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Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:01 pm
by peter303
A 2WD will barely make it to Grizzly Trailhead from Lake City. I drove it twice in a Honda Civic and white knuckle much of the time. At Grizzly there are three 14er trailheads. First day climb Handies which is class 1 almost all the way as a "warm up" 14er. Sleep overnight in the ample dispersed camping around Grizzly. Then hike the long Sunshine & Redcloud double the second day.
The road beyond Grizzly is high clearance.
Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 1:14 am
by RhodoRose
Be aware if you're planning on driving Hwy 50 between destinations, there may be significant delays (read: hours long) due to a big highway construction project between Gunnison and Montrose.
https://www.codot.gov/projects/us-50-li ... eek-canyon
https://www.us50info.com/impacts
Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:32 am
by CaptPenner
Peter303,
I too drove a Civic for 20+ years, often to 4wd trailheads. I always told the Jeep guys “we will all get stuck someday, but I’ll be a lot closer to the main road than you will be”
Already climbed Handies, Redcloud and Uncompahgre. No desire to do Handies again. I will have to get Redcloud again in order to hit Sunshine. Wisdom ruled and I had to leave Sunshine behind last time. I look forward to Uncompahgre again, with my son this time.
peter303 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:01 pm
A 2WD will barely make it to Grizzly Trailhead from Lake City. I drove it twice in a Honda Civic and white knuckle much of the time. At Grizzly there are three 14er trailheads. First day climb Handies which is class 1 almost all the way as a "warm up" 14er. Sleep overnight in the ample dispersed camping around Grizzly. Then hike the long Sunshine & Redcloud double the second day.
The road beyond Grizzly is high clearance.
Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:46 am
by supranihilest
CaptPenner wrote: ↑Sat Apr 17, 2021 6:32 am
Peter303,
I too drove a Civic for 20+ years, often to 4wd trailheads. I always told the Jeep guys “we will all get stuck someday, but I’ll be a lot closer to the main road than you will be”
Already climbed Handies, Redcloud and Uncompahgre. No desire to do Handies again. I will have to get Redcloud again in order to hit Sunshine. Wisdom ruled and I had to leave Sunshine behind last time. I look forward to Uncompahgre again, with my son this time.
peter303 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 16, 2021 11:01 pm
A 2WD will barely make it to Grizzly Trailhead from Lake City. I drove it twice in a Honda Civic and white knuckle much of the time. At Grizzly there are three 14er trailheads. First day climb Handies which is class 1 almost all the way as a "warm up" 14er. Sleep overnight in the ample dispersed camping around Grizzly. Then hike the long Sunshine & Redcloud double the second day.
The road beyond Grizzly is high clearance.
You could do Sunshine's east ridge from Mill Creek campground which would save the drive up the road to Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead as well the repeat of Redcloud.
Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 8:36 am
by Tornadoman
+1 on doing Sunshine from the east ridge from the Mill Creek Campground. Avoids the rough road and the up and downs of going over Redcloud and back. Steep gaining the ridge but certainly a reasonable day.
Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 11:20 am
by Alice_C
Recommended base camp for Redcloud/Sunshine (Day 1) Handies (Day 2)
I'll be driving a mid-clearance, AWD.
Thanks for any recs for the trip!
Re: Uncompahgre & Alpine Loop
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 11:53 am
by climbingcue
Alice_C wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 11:20 am
Recommended base camp for Redcloud/Sunshine (Day 1) Handies (Day 2)
I'll be driving a mid-clearance, AWD.
Thanks for any recs for the trip!
Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead
Co Rd 30
Lake City, CO 81235
We car camped right in this parking lot for two nights to do the same thing you want to do. There is also room to setup tents right next to this parking lot.