N. Halfmoon Creek Trailhead

Location

RangeSawatch Range

Elevation10,500'

Lat/Lon39.15341, -106.46353

14ersMt. Massive

Road Difficulty

3 Easy 4WD/AWD, good clearance

2WD easy dirt road to 10,100' at the main Mt. Massive TH. Then, narrow Easy 4WD to 10,500' at the N. Halfmoon Creek TH.

Driving Directions

From U.S. 24 just south of Leadville, turn onto Colorado 300. Drive 0.7 mile, turn left onto County Road 11 and continue another 1.2 miles before turning right onto the Halfmoon Creek road. Reset your trip odometer and follow the Halfmoon Creek dirt road for 5.3 miles to reach the Mt. Massive parking area on the right. The road above this point becomes more difficult so low-clearance or 2WD vehicles should definitely park at the Mt. Massive trailhead. Continue to 7.3 miles and keep straight at a junction. Now the road gets more difficult, requiring 4WD with good clearance. Overcome the last 0.5 mile to reach the small, marked trailhead on the right. There's parking for about 8-10 vehicles at or near the trailhead.

On-Site Info

ParkingParking for a few vehicles at the actual trailhead and maybe space for a dozen in the pull-offs nearby.

CampingDispersed camping near the trailhead.

Restrooms?No

Fees?No

Photos

Winter Access

Usually closed just a short distance up from where the road changes to dirt - over 8 miles below the TH.

Trailhead added by BillMiddlebrook

Status Updates
Map


5/23/2010 Posted On: 5/23/2010 By: Kevin8020 Info: Road is now open to the trailhead
5/15/2010 Posted On: 5/15/2010 By: Kevin8020 Info: Road is passable to about 1 or 1.5 miles below the trailhead. A few large snowdrifts exist above that and would require very high clearance and good traction.
4/28/2010 Posted On: 4/28/2010 By: seekanddestroy99 Info: I was able to get a 4WD to the Emerald Lake Picnic area. This is 3 miles from N. Halfmoon Creek. Patchy snow before and after, and it‘s solid snow from a mile before the 110J intersection. Probably be clear after a week‘s worth of hot days. A Toyota Mini-Van made it a mile behind me.
12/5/2009 Posted On: 12/7/2009 By: sgladbach Info: Passable on Saturdy in a 4WD wheel drive. Sunday, there was snow, so things may have changed.
8/16/2009 Posted On: 8/16/2009 By: MountainHiker Info: Agree with 2_Salukis. This road has been recently improved. I previously have driven my 1984 Cavalier Wagon as far as the junction 1/2 mile before the trailhead. A carefully driven 2WD with decent clearance should be able to make it that far. The last 1/2 mile is steeper. I would prefer a 4WD for that last part although some 2WDs could do it. There are several camping spots along the road if you decide to park your 2WD, including at the junction.
8/15/2009 Posted On: 8/15/2009 By: 2_Salukis Info: The 4WD road has been cleaned up and evened out. To give you some idea, there was an Audi sedan in the parking area at the Forest Road 110J intersection. The remainder of the road is not as graded, but by no means difficult.
7/17/2009 Posted On: 7/17/2009 By: FCSquid Info: Parking at the Forest Road 110J junction is a good idea unless you‘re a skilled 4WD driver. Some of the obstacles have been partially filled in with smaller rocks, but there‘s still no easy way to the end of the road. From 110J to the N. Halfmoon Creek TH is only about a 10 minute walk.
6/20/2009 Posted On: 6/20/2009 By: nilaoire Info: The last
6/19/2009 Posted On: 6/19/2009 By: nilaoire Info: Did Massive yesterday. Park your car at the last fork in the road to the trail head (where the trail info. says don‘t take the left turn). Very large pot hole past this point. Unless you have very good clearance you will not be able to pass this point.
6/7/2009 Posted On: 6/7/2009 By: BobbyPeru Info: Clear..took a Jetta to about .3 mile of the trailhead with careful driving.
5/12/2009 Posted On: 5/12/2009 By: tmahon Info: As of 5/10 the road is drivable to the its end at North Halfmoon Creek.
4/23/2009 Posted On: 4/23/2009 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Normal winter road closure still in place but a couple of 4WD vehicles were able to drive an additional 2+ miles when the snow was firm in the morning. They got stuck several times. For you snowmobilers: I rode all the way up to the 4WD trailhead on 4/22/2009. There were some long sections of dirt on the lower road, but it was doable with the right sled.
11/21/2008 Posted On: 11/21/2008 By: J2TheZ Info: The road from the Massive TH was fine up until the last .5 mile. Before that area, any 4WD would be fine. There is a lot of ice and packed snow though so 4WD is necessary. The last .5 mile had about 3 spots that someone without good snow tires will get stuck. If you have really good tires, high clearance and 4WD you should be able to make it to the TH.
8/24/2008 Posted On: 8/24/2008 By: JayMiller Info: The road up to the trailhead is not bad except one place. The picture (not mine) below shows the problem. The trick is to stay as far right and as close to the boulder as possibe. 8" clearence and probably 4w low will be needed. The two vechicles in front of me and I all had to go to 4 low.
8/11/2008 Posted On: 8/11/2008 By: harmfuljays Info: Road is not accessible past the Standard Massive parking area for normal passenger vehicles. DO NOT ATTEMPT without clearance.

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