Crags Trailhead

Posted On: 2/13/2015 By: JerryB
Info: When I went up yesterday, I‘d estimate there was around 8 to 18 inches of new snow above the Menonite camp.

I‘ll copy and second Daniel‘s observations as pretty much what I saw.

The road to the trailhead is like a slot car track--if you get out of the slot, you'll probably get stuck, even with 4x4. So, from the Mennonite Camp on up, definitely AWD or 4WD and don't pull over if you meet someone head on--back up instead. (There were two guys digging out their 4x4 trucks and, a bit lower down, another 4x4 truck well stuck in deep snow just off of the road. Stay on the packed tracks!)

In the past couple of weeks, I‘ve seen 2 4x4 high clearance and 1 AWD low clearance
stuck along the sides of that road. Problem is, there‘s not enough room for 2 vehicles to pass.

Road to Menonite camp is part dry, part snowpacked, no problem at all.

I made it to the TH, not much problem in my 4wd. There was deep, loose snow in the TH lot. I did notice a little feeling of floatation in my vehicle, in spots, during the drive back down to Menonite camp.

Posted On: 2/8/2015 By: Shattuck311
Info: Same as the report on 2/6. The road from camp to the actual trailhead is well packed down, and an AWD vehicle with decent clearance should be able to make it up. However, you‘ll have to be very careful to stay in the tracks, as any deviation will likely sink you into snow that you won‘t be able to get out of without a lot of assistance.

Posted On: 2/6/2015 By: Daniel Joder
Info: 2WD to the Mennonite Camp, HIGHLY recommend AWD or 4WD beyond that. There is a nice track there now, but it is slippery and if your slot car pops out of the track and into the ditch you‘ll likely be digging yourself out even with 4WD and chains. So, go slow and stay on the track. Consider backing up if you meet someone head on rather than sliding to one side. I met a couple and their dog in a Toyota 4x4 who tried to be nice and pull over for someone headed up the hill. They are now working on getting a tow truck out there to get them out--even chains and a friendly pull from a Jeep didn‘t do the trick. Go slow and stay on the tracks! (Did I say that already?)

Posted On: 1/29/2015 By: Daniel Joder
Info: Current storm may change this if any snow comes out of it...But, for now, the dirt road was 2WD but with some snow and some icy patches to the Mennonite Camp. Above that, there are pretty good packed tracks that are probably passable in front WD with snow tires, but AWD/4WD better in case you slip out of the tracks and into the ditch--almost happened to me in my Tacoma and I would have been stuck fast without 4WD. The parking area at the trailhead was packed pretty flat for parking. I wouldn‘t go above the parking area--the campground is closed with a gate anyway and the area is holding boatloads of snow. Another recommendation: just walk up the road and through the campground to get to the trail. Taking the trail behind the restrooms seemed a whole lot longer, up/down, and circuitous.

Posted On: 1/5/2015 By: cascadecoach
Info: Road is plowed to 2wd trailhead just past Mennonite Camp. Approximately 12 to 14 inches of snow on the ground. The road to the campground and 4wd trailhead has been driven since the last snow storm on 1/1. Five 4wd vehicles made it to the campground.

Posted On: 12/26/2014 By: blakhawk
Info: Summited pikes via crags on Xmas day. 4x4 recommended. Don‘t even try in a 2wd sedan. I stayed the night last night there and 4 more inches fell over night up there. I saw two failed attempts by 2wds trying to come up the road BEFORE the Mennonite camp. It might get plowed later today tho,but it wasnt this morning.

Posted On: 12/21/2014 By: mikemalick
Info: As expected, the road was plowed up to the end of the Mennonite camp property. After that there were nice worn-in tire tracks to follow through the snow all the way to the TH parking. Made it there no problem in my AWD Ford Escape and there was an AWD Outback sedan in the parking area as well.

Posted On: 11/28/2014 By: mrschaible
Info: Made it easily in my Honda Civic.

Posted On: 4/28/2014 By: MissH
Info: Arrival to trailead at 6am had several inches of snow on the road the entire way to TH. By afternoon departure, much of the snow on road had melted. Driveable entire way without any issues, slippery on the way out. Without any new snow, this road and probably parking lot will be 100% clear in the next day or so (my two-cents). Photos of trail and peak are in Peak Conditions report (same date).

Posted On: 4/26/2014 By: ebeye
Info: The drive up was great today. Most of the snow has melted off, so it was wetter than anything else. A couple of snowy spots where the ruts can still be seen, but those were no more than 3inches deep I saw a number of smaller 2WD vehicles parked at campsites and at the Crag‘s parking area.

Posted On: 3/28/2014 By: jeffth5
Info: Ditto what irregular_shed said. Has not snowed here in awhile. Drove to TH in stock 4WD GMC Yukon w/o problem. Saw Honda Accord (probably took some skill) and Subaru Outback at TH. Would not recommend leaving the ruts w/o 4WD.

Posted On: 3/23/2014 By: irregular_shed
Info: Road is plowed (great condition) to the first parking lot 1/2 mile after the Mennonite camp. Beyond that lot, there are 6-8" ruts in the snow which go down to the gravel. Any high clearance vehicle should have no problems making it all the way to the final parking lot, as long as you don‘t leave the ruts. Saw a Subaru Outback in the final parking lot.

Posted On: 3/9/2014 By: dwaits
Info: Road was plowed to lower parking lot past Mennonite Camp. Past the P/L road was double rutted with about 1 ft of snow in middle. Made it to the Crags P/L in a Nissan Pathfinder. Snow was about 1 1/2 ft in P/L. Lots of people were parking in lower lot and snowshoeing & skiing up to the Crags.

Posted On: 2/16/2014 By: Crestoner
Info: I was up there last night for full-moon climb of Pikes. The road is plowed ~0.5 mile past the Mennonite Camp, then becomes dual track ruts. The track was incredibly icy...really, was like a luge run. I ran into a dug up mess that I was too timid to drive through, especially with a large rut nearly going off the road. I backed up ~250 feet to the "parking lot" for those low trailheads, and began walking the ~1 mile to the Crags TH. I soon came upon a flat-bed tow truck doing a 24-point turn around...soon after that was a full-sized pickup, hopelessly stuck. The guys had been out there since 3:00 pm...it was now 9:00 pm. Past them, the track had many spots with spruce boughs and heavily milled snow...a lot of people had problems. For now, park low, stay unstuck, it's just a 20-minute walk to the Crags parking lot.

Posted On: 1/13/2014 By: Jay521
Info: Road is in good shape. Anything with decent clearance should be able to make it to the TH