Log In 

American Basin Trailhead

  
10/11/2014
Posted On: 10/11/2014 By: JeffSheets
Info: Drove to the trailhead at around 8am. Road was in great condition. No snow on the road yet, but Handies was covered with it. Made it up in my stock ‘97 Jeep Wrangler with a trailer hitch bike rack and bike on the back just fine. Also saw a Toyota 4 Runner at the trailhead. The breakaway angle entering the creek crossing is pretty good and there‘s a nice water rut after that, but those were the toughest parts I thought.
 
7/23/2014
Posted On: 7/23/2014 By: ridergirl
Info: Made it to the trailhead in a 2012 Outback, a few tricky spots but manageable. However, very few flat spots to put a tent between the creek and the trailhead so keep that in mind if you plan on camping.
 
7/19/2014
Posted On: 8/8/2014 By: Krullin_14ers
Info: Drove from Wetterhorn to Handies in a 2012 Outback. Made it all the way to Handies, a little bumpy after the creek but you can make it.
 
7/14/2014
Posted On: 7/15/2014 By: Mik Sawicki
Info: Summer conditions. Low water level at the creek crossing. Last section after the creek crossing to the Summer TH very rough - if you do not have a high clearance vehicle, consider parking it after you cross the creek.
 
7/12/2014
Posted On: 7/15/2014 By: ezabielski
Info: A very brave 07 Outback made it over Cinnamon Pass and to the trailhead. But they wouldn‘t recommend it.
 
6/17/2014
Posted On: 6/22/2014 By: EZSide
Info: Made it to just across the creek with stock Honda Element AWD. The E. has clearance issues with a low fuel tank - but makes up for it with a short wheelbase and tight turning radius. Bring your A driving game if you are clearance challenged. We were just over 1 hr. from Mill Creek CG.
 
6/6/2014
Posted On: 6/7/2014 By: San Juan Ron
Info: You can drive to the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River in American Basin which is approximately .25m beyond the turnoff and another .25 miles short of the summer parking area. The road from Burrows Park to AB is in pretty good condition, but a bit muddy especially in the afternoons. Cinnamon Pass is open and the road from AB to Cinnamon Pass is in fair condition. SJ Ron :)
 
1
6/1/2014
Posted On: 6/1/2014 By: alpinenut
Info: Open to Cinnamon Pass. It‘s only about .75mi to American Basin TH from there. Road is still rough and wet past Grizzly Gulch. There were 2 jeeps and 2 full 4WD trucks there today.
 
7
5/10/2014
Posted On: 5/10/2014 By: Hypersnow
Info: Open to within 1/4 mile of intersection of cinnamon pass and american basin road. Pretty rough and wet past grizzly/silver. They have plowed a bit higher than we were able to drive. Sure the road conditions will change after this Sundays projected storm. Skied Handies, snow not continuous to summit up couloir. Great coverage in the basin. Pic is view of american basin from near the summit.
 
4/26/2014
Posted On: 4/28/2014 By: hbbucy
Info: Gate closed and locked at the Cataract Gulch turnoff. Cinnamon Pass not open yet.
 
8/11/2013
Posted On: 8/13/2013 By: hbbucy
Info: We drove up American Basin Sunday after hiking Redcloud and Sunshine on Saturday. The road is easily passable for stock 4WD vehicles (we were in a Tacoma). The basin got quite a bit of snow 8/10, but everything melted down low immediately. There was still plenty of snow up high, but who knows how long it will last.
 
7/19/2013
Posted On: 7/27/2013 By: jefwerner
Info: Drove a Ford Focus Wagon to the American Basin/Cinnamon Pass junction and probably could have further, but it was late and dark and we wanted to get to sleep. The stream crossing is pretty shallow. The road from the Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch TH gets slightly worse, but taking it slow and a little confidence will get you far.
 
7/11/2013
Posted On: 7/13/2013 By: My-Therapy
Info: Road is in good shape as far as a 4wd road goes. We saw a variety of vehicles at the trail head, but all were 4wd. The wildflowers are looking great!
 
5/23/2013
Posted On: 5/23/2013 By: gregpeak
Info: The road is blocked by a snow drift about a quarter mile from the trailhead. There is plenty of parking where the road is blocked.
 
5/2/2013
Posted On: 5/2/2013 By: San Juan Ron
Info: Open to AB as of 5 PM today. SJ Ron