14ers.com • Trailhead Status

Trailhead:	West Winfield Sawatch Range
Posted By:	CraigE
Date of Info:	06/12/2020
Date Posted:	06/15/2020

Status Update
I drove a stock Subaru Forester two miles past Winfield to just below the South La Plata trailhead without too much difficulty on 6/12/2020. The rocks and ruts definitely required high clearance and probably AWD. There were two significant water crossings: About halfway up the road there was a stream about 20 feet wide and 8 - 10 inches deep with a firm mud bottom. A little ways past that there was another stream about 15 feet wide and just a few inches deep with a rock bottom and a steep West bank. Both streams were passable with a bit of care, but be aware that the water was a little deeper on the return drive when things had thawed. I parked where the road turns North towards the trailhead sign. But when I hiked up the road, I saw that I could have comfortably driven a couple hundred yards further up the hill to a larger parking area. The final stretch from there to the trailhead sign was pretty rough.

Status Update

I drove a stock Subaru Forester two miles past Winfield to just below the South La Plata trailhead without too much difficulty on 6/12/2020. The rocks and ruts definitely required high clearance and probably AWD. There were two significant water crossings: About halfway up the road there was a stream about 20 feet wide and 8 - 10 inches deep with a firm mud bottom. A little ways past that there was another stream about 15 feet wide and just a few inches deep with a rock bottom and a steep West bank. Both streams were passable with a bit of care, but be aware that the water was a little deeper on the return drive when things had thawed.

I parked where the road turns North towards the trailhead sign. But when I hiked up the road, I saw that I could have comfortably driven a couple hundred yards further up the hill to a larger parking area. The final stretch from there to the trailhead sign was pretty rough.

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