Nellie Creek Trailhead

Posted On: 5/22/2012 By: mikefromcraig
Info: The trees the previous report mentioned have all been removed. You can make it all the way to the 4wd trailhead if you can cross the creek. There is no snow at all on the entire 4wd trail.

I was in a new outback and the 4wd trail was really easy but when I got to the first creek which is about 2 miles up the 4wd trail I decided not to risk it because I was alone. Probably could have made it but I‘m not real experienced with that stuff. There‘s room for one car to park right in front of that creek crossing.

Posted On: 5/14/2012 By: Chicago Transplant
Info: Nellie Creek Road has 4 downed trees stretched over a 1/4 mile span about 3 miles up from the 2WD parking, you will need a chainsaw to take them out. There is only room for 1 or 2 vehicles at this point, so some backing may be required if you don‘t secure one of those spots. Below that, there are some patchy snowbanks along the road after the second set of switchbacks above the lower creek crossing, they have tire ruts through them and should not pose a problem for anyone who was able to drive that far. There is also one really rocky sections that appears to be from a rock slide around the 2.5 mile mark, lower clearance SUVs may hit some of them.
I drove my 2012 Outback to the lower creek crossing (about halfway up the road) before deciding I didn‘t want to push it, I had to back down the road a short bit to get a parking space. The road walk for the last 2 miles is pleasant enough and goes quick.

Posted On: 9/6/2011 By: blondie1
Info: Henson Creek road is easily 2WD with Nellie Creek defininitely 4WD - there was a lot of ATV traffic and only 4WD vehicles at the TH, creek crossings were easy but there is water. I would not take a 2WD or lower clearance vehicle to the TH.

Posted On: 8/15/2011 By: Boomerang
Info: Trailhead is easily accessed by small SUV's, and though I have AWD it wasn't needed (Ford Escape). As this vehicle has only decent clearance (8.5"), but I never scraped a rock, I would say all 2wd's with some clearance would have no problem on this road - I saw several other vehicles this size at the TH including an Outback, a CRV and a RAV. The water crossings were uneventful at this time of year.

Posted On: 7/8/2011 By: YEONDERIN
Info: Both creek crossings running very high, especially during hot afternoon. Couldn‘t do much more with a Dakota longbed. Lower crossing has a deep hole on upstream side that will swallow your right front wheel (going up) if you turn too high. Upper crossing was easier. Road is good to TH.

Posted On: 7/2/2011 By: Gahugafuga
Info: Clear to the top.

Posted On: 6/19/2011 By: colorado yooper
Info: Took the Forester loaded with 4 adults, a kid, gear, and a dog up to the meadow just before the 4WD trailhead on the 18th and out on the 19th. Only hit bottom 3 times (lightly) and my fault. River crossings were OK. I did move a few big rocks out of the way and cut a small aspen out of the trail today. There is a big tree that blocks the upper trailhead (14 inches circ) and some snow drifts yet.

Posted On: 6/5/2011 By: stevevets689
Info: Took my Jeep Cherokee and was able to drive past the first creek crossing up some switchbacks and was stopped by a major drift a couple hundred yards before the second crossing, about 2 miles short of the summer trailhead. First creek crossing was wide but not deep at all, no problem. Watch for rocks. Large drift continues until the second crossing which was difficult in ski boots. There are a couple small drifts after that but nothing major (i.e. requiring snowshoes or skis) until about a mile later, at the end of a large meadow. Coverage from there on is fairly widespread.

Posted On: 5/29/2011 By: JsinDeAZ
Info: Was able to get about 2.1 miles up the road. Snow drifts are way too deep after this point (maybe 75% chance with a tractor). Rocks had fallen in road and we stopped and moved them in several spots. One big slide across road was barely passable to one side. Creek crossing expanded considerably in the one day we were up and it'll probably get wider with runoff. Still lots of snow up high.

Posted On: 4/13/2011 By: PKelley
Info: Just letting everyone know that the first 1/4 to 1/2 mile of the Nellie Creek Road is plowed and that much of it is passible for 4WD with good tires. Hey it cuts a mile off of the hike right now..... More to follow in the coming weeks.

Posted On: 4/2/2011 By: pioletski
Info: Henson Creek Road is plowed and dry a short way past Nellie Creek. The 4wd Nellie Creek Road is still snowpacked.

Posted On: 12/14/2010 By: globreal
Info: For access to Uncompahgre Peak, County Rd 20 (Henson Creek Rd) is driveable to County Rd 23 (Nellie Creek/4WD road) as of Dec. 13, 2010. I was told this road is plowed throughout the winter (to the Nellie Creek turnoff) however, they don‘t plow it on weekends.

Posted On: 10/19/2010 By: timf
Info: Bone dry without a trace of snow as of 10/14 & 10/15. Zero snow at 12K‘ and light snow at 13K‘ on Uncompahgre.

Posted On: 9/17/2010 By: tlee83
Info: After reading about the road up to the Uncompaghre TH, we were concerned that our RAV 4 wouldn‘t make it, but we had absolutely no trouble and made it all the way. Other vehicles at the top - 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, Tundra (it was a Toyota party), and 2 Jeep Cherokees. As we were driving down a Chevy Blazer was going up. I felt there were several places to pull over in case you meet someone going opposite way. Glad we didn‘t have to hike that extra 8 miles!

Posted On: 7/22/2010 By: FCSquid
Info: Road is easily passable to the upper trailhead with 4x4 and decent clearance. Any stock 4WD with clearance should have no trouble getting to the top.