Yankee Boy Basin Trailhead

Location

RangeSan Juan Mountains

Elevation12,460'

Lat/Lon37.995, -107.78472

14ersMt. Sneffels

Road Difficulty

3 Easy 4WD/AWD, good clearance

2WD to the junction with Governor Basin. 4WD (3 rating, good clearance required) to the restroom parking. Difficult 4WD (5 rating) to the upper TH.

Driving Directions

Take US 550 to Ouray. 1/4 mile south of town, turn west onto Country Road (CR) 361 (2WD, Dirt) toward Yankee Boy Basin and start measuring mileage from this point. Your mileage may vary slightly, but the following list describes the turns and milestones:

4.6 miles: Stay right on CR 26.
5.2 miles: The road is cut into the cliffs like a "C" so there is rock hanging over the road.
5.9 miles: Stay right on CR 26 at the junction for Imogene Pass.
6.7 miles: Stay right at the junction for Governor Basin. The remaining drive is 4WD and 2WD cars should park at or near this junction.
7.5 miles: Reach the lower "trailhead" where there's a restroom.

Driving beyond this point requires high-clearance 4WD

100 yards after the restroom parking area, pass a large rock and stay right at a junction.
8.0 miles: Stay right.
8.2 miles: There's a sign that recommends only 4WD, high-clearance, short-wheelbase. 4WD vehicles can continue another mile to the signed, upper trailhead at 12,460'.

On-Site Info

ParkingRoom for ~15 vehicles at the lower (restroom) parking. Some pull-offs and parking higher and room for 5 vehicles at the upper, 4WD trailhead.

CampingDispersed camping along the road.

Restrooms?Yes

Fees?No

Photos

Winter Access

Usually closed low on the road.

Trailhead added by BillMiddlebrook

Status Updates
Map


11/2/2013 Posted On: 11/4/2013 By: Kevin Baker Info: The road was plowed to the mine at ~10600‘ as of 11/2. I drove my 4Runner to the Y junction at 10760‘. The road was tracked later in the day to the 2WD TH, but the next major storm may close the road to the Senator Gulch winter closure 9200‘, although not sure how long they plow to the mine.
10/20/2013 Posted On: 10/25/2013 By: Somewhat of a Prick Info: Had to fight and claw my way to the 2WD TH in a Nissan Xterra in 4Lo. Anything past that will require a snowmobile or an ATV at this point.
9/24/2013 Posted On: 9/24/2013 By: Moboy56 Info: drove a chevy impala to the 853 1B sign, maybe a little farther. walked on the road to the wrights lake spur. the road was clear and mostly dry. many, many 4WD went on to the upper trail head and returned.
9/23/2013 Posted On: 9/25/2013 By: jchapell Info: Morning after 9/22/13 snow, the ~4-6" of snow on the road kept us from going beyond the 853 1B Road junction (~.7 miles below the lower TH), where there is room for several cars to park. We were in a 2WD Toyota Venza. High clearance rental Jeeps made it easily through the snow to the Lower TH, and there were tracks in the snow from modified 4WD Jeeps to the upper TH.
9/5/2013 Posted On: 9/5/2013 By: zsmith Info: Overall, the road is in very good shape. There were several landslides (one big) from the rain but they were almost cleared today. Although the road is relatively smooth, you need short wheelbase because there are many deep dips where the small streams cross. Even with an XTerra, my nose almost scraped. Just past the large rock in the route description, there is a difficult obstacle where a creek crosses. If you get past it, the road is fairly good to the very top (for truck-based vehicles). It didn‘t seem as bad as the route description said. I did not try to get past the obstacle and parked after ‘the rock‘ (just past the second restroom TH).
7/20/2013 Posted On: 7/27/2013 By: jefwerner Info: Drove a Ford Focus station wagon to the TH. Taking it slow and a little confidence will get you through the rougher patches. After the bathrooms at the TH parking area, the road gets considerably rougher. Many 4-wheelers and short wheel based 4WD trucks made it to the top TH at 12,460.
5/4/2013 Posted On: 5/4/2013 By: epacalicious Info: Road is plowed up to the lower trailhead.
4/28/2013 Posted On: 4/28/2013 By: cjw Info: Same as last report. Closed at Revenue mine, about 1/3 mile past Imogene pass turn.
4/21/2013 Posted On: 4/21/2013 By: Wentzl Info: There is a sign at Senator Gulch that says "Road Closed till May 1st" but there were at least three climber vehicles parked at the end of where it has been plowed. As of today that is just about 400 yards short of the Yankee Boy/Governor Basin split in the road. Snow shoe or ski from there. Tons of snow!
12/21/2012 Posted On: 12/21/2012 By: schrund Info: We hiked up the road today almost to the upper TH. There is a gate across the Camp Bird Mine Road at 8800 ft. that says "road closed until May 1st 2013". The mining activity there keeps the road cleared past the Imogene turn off, we were on snowshoes not long after that. We think it was about 4 miles from the gate to the lower TH and the toilet
11/28/2012 Posted On: 11/29/2012 By: Wentzl Info: Road is clear up to toilet. No snow at all on the south facing slopes all the way to the summit of Sneffels. Road has been graded this past summer. Hugh improvement. Go ahead and take the family station wagon, seriously.
11/4/2012 Posted On: 11/5/2012 By: Alpineair Info: Road and trail are snow free. Work on the road may cause delays during the week.
9/27/2012 Posted On: 9/27/2012 By: Wentzl Info: Still open to the summer 4wd trailhead.
8/27/2012 Posted On: 8/27/2012 By: bking14ers Info: I was able to drive a Toyota Yaris car all the way up to the rest rooms at the TH. My climbing partner drove his car up their also with not much issue. Can‘t go any further than rest rooms with a car. CR 361 is a little rough in spots but easily drivable in a car. Road 853.1B is very rough, but if you drive at a snails pace and are careful, you can maneuver around or go over the bad spots fairly well. This road is not as wide as CR 361. Park at the clearing about 100 yrds. below the restrooms.
8/27/2012 Posted On: 8/30/2012 By: antonio Info: As the previous member noted, you can drive a Toyota Yaris all the way to the restrooms at the TH at 11,700. I have a Jeep Patriot and was hoping to get all the way to the upper TH. However, there is a set of nasty rocks, just beyond the restrooms after you cross the creek, that are spaced just close enough to make for a very difficult pass. You'll need 9-10" of clearance at a minimum to get over these. Also, it requires some careful driving due to the awkward spacing and angle that you take them at. If someone could please dig up the rock on the right we'll be all good! That one feature is the most difficult so if you can get over that you should have smooth sailing to the upper TH at 12,450‘.

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