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I'm trying to determine the current status of the half-mile-long Forest Service access road (Crest Drive) to the Quartzville trailhead for the East Slopes route on Mt. Lincoln. The latest status update for the Quartzville trailhead is from 6/5/16. Has anyone driven up the road to the Quartzville site more recently? Can a 4WD Ford Escape make it to the flat parking area at 11,650 feet under current conditions?

I believe that the road condition is worse than that I observed two years due to erosion. I would advise you to use a vehicle with a high clearance after I refused to risk my Jeep Grand Cherokee. You would need to walk up the road to the trailhead and see it for yourself since you cannot make a U-turn until you reach the trailhead first. Don't confuse the Quartzville TH with the Moose Creek TH.

Thanks for the info and advice, RPD. My buddies and I plan to check out the road to the trailhead the day before our climb, to make sure it's possible to drive it with our vehicle. There appears to be no place to park along the half-mile Forest Service access road (Crest Drive) short of the large, flat parking area at 11,650 feet. And below Crest Drive is all private property, where parking is prohibited. Hope to post a trailhead status report eventually, based on what I learn. Thanks again.

Wish you the best of luck!

bump

I was the one who posted the update back in June when there was still some snow. There were some ruts at the time, but careful driving should make it no problem (and I'm not talking like Cinnamon Pass type careful driving, just don't drive in that rut type of driving). Here's a photo of what I remember being the most rutted part of it: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xy3bgv7avos6o ... o.jpg?dl=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

amandagstone wrote:I was the one who posted the update back in June when there was still some snow. There were some ruts at the time, but careful driving should make it no problem (and I'm not talking like Cinnamon Pass type careful driving, just don't drive in that rut type of driving). Here's a photo of what I remember being the most rutted part of it: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xy3bgv7avos6o ... o.jpg?dl=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow -- this is just what I needed, amandagstone! I appreciate the valuable beta on this access road. Thanks for taking the time to share this info with me.

I cannot speak to current conditions, but I drove to that TH last August in my 4WD Ford Explorer and experienced no problems. There are a couple of rough spots but a 4WD Ford Escape should be fine with careful driving.

Phill the Thrill wrote:I cannot speak to current conditions, but I drove to that TH last August in my 4WD Ford Explorer and experienced no problems. There are a couple of rough spots but a 4WD Ford Escape should be fine with careful driving.

Thanks, Phil! I appreciate your helpful feedback.