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Kite Lake Trailhead

  
8/26/2005
Posted On: 8/26/2005 By: contour900
Info: As of 8/21/05 the road is in excellent condition to within 200 yards of the pit toilet at Kite Lake. At this point a large washout stops most 2WD vehicles and results in haphazard and crowded parking along the roadside.
 
7/3/2005
Posted On: 7/3/2005 By: downhilldave
Info: road was in good shape, just a little rocky in spots. I was able to make it past the switchbacks (really close to kite lake) with a jetta (low clearence 2wd)with not problems, just had to go slow. The road is passable to the trailhead without 4wd needed, just good ground clearence
 
5/31/2005
Posted On: 5/31/2005 By: sisyphus
Info: 5-31-05: Memorial Day Traffic pushed through the remaining snow on Kite Lake Road. Tracks went all the way to the pay parking area. A burly 4WD would be necessary to negotiate the remaining snow patches.
 
5/26/2005
Posted On: 5/26/2005 By: sisyphus
Info: 5-26-05: The Kite Lake Road is melted out above the Sweet Home Mine now. You can proceed almost a mile past the mine. Snow blocks progress just after the sign that says, "Pay Parking One Mile." So, you're about a mile from Kite Lake camping.
 
5/13/2005
Posted On: 5/13/2005 By: doumall
Info: 2WD accessable to Sweet Home Mine. 4WD could make it further in frozen snow conditions.
 
5/10/2005
Posted On: 5/10/2005 By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: The road is now "open" to the upper mine at 11,400' (4.1 total miles up the Kite Lake road, and 1.5 miles from Kite Lake). 4WD is still recommended to get past a couple of stubborn snow drifts.
 
4/26/2005
Posted On: 4/26/2005 By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: The road is clear for 2.6 miles to the intersection with the Mineral Park road (2.5 miles from the lake).
 
2/18/2005
Posted On: 2/18/2005 By: BillMiddlebrook
Info: The Kite Lake road is closed in winter and usually melts out in mid to late May. In summer, good-clearance 2WD vehicles can drive to Kite Lake (12,000') or fairly close. The last 1/2 mile of the road is a little rough.