Mt. Elbert (North) Trailhead

Posted On: 5/12/2026 By: Cogwheel4755
Info: Road in good condition all the way to the trailhead.

Posted On: 2/8/2026 By: Dani_C_123
Info: The dirt road is currently still open to the trailhead.

Posted On: 12/31/2025 By: colingoodman
Info: Trailhead is still easily accessible. Road is packed snow starting when the pavement ends.

Posted On: 12/20/2025 By: globreal
Info: The standard, Mt Elbert, northeast ridge th is still open. You can drive to the large parking lot on a car packed snowy road.

Posted On: 11/10/2025 By: mtnmike
Info: Road is dry as a bone all the way to the trailhead parking lot. A few potholes to contend with but drivable by most vehicles.

Also, trailhead restrooms closed for the season.

Posted On: 10/3/2025 By: binchen1230
Info: Road was well maintained and passable even with 2WD. Just need pick your path and drive slow over the many horizontal ruts. The TH is on left side. If you see Massive TH sign, then you just missed it. The parking is not full (weekday). The toilet is not open in the early morning.

Posted On: 9/3/2025 By: Mesquandolas
Info: Just updating since it’s been a while. Still a very easy road. There’s pretty consistent ruts to the TH so keep an eye, but any car could do it. Hiked Elbert today (9/3) and the main lot never filled up.

Posted On: 10/13/2024 By: Steelernation
Info: Detour is well signed and easy to follow. The detour road is a bit rougher than the Halfmoon road but still doable by any car, even a prius or other very low-clearance sedan.

Posted On: 10/9/2024 By: MountainMan56
Info: Drivers beware! I had a hard time getting to the Mt. Elbert (North) Trailhead yesterday. There were several road closures and neither Siri or Google could direct me around the closures. I talked with some construction workers who told me that a hydro-electric plant failed, taking out several bridges... But I cannot find anything in the news to substantiate that story. Google, Siri and the road workers all recommended that I go to the south trailhead. I decided to go climb Quandary instead, as I was running out of daylight.

Posted On: 5/22/2024 By: Brian Garkie
Info: Road in the morning had a light dusting of snow and was dry in the afternoon with the usual potholes, but no washboarding. I easily made it with my front wheel drive Mazda 3.

Posted On: 5/16/2024 By: Jcinco
Info: Road is still quite snowy starting about 3 miles in just past the first cluster of dispersed campsites. There are definitely vehicles traveling past this point, but it was getting too snowy/slushy for me to venture beyond in my minivan. With the upcoming stretch of warm weather, Im guessing it will fully melt in the next week or so.

Posted On: 12/21/2023 By: mcookhines
Info: I highly recommend parking at Halfmoon East campground. Up until there, the road is snowy, but generally flat and well packed out. I went as far as Emerald Lake Picnic Area (in a small AWD truck/SUV thing with all-weather tires and plenty of snow-driving experience), and had serious trouble getting back up the first hill on my way out. We weren't the only ones who got stuck that day, either. Learned my lesson and plan to purchase chains asap. Parking and walking the extra mile would have been way faster.

Posted On: 11/4/2023 By: aholle88
Info: Road is snow covered the whole way from where it turns to dirt. The snow ruts/tire tracks get deeper further on, but I did make it to the trailhead in my Impreza Friday night. Wouldnt recommend it in that low of a car though. It was risky at best and I decided to go to the south TH this morning to avoid driving the road again. Nobody had pulled into the upper lot as of last night, deep snow there but parking on the side of the road by the TH is an option.

Posted On: 7/26/2023 By: jbferree
Info: A dirt/gravel road for the last few miles to get to the parking lot but it was maintained and any car can do it. No snow remaining anywhere. I arrived at 4:45am on a Tuesday and there were maybe 10 cars there so plenty of parking. I assume on the weekend it is much tougher but there is room to park on the side of the road approaching the trailhead as well. The beginning of the trail is in the trees so make sure you have a headlamp if starting early. I met a few people without one who were just relying on others having them. Two vault toilets available at trailhead but no hand sanitizer.

Posted On: 5/12/2023 By: Jirwindisc
Info: Road to NorthEast trailhead was completely clear up till 7:30 pm on 5/11/2023. Could have driven any car up there at that time. Some snow at the parking lot sides, and snow started up road after first 1/4 mile. Didn't need Snowshoes till 1.75 miles in.