5/21/2011 Posted On: 5/22/2011 By: jmoney Info: While the road to AB was mostly clear of snow, the county has a bulldozer blocking vehicle access about a mile before the AB turnoff. Just speculating, but I would assume they‘ll move it sometime soon now that the recent snows have melted. | ||||
5/10/2011 Posted On: 5/13/2011 By: San Juan Ron Info: The CR 30 gate was unlocked on May 5th and the road is plowed to the AB turnoff. As of May 10th, the last 1/4 mile to the turnoff had slushy snow and was passable but slick. The spur to the AB TH was NOT plowed and had deep snow (6‘). The road from the AB TH to the top of Cinnamon Pass was just beginning to be plowed. SJ Ron | ||||
7/27/2010 Posted On: 7/27/2010 By: JB99 Info: I‘m not sure if the road has changed since the last update but I drove a Subaru Outback to the "4wd" trailhead without any problems. This was my mom‘s car too so I wasn‘t risking anything. If you drove to the 2wd pulloff then getting to the actual trailhead isn‘t much worse than what you‘ve already passed. Of course if the stream crossing is high then it could be a different story. | ||||
6/20/2010 Posted On: 6/20/2010 By: WSC_Geologist12 Info: The trailhead is good! There are two stream crossings that are about 5" or so deep. A couple of difficult vehicle moves if you have low clearance. Parts of the road are washed out near the Cinnamon Pass turnoff. I had no trouble getting to the trailhead in my GMC Jimmy, and it is relatively low. Just go slow. Also a nice side note: Hinsdale county is applying Magnesium Chloride to the road from where it is dirt until 1 mile towards the Grizzly Gulch Trailhead after you turn off. | ||||
5/31/2010 Posted On: 6/1/2010 By: Nathan Hale Info: Road is open to about the same point as the last update. The bulldozer is gone, so you can get a bit further, but the slide is still blocking things. At this point a bit of the slide has been plowed, but on the far side of the creek crossing there is still a major blockage. Unclear if they‘re going to plow it or let it melt out (there was no equipment anywhere nearby), but it will be a while before it melts out. Beyond the creek crossing there were only a few drifts before the upper trailhead and they‘ll likely melt out well before the slide debris over the creek crossing does. | ||||
5/23/2010 Posted On: 5/24/2010 By: highplaces Info: Able to drive down .1 miles past the turnoff to American Basin, there is a large parking area there. There was a bulldozer in the road blocking any attempts to go further. The photo is walking out towards the car at the end of the day. Beyond the bulldozer, there are remains of a recent slide in the road. | ||||
5/16/2010 Posted On: 5/17/2010 By: stevevets689 Info: Still about the same, road is open to roughly 100 yards from the American Basin turnoff to a turnaround. There were some big puddles and running water in places and the road is pretty rough, easily handled by my Jeep though I‘m not sure how lower clearance vehicles would do. | ||||
5/11/2010 Posted On: 5/11/2010 By: E-dorvs Info: Was there on 5/8. San Juan Ron update is correct. Wanted to add just a reference for others wondering about this trailhead. Got a Subaru Outback Sport (not a full Outback but the Impreza frame - 6.1" of clearance) to the turn off for American Basin without much problems at all. A few sections required careful placement but otherwise no major problems. | ||||
5/9/2010 Posted On: 5/10/2010 By: San Juan Ron Info: Open to AB fork via CR-30 from Lake City (although rough and muddy over the last 1/2 mile) as of 5/7. Expect a mud bath. | ||||
5/3/2010 Posted On: 5/4/2010 By: cjw Info: Open to about 1/2 mile shy of the Cinnamon Pass turn off. They are plowing it now. I talked with them and they said it will definitely be open by the weekend, maybe sooner. | ||||
10/26/2009 Posted On: 10/26/2009 By: oldschool Info: Made it all the way to the Handies Peak parking lot on 10/23/09. Minimal snow/mud. Not a bad ride at all. Of course needed high clearance 4wd. New snow of late may have changed all of this. | ||||
8/11/2009 Posted On: 8/11/2009 By: nyker Info: Was here on July 21. Was in someone else‘s raised pickup getting here. The portion of road from Grizzly Gulch is definitely rougher and then gets very rough near the TH. High clearance a must for the entire road, else park 1/2 mile from the TH. Jeep preferred. | ||||
6/25/2009 Posted On: 6/25/2009 By: emcee smith Info: The road to the upper trailhead is totally clear. There are some wicked gullies and bumps in the road, it would take some very slow driving in a 2wd to the lower trailhead. From the lower to the upper is a bit rutted out, but very passable for a high clearance vehicle. The creek is running heavy, and the downhill entrance is very steep. No problems in my Tacoma, and saw some Suburbans, XTerras, and an FJ as well. | ||||
6/25/2009 Posted On: 6/25/2009 By: emcee smith Info: Forgot to mention, I have been up there twice this week. For me, it took about 1hr 20-30 minutes from Lake City to the upper trailhead. I took it fairly slow. | ||||
6/9/2009 Posted On: 6/9/2009 By: ScottN Info: The American Basin 4WD road is clear to the trailhead as of 6-7-2009. |
