Crags Trailhead

Posted On: 2/7/2019 By: WildWanderer
Info: FYI:
"The U.S. Forest Service on Friday expects to install a gate to close off a road leading to the popular Pikes Peak recreation area known as the Crags.

The agency in 2017 announced a government order to keep drivers off the rugged Forest Service Road 383 when deep snow makes driving on it hazardous. The road, leading to the Crags trailhead in Teller County, had proven to be treacherous for vehicles in the winter, with even the most equipped rigs sliding off and getting stuck in ditches beside the woods. Those without cell service were having to hoof it back to call a tow.

It was a scene observed last weekend: Multiple vehicles were stranded, threatening to block drivers making their way to and from the trailhead beloved by snowshoers.

Pike National Forest spokesman Gregg Goodland said in a phone call that the government shutdown had kept rangers from installing to the gate. Before the shutdown started Dec. 22, he said the road had not been deemed hazardous enough to close.

In the case of the Crags road, the district tries to strike a balance of providing access to the amenities up drainage and closing the road when the snow becomes unmanageable, he said.

Since the partial government shutdown ended two weeks ago, Goodland said rangers have been busy catching up on other tasks. But on Friday, a plow was scheduled to clear the parking area by the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camps cabin, just before Road 383. Though parking space is limited, visitors from there can cross-country ski or snowshoe the roads 2 miles to the trailhead. The gate will be lifted once snow melts.

In recent years, land managers had closed the road to take down timber killed by beetles. With the possibility of dead trees collapsing, dispersed camping was banned. The Forest Service reported mass removal ended two winters ago."

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/popular-colorado-trail-closing-for-now-due-to-hazardous-conditions/?fbclid=IwAR1n3M4BWrg3GfpWLC8oEDmZ1RajlSllJ3zuH5k7BBhrFkwXdQJ5Hc_Jaes

Posted On: 2/3/2019 By: wintersage
Info: County Road 62 starts out as dirt with a light sprinkle of snow up to the Mennonite Camp. From there, the snow gets much deeper but you can get to the Crags Trailhead parking area (1.5 miles) by following the tire tracks of those who went before, provided you have a vehicle with high enough clearance and 4WD. It's easy to accidentally drive into a snowbank on the side or middle of the road and get stuck, especially if you're driving there in the dark. At one point I had to switch to 4Lo to get myself out.

Posted On: 1/19/2019 By: katehikerun
Info: Lots of snow holding on the road! A few less than able cars were parked at the mennonite lodge. At the actual parking area near the TH no one was parked there because 5 cars were stuck on the road between it and the Raspberry Mountain TH. Including 3 Jeeps. Make sure you have good tires and FWD.

Also a little bit of avy danger back there if you decide to take your skis.

Posted On: 1/10/2019 By: Trotter
Info: Gates still open, packed snow to TH. Was slippery on way down, recommend going real slow on the downhills. Big snow coming tomorrow though...

Posted On: 12/26/2018 By: Coach Stack
Info: Gates are open and roads are packed snow. I had no problems driving in but on the way out the road was "slickery" even at 5mph.

I drive an '84 Bronco II with decent tires and was in 4x4. (If you see my vehicle at a TH leave a note and say Hi!!)

Posted On: 12/1/2018 By: Squirrellysquirrel
Info: Both gates are open, compact snow on roads all the way to the main parking area. I'd go slow: several areas where you could see that a beefy-tire vehicle slid off the road and had some difficulty getting back on track. AWD/4x4 accessible.

Posted On: 11/22/2018 By: BColo
Info: Road open to Crags TH. Packed snow on road, but apparently slippery in the afternoon as a couple of as descending vehicles slid off.. not sure what happened.. perhaps going too fast.

Posted On: 11/10/2018 By: JQDivide
Info: Gate is open.
Packed snow, can be slick.
Not much room to maneuver on the shoulders, but snow isn't too deep yet.

Posted On: 9/10/2018 By: lfishsays
Info: There is a fork in the road with an option to drive through a puddle 8.7" deep. You will definitely need X-mode for this obstacle.

Posted On: 6/9/2018 By: Jim Davies
Info: Dispersed camping is no longer allowed anywhere on the Crags road - only in the developed campground. Parking is also restricted to designated trailheads - the old pulloffs along the road are closed. If the main lot and its overflow area are full, there is parking at the Raspberry lot about half a mile earlier on the road, and at the end of the road about a mile further on.

Posted On: 5/18/2018 By: Scotty21
Info: The trailhead for Crags-Devils Playground are completely dry. Watch out for potholes along the way.

Posted On: 5/13/2018 By: bgbg001
Info: Any car can make it with just a few pot holes to negotiate around. Pretty busy today by 11am. The main lot was ful.

Posted On: 4/29/2018 By: lizh
Info: Road is totally clear! It was my first time on it, so I'm not sure what it's usually like, but potholes were pretty scattered and minor. 2WD sedan was great the whole way.

Posted On: 4/15/2018 By: JQDivide
Info: Road is clear, but rougher than normal. Watch out for potholes.

Posted On: 4/16/2018 By: sdicenso
Info: You can park in the main parking lot at the lower trailhead, but the campground is closed again. The forest service is cutting down trees in the area again, so that may be the reason for the closure again. There may be additional closures as they cut down more trees.