6/30/2026 Posted On: 6/30/2026 By: wolfgangstiller Info: The road has mild wash board at start but not bad. I'd take my Rav4 or Subaru all the way to gate but the last 200 yards have some really bad spots so it requires very careful driving for a non-high-clearance vehicle. I would suggest parking a lower clearance vehicle at the lot on the right a couple of hundred yards before the final gate. | ||||
6/13/2026 Posted On: 6/13/2026 By: sukumarst Info: Dry and rough, but reachable with 2WD all the way up to the Summer gate. Should be carful and avoid large rocks and potholes. I drove my Camry Hybrid. Still free parking. By 5:50am, there were about 20 cars already parked. By 11:00am when I returned, parking lot is crowded and still available. | ||||
5/29/2026 Posted On: 5/29/2026 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Road is a bit rough just below the upper parking/gate area but still 2WD (with good clearance). | ||||
4/29/2026 Posted On: 5/1/2026 By: jacolc Info: Road was dry to gate and above to mine. | ||||
4/2/2026 Posted On: 4/3/2026 By: 14er101 Info: Road was completely dry to the gate as of 2100 on 4/2 when the storm was starting. | 2 |
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3/14/2026 Posted On: 3/14/2026 By: nkalin Info: The road is completely dry until just past the Four Mile Creek campground. At that point, the snow gets pretty bad. We saw two vehicles get stuck, one of which likely needed a tow. We were in a 4WD subaru and were okay. If you have 4WD, you can probably make it past this point (but it is tough). If you can, it is reasonably dry all the way to the gate. | ||||
2/6/2026 Posted On: 2/6/2026 By: Trotter Info: Only a couple miles up CR 18 is a large frozen creek thats covered the road. There are a couple tire tracks through it, but you need a LOT of clearance to clear the ice in between the tracks. Actually better is to ride next to the tracks on the solid ice. It didn't break through for us. After that, road is clear until the "Don't get stuck" signs. Past that, theres a long section of several inches of snow thats pretty damned sketchy. If you manage to stay in the tire tracks, you'll make it through, but clearly people who slid out of them took a lot of digging to get out. After a half mile or so, road goes clear again. Getting closer to summer gate, theres another section of snow thats slippery but only a few inches deep. Then clear to gate. Basically, if you are lucky and skilled and stay in the tracks, you can make it to gate. But looks pretty bad if you get out. | 3 |
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1/21/2026 Posted On: 1/21/2026 By: MaryinColorado Info: We parked just a little bit past the "DON'T GET STUCK" signage/typical winter parking spot. Road is off-and-on seemingly shallow snow until the summer TH, but later learned from a resident that as recently as four days ago some folks trying to go higher up got stuck. So may just depend on your vehicle. However, this changes Friday if they receive the few inches of fresh snow they're expecting. | 1 |
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12/14/2025 Posted On: 12/14/2025 By: madmattd Info: Road is 98% snow-free and dry to the winter parking (and the various "don't do it, stop here, or else" signs). Road is 98% snow-covered from there to Leavick, at times 1'+ deep and loose. There are a few tire tracks up to about ~1/2mi above the winter parking, and one intrepid Forester today drove all the way to within ~1/4mi of Leavick before aborting, popping a u-turn (which looked like it got dicey), parking on the side of the road facing downhill, and heading off on their hike today. So while it can be done, I wouldn't recommend it....just park at the winter parking and don't chance it. Ironically the road above Leavick to the summer trailhead is largely dry with only a few stretches of shallow snow - would likely be drive able if not for the snow down low. | 2 |
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9/30/2025 Posted On: 9/30/2025 By: binchen1230 Info: The road was in decent shape in general but unpaved portion is quite long. At this time of the year, parking near the gate will be available on weekdays. There are still spots near the gate when I left around 11. AWD should be able to make it with no issue. | 1 |
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9/28/2025 Posted On: 10/6/2025 By: SDuster Info: Road to the trailhead proper was pretty pot-holed, but could be navigated with a high clearance car. First couple of miles was very washboarded, but not terrible. Was not too much extra to park at the next lower spot (0.25 miles down the road), and just add that into the hike. Less risk for the car. | ||||
9/10/2025 Posted On: 9/10/2025 By: Mesquandolas Info: Road coming in was very easy with my Crosstrek. I think 2WD could do this with only one tricky section right toward the end, anything with decent clearance will be totally fine. | ||||
9/6/2025 Posted On: 9/6/2025 By: jackbdew Info: Road is in good shape and dry. No issues getting up or down the entire road in an AWD Rav4. | ||||
6/22/2025 Posted On: 6/22/2025 By: pmathews Info: The road in is doable with a high clearance vehicle. 4WD not need but helpful. Got to the trail head at 4 am with minimal cars there. | ||||
6/20/2025 Posted On: 6/20/2025 By: kennedy_josh Info: No issues, plenty of parking at 0500 and all morning right at the gate or within1/4mi of the gate. |
