains on front tires of the 4Runner (the KO2 tires were doing great but the road gets a little steeper and the snow a little deeper so I put them on preemptively just in case). One other crazy 4Runner made it up here so far. Passing along the road is ok in some spots, impossible in other. Don’t try the road unless you’re well prepared. Shockingly have 1 bar with Verizon to post.
Update: by Sun 3am a lot of traffic had been up there, packing down much of the road. Lower portion melting fast. Crunchy snow/ice at night vs some deep mud in the day
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Posted By: mtn14
Info: The fall colors are on full display on Tigiwon and Hwy 24 between Leadville & Minturn: highly recommend making the drive during daylight
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Posted By: bagelbattalion
Info: Drove a Honda Odyssey up the road which will tell you clearance is not a factor. Some rocks in a few areas and the curve around the Tigiwon community house is a little beaten, but no issue. A few potholes here and there and some minor washboarding in a couple sections, but otherwise fine.
 
Posted By: meltedavocado
Info: Made it up in my Honda Fit no large ruts or obstacles. Just the usual potholes, rocks, bumps, etc. Clearance is nice but (clearly) not necessary!
 
Posted By: colin j
Info: Campground is closed for season and toilet is locked. Road has some muddy spots but otherwise open and clear.
 
Posted By: MattDelSur
Info: Made it from Minturn to the trailhead in a low-rider Toyota Prius. Drive time was probably 30+ minutes. The road is in good shape. If you’re in a truck, suv, etc., you can probably get up there in half the time. The only really bad spot was at the Tigwon Community House.
 
Posted By: GuiGirard
Info: Good road overall for any vehicle, but it is quite narrow with lots of switchbacks. Do not underestimate driving time. I did not find any specific deterioration of the road past the cabin. Plenty of good dispersed campsites all along the road at all elevations.
 
Posted By: Istoodupthere
Info: 8.3 miles up the dirt road to the trailhead. Had a rental Chrysler Pacifica (not by choice) with 5.1 inches of clearance. Made it with no issue. Lot was close to full when I left at 5:30pm. Road is pretty narrow
 
Posted By: Split_the_FR
Info: Road to get to the trailhead is in great shape. I did it with a 2017 outback but I’m sure any 2WD vehicle would be able to make it up.

Arrived at 6:15 AM, lot was full but there was plenty of parking on the side of the road.

Had to pass some folks on the way back down the road which was not difficult to maneuver.
 
Posted By: scottieconqueso
Info: Road in good shape, just narrow in spots. Trailhead outhouse well stocked with toilet paper and there was still some hand sanitizer available.
 
Posted By: rudi32
Info: Rough & Narrow 2WD
 
Posted By: mtngoatwithstyle
Info: Road is in pretty good shape and a little bit rocky right before the community house. With careful driving pointy rocks can be avoided. I would expect that with rain coming the road will change and ruts will start showing.
 
Posted By: jeffh7
Info: I just called the USFS Holy Cross Ranger District office and they informed me that the road is open for the season. I plan on camping there tonight, so I’ll update tomorrow evening if there are any issues.
 
Posted By: RWSchaffer
Info: Tigiwon Road is still closed to motorized vehicles at winter closure, about 8 miles below the trailhead. There is no snow and minimal mud until the community house, about two miles below the trailhead. Just above the community house, several sections of road are covered by unavoidable snow that is as much as shin deep. Mud increases with increased snow. The road is generally in good condition with minimal wash-out from melting snow and only a few downed trees, so it is no surprise that bike tracks reach the trailhead. Cyclists will have to carry their rides for a total of a few hundred feet through the deepest snow.
 
Posted By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: Road is closed for the winter
 
Posted By: JasonCrane
Info: 707/Notch Mountain Road is rough, but saw a number of vehicles including my Ford Escape reach the TH without many issues. As previously stated, the road deteriorates significantly at the community house. Typical "washboarding," small protruding rocks & some potholes up to that point. Shake ’n bake & you should be okay. Use your best judgment. According to my GPS, road ascends ~2k feet to TH.
 
Posted By: V1per41
Info: Road was in good shape. I was able to make it to the top in a stock Subaru WRX with minimal issues. Road is definitely rougher past the community house.
 
Posted By: rcpelikan
Info: Made it to the top easily in a 2wd stock Ford Focus. The road was in better condition than, for example, Shavano/Tabeguache and Fourmile Creek. Agree with Evan below that there are areas that look questionable, but you get over them just by being slow and deliberate. This was a busy trailhead for a Thursday and I was struck by the narrow width of the road in several sections.
 
Posted By: Evan_Hikes
Info: Wouldn’t recommend a sedan but with good clearance you could make it, no huge potholes but enough ruts to make you (me) cringe a little. I think my 2003 Accord could have done it, but you’ll have to go slow and be deliberate. No problem for a Cherokee Trailhawk, recommend at least a high clearnce 2WD SUV/CUV. Road is completely clear all the way to the trailhead.
 
Posted By: jtdavis
Info: Made it with my two door 2wd with some minor maneuvering. Road is a little rough but pot holes are minor.
 
Posted By: cisnerosab
Info: Yes, your Jeep Wrangler can make it to the top in 2WD, but your Prius won’t. Saw two sedans that both bailed around the 1mi mark. This road is textbook subaruable.

Probably should be rated higher since not all cars can make it.
 
Posted By: RWSchaffer
Info: As of noon on 5/27, the winter closure gate remains closed and locked (pictured).
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Posted By: RWSchaffer
Info: My 2WD hatchback made it to the trailhead without difficulty.

The road is mostly dry. Significant stretches of packed snow remain, much of it in the first two miles which aren’t melting as fast.

Driving in late at night, the snow stretches were frozen solid. Driving out mid-afternoon, most snow stretches were sloppy and melting fast.

The road closes to wheeled vehicles in just over two weeks (pictured).
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Posted By: E_A_Marcus_949
Info: Straight forward road pretty much any car can make with decent driving. Washboarding and a few small obstacles that can mostly be avoided or carefully driven around if in a lower-clearance car. Parking lot was full and packed at 3:30am on Sunday (holiday weekend) - parked along the road - even more full with plenty of cars lining the road early afternoon.
 
Posted By: Green_river
Info: Bad weather, this road can be a 2, but on a dry day, it’s easily a 1.
A Tesla Model S made it up right behind me.
 

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