Mt. Elbert (South) Trailhead

Location

RangeSawatch Range

Elevation10,500'

Lat/Lon39.09933, -106.36714

14ersMt. Elbert

Road Difficulty

3 Easy 4WD/AWD, good clearance

2WD paved to the lower (main) TH. Easy 4WD dirt to 10,400' at the upper TH.

Driving Directions

From U.S. 24 south of Leadville, take Colorado 82 west toward Twin Lakes. Drive about 4 miles and turn right onto the 24 road. Drive 1.2 miles up a hill to the main trailhead parking area (paved) on the left. This is the lower trailhead and 2WD vehicles should park here. Continue 50 feet past the lower TH and turn left on Forest Service road 125.1B (4WD). From here it's 1.8 miles to the upper trailhead. Walk or drive up the 4WD road to reach the start of the trail.

Along the 4WD road there are several pull-offs and camping spots. Near 0.5 mile there's usually rough section of road but most 4WD vehicles should be able to get past it. Near 1.6mi, cross a small stream. Continue to a parking area with information kiosk at 1.8mi. This is the trailhead.

On-Site Info

ParkingParking for about 20 cars at the lower, 2WD trailhead. Some pull-offs along the 4WD road and then parking for maybe 15 vehicles at the 4WD trailhead.

CampingDispersed camping along the 4WD road and a campground down the road from the 2WD trailhead.

Restrooms?No

Fees?No

Photos

Winter Access

Closed at the start of the 4WD road.

Trailhead added by BillMiddlebrook

Status Updates
Map


5/22/2024 Posted On: 5/22/2024 By: gregpeak Info: The road is clear all the way to the 4WD Trailhead. There is plenty of parking there now.
5/19/2024 Posted On: 5/20/2024 By: Firefly337 Info: 4WD road clear of all snow, able to reach the trailhead in my crosstrek, overall road in descent shape if you have a vehicle with some ground clearance
5/18/2024 Posted On: 5/20/2024 By: ztweb Info: Road is completely clear of snow all the way to the upper trailhead.
5/11/2024 Posted On: 5/11/2024 By: Ssgustafson Info: Drove to the 4WD TH on Fri 5/10 in my lifted Tacoma. There was continuous snow from the lower TH and about 5-6" at the upper TH. Very slippery getting down!
5/4/2024 Posted On: 5/5/2024 By: starfishprime Info: Drove all the way to the 4wd TH in a stock 4runner, there was a tiny bit of snow/ice/mud near the top but nothing significant.	1
4/21/2024 Posted On: 4/21/2024 By: d_baker Info: We drove within half mile of upper 4wd trailhead today, no issues. A Subaru was up that far as well.	2
4/9/2024 Posted On: 4/10/2024 By: RWSchaffer Info: The 4WD road started melted-out with intermittent stretches of snow (Photo 1). Icy vehicle tracks reached roughly a half mile up the road until they ended in a mess of deep tracks (Photo 2) and occasional got-stuck debris. From there, nearly continuous, packed snow reached the upper trailhead. There are a few spots to pull off of the melted section of road, but most drivers should still plan to park at the paved lot.		2
3/17/2024 Posted On: 3/17/2024 By: aholle88 Info: We made it to the first big open camping area on the left a half mile up from the TH. Another Tacoma (2WD maybe?) got stuck getting out of that area and left their vehicle partially blocking the road and almost making it impassable. Lets call the road impassable at all right now and park at the paved TH. Conditions may change in the next few days but you still wont be making it beyond that first pull out.	3	2
3/9/2024 Posted On: 3/11/2024 By: kyrawhitworth Info: Parked at the lowest parking (pavement). Didn't want to risk getting stuck in the fresh snow. Snowmobiles have been driving on the road (even they had trouble with the creek crossing by the tracks everywhere) and there was one car that had driven up maybe 3/4 mile or so at some point in the day and parked on an off shoot to camp out.
12/30/2023 Posted On: 12/30/2023 By: sarahmariekirk Info: Climbed Elbert from the East Ridge today, we parked about half a mile up from the lower TH; my friend was driving a Subaru CrossTrek and we were worried about the ice on the road so we parked lower. A truck and a Jeep did make it to the upper 4WD TH - but the road is extremely icy and I am not sure how well it will fare with the next few storms. For now, it is definitely still drivable if you have 4WD.			1
11/4/2023 Posted On: 11/4/2023 By: aholle88 Info: A couple of stock trucks/Jeeps made it to the upper trailhead today. Mix of dry road and icy/snowy ruts. Creek not frozen yet. Very muddy descending. I parked my Impreza at 9.8k, just before the first steep section of road that used to be deeply rutted. About 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile from the paved road. Confirming prior reports, the road has been smoothed out in that particular spot.
9/26/2023 Posted On: 10/1/2023 By: rpgrayson Info: Drove up to the 4WD TH in my Tacoma with no issues. Was amazed to find a stock Plymouth Caravan with standard highway tires parked there as well! That is something I would NOT recommend.
9/9/2023 Posted On: 9/9/2023 By: taranichols_02 Info: Within the last month, this road has been grated. I rate it a 1.5 at worst, its no longer as rough as the rating is saying.
8/19/2023 Posted On: 8/21/2023 By: E_A_Marcus_949 Info: Stock Jeep made it up to the TH with no issues. Mostly 4Runners, Tacomas, Jeeps, and trucks up there. One (looked stock) Subaru Forester. I'd likely take my Forester up and have issues in 2-3 places but could probably do it with careful driving.
7/3/2023 Posted On: 7/3/2023 By: zootloopz Info: To elaborate on the conditions report from 14er101 -- the crux of the road is certainly at 0.5 miles. Rutted out. I took it on the right side of the road going up. A competent subaru driver can handle it. Pretty easy road otherwise. Stream crossing isn't too deep. Multiple suburbans and subarus at the TH.

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