5/20/2012 Posted On: 5/20/2012 By: KansasBoarder Info: Easy 2WD to Gulch road turnoff. 4WD road clear of snow through prominent meadow prior to wide creek crossing (full mile up from the junction). Patchy snow for 1/3 of a mile after the creek crossing (where the road begins to narrow), where a more continuous snowpack exists. | ||||
6/26/2011 Posted On: 6/27/2011 By: One Sierra Charlie Info: The road is now clear of snow up to about 100 yards past the second creek crossing. The remaining snow patches above this point proved impassable to all who tried this past weekend. The snow is melting fast, however, so you may be able to drive higher in a few days. | ||||
6/15/2011 Posted On: 6/16/2011 By: One Sierra Charlie Info: The road still contains many patches of deep, soft snow beyond the first creek crossing (which is only a few hundred yards past the split with the main road to the Stevens Gulch trailhead). I crossed the creek and then promptly got my 4-Runner stuck in the first snow patch on the other side. I gave up, backed across the creek, parked in the large flat area on the other side and continued on foot. Walking in I could see that it would be absolutely impossible to drive the road right now in anything less than an ATV. It only took me 50 minutes to walk from my car to the base of the NW Couloir. I was able to ski over half of the distance on the way out, which was nice and efficient. Until the road is reported clear of snow, I would not mess with it. Simply park on the near side of the creek and walk in. You can temporarily drive across, unload gear and people, and then return for parking. You will be really unhappy if you get your car stuck and end up spending the rest of your day dealing with this instead of climbing Torreys! | ||||
6/9/2010 Posted On: 6/9/2010 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Rode entire Grizzly Gulch road today on an ATV. One snow patch near the start of the road is still blocking truck/jeep access but after that the road is almost entirely dry. | ||||
6/2/2010 Posted On: 6/2/2010 By: bfrog5326 Info: Didn‘t do Grizzly Gulch, but Stevens Gulch is open up to the top. Enjoy! | ||||
1/11/2010 Posted On: 1/11/2010 By: Chicago Transplant Info: The road is drivable to the Grizzly Gulch split for 4WD vehicles. Bakerville to Grizzly Gulch is snowpacked and well consolidated, plenty of room to park and turn vehicles around at the road split. 4WD recommended, clearance not required. I did not go any farther up the Grizzly Gulch road as Stevens Gulch was my destination. | ||||
7/30/2009 Posted On: 7/30/2009 By: larkinrx2 Info: as of 7/29 road clear to top, decent ruts that require high clearance 2x4 or good skill in low clearance with 4x4 as you will center and spin (ie a subaru can make it with skill, my wrangler made it no problem) | ||||
6/1/2009 Posted On: 6/1/2009 By: CO_THFC Info: As of 5/30 the snow drift 3/4 up the Grizzy Gulch road is still there. Using my 4WD Toyota truck and another‘s Jeep, we eventually broke through the drift but it required mutual pull-outs with a tow strap. Due to the rapid melt/run off, we encountered two very deep pools of water after the last stream crossing. DO NOT attempt unless you have a buddy/winch/snorkel. It is very deep and you could easily kill your engine or get stuck. If you can cross the pools you‘ll be able to get to about 1/2 mile from the tuning fork route until the road is completely blocked by snow (and remember, the pools will get deeper as the day goes on). | ||||
5/29/2009 Posted On: 5/29/2009 By: ScottN Info: As of 5-25 you could drive about 3/4 of a mile up the Grizzly Gulch road before the snow drifts stop you. | ||||
5/3/2009 Posted On: 5/3/2009 By: RoanMtnMan Info: As of 4/29/09 the TH was snow covered a few hundred feet above the I70 lot all the way up. It is probably possible to drive higher in the morning but will be difficult to get out later when the snow softens. | ||||
3/9/2009 Posted On: 3/9/2009 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Rode a snowmobile all the way up the Grizzly Gulch road to 11,400‘ near the end of the basin. The sled track followed the Grizzly Gulch 4WD road. | ||||
6/29/2007 Posted On: 6/29/2007 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Drove 1.75 miles up the road to 10,800 past the large stream crossing. 4WD and narrow all the way but I didn't have any problems in my extended pickup. Low gear is key. | ||||
5/15/2006 Posted On: 5/15/2006 By: muellero Info: Drove yesterday (May 15, 2006) all the way to the official trailhead. You can not go any further though on the jeep trail. There are still some huge snow banks right after the creek crossing. Some guys tried it with jeeps... they got stuck though all the time. | ||||
3/5/2005 Posted On: 3/5/2005 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The road to Grizzly Gulch and Stevens Gulch is closed in winter. It usually opens up in late May. |
