9/3/2017 Posted On: 9/4/2017 By: bigDmulc009 Info: Drove a 2007 Toyota Highlander AWD to the stream crossing inside the gate and parked in a turn out with informational signs. It did not add much time at all to the hike and gave me peace of mind, but I definitely feel it could've gone all the way to the TH. I chicken wired and moth balled my car with no issues to report- there were countless other cars without any protection that seemed to be fine. | ||||
9/2/2017 Posted On: 9/4/2017 By: KristineL Info: Parked at American Basin on Saturday night and camped near the trailhead. We did not have marmot protection and didn't see any at the trailhead or have any issues with our car. Our stock 2001 Jeep Cherokee did fine on the road to the trailhead - there is one steep section after the creek crossing that was the hardest part (but do-able if you have experience with these types of roads and with a car with good clearance). The basin is nice, but not a ton of camping locations in the area; Saturday night there were probably 5 groups total at the trailhead camping, which there was plenty of room for. Saturday we had tough weather with it drizzling from about 4:30 PM - 11 PM. The next morning was nice and we started our hike early. When we got back to the campsite/trailhead around 9:30, the lot was filling up and when we drove back to CR 30, many cars had decided not to drive all the way to the trailhead. We had originally come from Lake City off CR 30 (note that the turn to American Basin is a marked junction around mile 19.3) following the directions on 14ers.com, but decided to head west and go over Cinnamon Pass. This took us to Animas Forks (no cell service, still) where we drove to Silverton and then took Highway 550 to Ouray. Both directions (from Lake City to American Basin and American Basin to Silverton) are rough roads that move slow. From Lake City to the trailhead, it took us 1 hour and 10 minutes and from the trailhead to Silverton it took us 1 hour and 20 minutes. Cars with good clearance should be fine either way, but there is a lot of ATV/ 4x4 traffic. | ||||
7/17/2017 Posted On: 7/18/2017 By: Kcmartinez22 Info: I drove my 2WD Buick Encore to the American Basin yesterday at 4am. It definitely took a steady hand and maneuvering, especially on the shelf road. Parked in a pull off just after the FIRST stream crossing inside the American Basin Gate. Possibly earlier in the season this crossing may not be doable in a 2WD. It was only a .3 mile walk to the trailhead from where I parked. No marmot activity and in asking folks camping, no complaints. Posting this to clarify it can be done. You have to pay attention, and not be in a rush. There are spots where if you don't turn your wheel and maneuver appropriately you will bottom out. I only scraped my bumper underneath once. Otherwise, it was totally fine. It took me 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to my parking spot from Lake City. | ||||
7/2/2017 Posted On: 7/2/2017 By: cyrrus Info: The trailhead was easy to find. Just plugged the coordinates into my GPS. The stream crossing wasn't bad at all in my xterra. I have driven through larger streams in my old outback. No snow at all and plenty of camping beyond the stream crossing. The trail outside of the stream crossing was easily doable by a subaru. Did not see any marmots/porcupines nor did I hear anyone in the lot talking about them. Nevertheless, I wrapped my car with chicken wire and a tarp just in case. 4x4 trailhead had all jeeps/trucks. | 1 |
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6/17/2017 Posted On: 6/18/2017 By: jladderud Info: High clearance vehicles can cross the stream on the 4WD road; but after that there are large snow drifts keeping all vehicles from reaching the upper 4WD parking area. | ||||
6/3/2017 Posted On: 6/3/2017 By: San Juan Ron Info: Lots of marmot activity chewing on car wires. Be prepared! | ||||
5/27/2017 Posted On: 5/27/2017 By: Wildernessjane Info: You can only get to the lower TH at this point. A mama moose with a recent newborn is hanging out very near the TH parking. The baby looked like it was still pretty wobbly as it was trying to stand. She's well hidden so just be mindful. She was there last night, again this morning and then when we got back to the car. I'm guessing she won't go far until her calf is stronger. I would hate for some loose dogs to tangle with her. | ||||
5/27/2017 Posted On: 5/29/2017 By: MissH Info: CO-12 blocked by tons of snow just after the intersection with CO-30. Photo is of most of American Basin, TH parking area was also under all this snow. | ||||
5/6/2017 Posted On: 5/6/2017 By: San Juan Ron Info: Gate still locked at Sherman Fork. | 1 |
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10/21/2016 Posted On: 10/31/2016 By: dixonallred Info: Road is clear and dry to upper TH at 11,600 ft. | ||||
9/2/2016 Posted On: 9/6/2016 By: summit2sea Info: Spent the night at the upper trail head. Wet night but no issues. Some snow fell on the 2nd but nothing stuck. Creek crossing is low. | ||||
8/6/2016 Posted On: 8/7/2016 By: Misi197 Info: Spent Friday night up at the creek crossing before a Saturday summit on Handies. I was in a Subaru Outback and despite three straight days of on and off rain, the road is in good condition all the way. There was a RAV-4 up at the main parking lot, as well as an assortment of Jeeps and a Suburban. The creek itself is easily passable for anything with a bit of clearance, as is another creek crossing lower down, between Grizzly Gulch and the turnoff for American Basin. | ||||
8/2/2016 Posted On: 8/2/2016 By: pens1fan Info: Was up at American Basin on 7/25 and 7/26. There was a Ranger on the 25th who was giving tickets to anyone trying to drive up to the main trailhead parking lot. I was able to drive up to parking area where almost everyone parked at 0.6 from trailhead in 06 Ford Explorer. Wildflowers were going strong thoughout the basin. | 4 |
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6/23/2016 Posted On: 6/23/2016 By: Gateman07 Info: Made it all the way up to the trailhead parking lot in my roommates Hummer H3 last night. Road is pretty rough, but most stock SUVs should be able to get up there without issue. River right before the trailhead was maybe 4-5 inches deep and had no issues crossing. WARNING: Within an hour of setting up camp in the back of the car, the marmots started doing their thing. The trailhead lot is absolutely overrun with them... clawing scratching at my undercarriage all night. I ended up staying up all night fending them off because I didn't want to drive back down at night. Ultimately, I didn't feel safe leaving my car unattended in the parking lot for the few hours it would have taken to summit, so I didn't even attempt the hike because I was underprepared for this threat. As "goingup" mentioned in his Redcloud/Sunshine trailhead report, if your brake line or something get chewed through up here, you're absolutely screwed. Local pro-tip from the folks in Silverton.... go to Home Depot or something and buy either fencing or screening to surround your car with if you want to use this trailhead with its current Marmot population, because you are gonna have a REAL bad time if you get stuck in this location. | 2 |
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5/31/2016 Posted On: 6/1/2016 By: Tim A Info: Scoped out the lower 2WD TH yesterday evening in preparation for a climb of Handies tomorrow. Made it to the 2WD TH in a low-clearance Honda Accord, but the last 10 miles took about 45 minutes to drive. It was dark and I couldn't see far, but the remaining road to the upper 4WD TH looked plowed and open as well. | 1 |
