11/22/2023 Posted On: 11/22/2023 By: tlgold1990 Info: Road is still accessible to the gate. A little snow here and there but nothing crazy. Same from the gate to the summer trailhead. | 1 |
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11/12/2023 Posted On: 11/12/2023 By: sarahmariekirk Info: Road to Kite Lake is basically dry all the way to the gate. There is some snow covering the road at the very beginning, but dry all the way after that. The gate is closed which adds 1 mile each way to the trip! | ||||
11/11/2023 Posted On: 11/14/2023 By: Da Legit Master Info: The road leading to the Kite Lake Trailhead is closed at a locked gate 1.1miles back from the trailhead at around 11,500'. There is enough room to park three vehicles here. There is hardly any snow on the road on either side of the gate. | ||||
10/23/2023 Posted On: 10/23/2023 By: corkypeavy Info: The cost of a day pass is now $8. | 1 |
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10/7/2023 Posted On: 10/10/2023 By: MaryinColorado Info: Honestly, this road has been in the best condition this season than any other years I've been up there. Not sure why. It's got some decent wear and tear in the form of "speed dips" as you get within a mile of the TH, but overall it is the most low-clearance friendly I've ever seen. Maybe not actual low-clearance friendly within a few hundred feet of the TH, but certainly to the big pull out at the curve below the TH. | ||||
9/30/2023 Posted On: 10/2/2023 By: poseidon Info: Arrived at 6 a.m. on a Saturday, the lot was about two-thirds full. The last quarter-mile leading to the trailhead parking lot was rough, and if you have a low clearance car (like I did with only 6"), you may want to go slower and find the right lane, or just pull off and park alongside the road a bit earlier. This trailhead does require a paid permit, which comprises a paper envelope with a tear-off windshield display slip that you are required to fill out by hand and submit $8 cash with. They do not take card. Most cars did not display a permit slip on their windshield, but luckily, when I returned at around 12:30 pm there were no tickets that I could see. Please remember to bring a pen and cash. If they happen to enforce permits, there is a fine if you are caught without one ($47 I believe?) | 2 |
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9/29/2023 Posted On: 9/29/2023 By: Kluge Info: Just checked with the ranger station & town of Alma to clarify - the parking fee is NOT covered by interagency passes/national park passes/etc. - $8 cash. | 1 |
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7/31/2023 Posted On: 7/31/2023 By: Aardvark Info: Day use fee is now $8. For camping its $20. | ||||
7/31/2023 Posted On: 7/31/2023 By: Aardvark Info: Day use fee is now $8. For camping its $20. | ||||
7/24/2023 Posted On: 7/30/2023 By: dwoodward13 Info: Parked a Camry at the gate. I could have pretty easily got within a quarter mile (near the hairpins) if I had know. Big thing to note that upon returning to my car it wouldn't stay started. Was able to immediately shift into gear upon starting and it would say going as I limped into Fairplay. Turns out had two wires on the mass airflow sensor apparently chewed by a critter... | ||||
6/18/2023 Posted On: 6/19/2023 By: HikesInGeologicTime Info: Road seems doable in a sedan up until the winter closure/start of fee area 1 mi. below Kite Lake; after that, more ground clearance is preferable. Parking at the lake sure is easy with the fourteeners closed - my car was the only one in the lot from our arrival just before 6 a.m. to our departure around 10:45, though there were two vehicles parked at the winter TH. | ||||
2/3/2023 Posted On: 2/3/2023 By: AndrewJCraigie Info: A few miles from the trailhead there are several windblown piles of the snow on the road. I made it over the first few in my Subaru Outback, and then got stuck. Spent 40 minutes digging my car out - not the greatest way to start a hike. Learn from my hubris and park a few miles down. Not worth pushing through, as you'll eventually hit bigger and bigger piles. | 1 |
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12/27/2022 Posted On: 12/27/2022 By: Misi197 Info: Best I've seen the road maybe ever. Smooth sailing for pretty much any 2 wheel drive sedan. | ||||
12/23/2022 Posted On: 12/23/2022 By: Dan_Suitor Info: Gate closed 1.1 miles from the trailhead. The road to the gate was snow packed or gravel. Easy enough for any vehicle with good tires to manage. The road from the gate to the trailhead was clear, with a few snow drifts. I used my ATV to get from the gate to the trailhead without any issues. I confirmed with the Park County ranger station that this was ok to do. | 3 |
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9/24/2022 Posted On: 9/24/2022 By: jhalee4 Info: The road seems better than how I remember it being 2 years ago. Totally drivable (was in a jeep patriot). Already lines of cars parking down the side of the road when I arrived at 7am. |