5/29/2016 Posted On: 5/29/2016 By: StephenLutgring Info: Road is clear up to Equity Mine parking area. There are large snow drifts about a half mile up the 4x4 portion but they are melting fast. | ||||
11/29/2015 Posted On: 11/30/2015 By: Eagle Eye Info: Rd 503 to Equity Mine parking area from Rd 504 is not plowed now. It is deep in snow drifts and shows no signs of being driven on. (It was not plowed but drivable 11/8) Its 5.7 miles to this 503/504 split from pavement, 6.2 miles from 504/Main St junction. A wooden sign at 504/Main St junction says Bachelor Rd. | ||||
11/8/2015 Posted On: 11/9/2015 By: Eagle Eye Info: I was able to drive to the Equity Mine closure/parking area. Deep ruts and snow on the road the last ~2 miles. Few if any places to turn around or park. The 4wd road beyond Equity Mine to the trailhead had not been travelled. | ||||
9/12/2015 Posted On: 9/16/2015 By: NittanyLion14er Info: Trail head is so much easier if you think like this: Leave Creede on Main St and veer right onto 503 at stop at edge of town. Stay on this road for what seems like forever (maybe this was because I drove in in the dark at 10:30pm). There is only one left turn at the end near the Equity mine (literally yards from the mine entrance). Measure from end of the pavement; 0.7 miles you get to the first mine and through the underpass. Go another 1.8 miles you get to the Midwest Mine. Go another 1.8 miles you come to a three way intersection (left turn puts you on 504). Go straight. Go 2.1 miles and you should veer left onto the continuation of 503. There was a sign there for a 4wd road (picture). If you miss this turn no biggie you will run into the Equity Mine parking area. Just turn around and take the first right. After another 1.6 miles you will be at the TH and parking area. This road has some 4wd spots so if you don‘t have high clearance or 4wd park at the Equity mine. | ||||
8/9/2015 Posted On: 8/11/2015 By: windwaker Info: The deadend at Equity mine is easily accessible by 2 wheel drive passenger car. I tried the 4 wheel drive trail with my XC60 and was able to comfortably make it all the way across the small creek crossing. On the other side was a little too much for my Volvo, but saw a 4 runner easily make it over. I backed down and found a pull off. Ended up walking the last 3/10 of a mile to the trailhead. The Trailhead is not very well marked, just two sticks, easy to miss. But is labeled with trail #882. | 2 |
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6/7/2015 Posted On: 6/7/2015 By: Mt_DAN Info: Road is muddy but fine to the start of the 4x4 portion. 4 wheel drive recomended. I decided not to ford the creek 1mile past the 4x4 sign and just start hiking there. | ||||
10/25/2014 Posted On: 10/27/2014 By: ksteinhaus Info: Drove up to the trail head on the 4x4 road past Equity Mine that is mentioned on the route description in a Stock TRD Toyota Tacoma. Road was clear of snow but had some small puddles that iced over in the morning. This road could probably be gained just as easily with moderate clearance, less then my vehicle. | ||||
8/31/2014 Posted On: 9/3/2014 By: jdorje Info: I‘m pretty sure any passenger vehicle could get to the Equity Mine (11100‘), where I (accidentally) parked. The road is pretty intense in its steepness and dropoffs (mostly right above Creede), but aside from some washboards it‘s in good condition. Making it the last quarter/half mile up to the official trailhead (11600‘ or so) would require decent clearance. With any snow at all this road will be scary. | ||||
6/24/2014 Posted On: 6/24/2014 By: rhickman213 Info: The drive up to West Willow Creek TH is clear of snow but is still a little wet in a few places. We were able to make it in a 2WD Jeep Grand Cherokee with little issue. | ||||
5/10/2014 Posted On: 5/11/2014 By: DynamicPursuits Info: The road is fine for 2WD up to Equity Mine. After that snow blocks road 503. There‘s not enough snow to skin but to much to drive. | ||||
12/31/2013 Posted On: 12/31/2013 By: gcbighorn Info: Winter TH for San Luis Pk for this winter up West Willow Ck is going to be Allen‘s Crossing...as Equity Mine has shut down and road is not being plowed the last couple miles up to the mine. Snowmobile tracks will likely keep one from having to break trail from Allen‘s Crossing up to the continental divide/wilderness boundary. The extra miles however will make San Luis from West Willow quite the epic slog ...this winter! | ||||
11/2/2013 Posted On: 11/3/2013 By: KTC88 Info: I followed Roach‘s Route 2 description (3rd ed.). Basically just drove north out of Creede until I got to the intersection with Andrews Crossing, then continued straight until I reached the Equity Mine. The road was clear until Andrews Crossing, then snow covered. This section was no trouble with 4WD. The route to the 4WD TH was not passable due to deep and drifted snow in the trees. | ||||
10/21/2013 Posted On: 10/23/2013 By: bmcconahey Info: We followed Roach‘s 3rd edition "Route 1" directions and it was VERY straightforward to get to the trailhead and I would recommend this route. There was some minor snowpack and ice in the trees, but a walk in the park for an Outback. For those who don‘t have the 3rd edition: "From the Willow Creek bridge just south of Creed, go 0.3 miles south on Colorado 149 on the west side of Willow Creek to three dirt roads leading west (right). Turn west onto the northernmost (rightmost) of the three dirt roads and measure from this point. Climb the hill southwest of Creede, pass the Creede cemetery turnoff at mile 0.5, turn west (left) at a T-junction at mile 1.2, pass the southern turnoff for the Rat Creek-West Willow Creek 4x4 Loop Road at mile 3.3, and continue on the main road to Allens Crossing over West Willow Creek at mile 6.3. Turn north (left) at a T-junction just east of Allens Crossing and go north to a parking area below the Equity Mine at mile 8.6." We actually took the 4x4 road from this point (off to the left) to the unmarked trailhead seen in Photo #2 on the route description on this site, but DO NOT attempt this road if you do not have decent clearance. It was frozen in the morning and muddy in the afternoon. | ||||
8/21/2013 Posted On: 8/21/2013 By: srranch1 Info: Here is our mileage and a minor description update: From End of pavement North of Creede, past the Mine Museum, pass Commodore Mine at .8mi, stay left at FR 502 at 2.3mi, go around hairpin at 2.5mi, go straight thru T- intersetion at 4.3mi, and look for Equity mine sign, at 6.3mi you will do a bypass of Equity Mine Rd, left up a minimal 4WD single lane trail, cross Willow Creek at 7.4mi, then park at 8.0mi TH. The ROUTE description might direct you up the 4WD road, which leaves the TH parking. But you want to follow Willow Creek, single track, which you can search on San Luis Trail 882 on google. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recarea/?recid=29176 this connects you to Colorado Trail. | ||||
8/11/2013 Posted On: 8/15/2013 By: thebeave7 Info: Drove up the canyon from Creede past all the old mines, narrow but smooth dirt. From the turn off to the Equity Mine the road is in fairly good shape, 2wd passable. The bypass around the Equity Mine is a bit bumpy with a few rocks and potholes, but was passable just fine in my Subaru Forester. Parked at the river crossing, but in retrospect my car could have made it all the way to the 4wd TH for San Luis. Beautiful route. |
