N. Cottonwood Creek Trailhead

Posted On: 1/17/2009 By: n_stitz
Info: The first 1.5 miles of CR 365 are snow free. From there the snow gets worse. I would not recommend driving the road unless you have a very capable 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Posted On: 11/15/2008 By: CO Native
Info: Road is completely clear. One washout still that is bad enough to stop most vehicles that don‘t have good clearance and 4wd. A skilled driver could negotiate it with less though.

Posted On: 8/5/2008 By: yorksman
Info: I made it upto the trailhead in my Pontiac Vibe yesterday with no undercarriage damage. If you drive slow and just pick your lines a car can make it. There was one other car in the parking lot.

Posted On: 7/8/2008 By: docwil6
Info: To skip all the details of "drive on the left side on this part, the right side on that part"... just take your time, go slow, and don‘t drive a low-clearance vehicle. My 2WD pick-up made it to the TH just fine by being careful. It is messy and bumpy, though.

Posted On: 7/6/2008 By: Jason Halladay
Info: As others have mentioned, there are a series of craters at about .8 past the end of the maintained dirt road. They looked very menacing on Thursday night when we pulled up so we camped around that spot but on Friday morning I could see the line quite well. Stay WAY left to get around the first bit then go WAY right and straight through them on the right side. In my Honda CR-V I didn‘t hit bottom and drove through these a few times. After this section the road is very reasonable all the way to the end. I will note that if you really want to try to figure out how to get through (and the "private-keep out" signs don‘t bother you, it appears you can drive through the residential area that is just to the N/W of the road. The entry to the road into the residential area is right before the end of the maintained dirt road and comes out about .5 mile above the craters section. I know this goes through because we saw a Lincoln Town Car on the road above the craters. :-)

Posted On: 6/24/2008 By: ElliottDavis
Info: I was the guy with the Subaru Outback mentioned in the last update =) Actually, my wife drove it up there while I walked from about 8800‘ (I like walking better than driving). I drove on the way down and heard/felt a half-dozen undercarriage kisses from rocks, but nothing major. On the other hand, there was a line of oil drips on the road ahead of us, so I guess it‘s certainly possible to get yourself in trouble.

Posted On: 6/24/2008 By: ElliottDavis
Info: I was the guy with the Subaru Outback mentioned in the last update =) Actually, my wife drove it up there while I walked from about 8800‘ (I like walking better than driving). I drove on the way down and heard/felt a half-dozen undercarriage kisses from rocks, but nothing major. On the other hand, there was a line of oil drips on the road ahead of us, so I guess it‘s certainly possible to get yourself in trouble.

Posted On: 6/21/2008 By: Beagle
Info: I wouldn‘t say there are ruts at the bottom of the road. They are more like craters, about 3 feet deep and 4 feet wide. I guess it depends on how much you love your wife. I had my wife‘s Highlander and probably could have made it, high-siding and figure-eighting through but I chickened out. Be advised, if you park where I did you will have a 3.5 mile walk to the trailhead, so I paid for my wussiness. It‘s a pretty walk through aspen groves but it does add mileage and elevation to your day. We did see a Subie Outback at the TH so it‘s doable...in fact once you‘re past the craters it‘s really not too bad, that‘s the worst of it, about 20 feet of bad road. Good luck!

Posted On: 6/15/2008 By: worldtraveler532
Info: Very deep ruts and frightening boulders at 4.8 mile mark from town( 0.8 miles from where there is a sign that maintenence ends). I almost got stuck in my honda accord on 6/13 and it would have caused serious suspension issues if I continued. Turned back. Condition was much better in 2005.

Posted On: 5/25/2008 By: comin2getcha
Info: The road was clear all the way to the trailhead.

Posted On: 5/18/2008 By: dubsho3000
Info: I would say this is 4wd only right now due to deep ruts at the bottom of the road. With 4wd it‘s accessible to within .5 mile of the TH - possibly all the way. There was enough snow that we didn‘t bother to keep going (we weren‘t hiking), but there looked like there were successful tracks. (5/18)

Posted On: 5/18/2008 By: dubsho3000
Info: I would say this is 4wd only right now due to deep ruts at the bottom of the road. With 4wd it‘s accessible to within .5 mile of the TH - possibly all the way. There was enough snow that we didn‘t bother to keep going (we weren‘t hiking), but there looked like there were successful tracks. (5/18)

Posted On: 5/18/2008 By: mtnbikerskierchick
Info: On Saturday 5/17: In a 4x4 we were able to drive all the way to the TH. Most cars were parking about 1/4 of a mile away from the TH, due to snow. Snow is melting fast, so it should be gone in a matter of a day or two.

Posted On: 5/2/2008 By: dubsho3000
Info: As of 4/27 you can almost get to the Colorado/Main TH (less than .5 miles away). This is still quite a ways from the Mt Harvard TH (3-5 miles?)

Posted On: 4/7/2008 By: Doug Shaw
Info: Last update still accurate as of Apr 6, 2008