Location
Road Difficulty
0 (0=Paved, 6=Very Difficult 4WD)Driving Directions
Winter Access
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Posted By: JasonCrane Info: Colorado 82 from Twin Lakes to TH is completely dry, as well as the parking area. |
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Posted By: hogantheepic Info: This trailhead is completely open. It’s on the side of a paved road so any car could make it to the trailhead. No snow anywhere near the road. |
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Posted By: adhend Info: Easy access. Road clear all the way. Just a little packed powder in places but mostly clean. Any vehicle can get there. |
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Posted By: ccampini Info: Google maps says the road is closed oct-May, but the road closes immediately after the trailhead. You are able to drive to trailhead. We used spikes the whole way up, snowshoes the whole way down. Tons of snow still in most places. Patches without once you get on the ridge line. |
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Posted By: JasonCrane Info: Colorado 82 is plowed, but the road is glazed with snow & several patches of ice. La Plata parking area has not been plowed. There’s a 1-2 ft. layer of snow parallel to the road (caused by the street plow). AWD SUV was no problem today. Another hiker with a Sedan was shoveling a path. |
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Posted By: Paula Info: Road and trailhead are plowed. There is a trench as far as the bridge, presumably for a while beyond, but that’s as far as we walked. |
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Posted By: drchele Info: Some fresh snow covering the parking lot, a few inches. Trailhead located right off 82 (open to the La Plata TH). Navigable in 2WD passenger car. |
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Posted By: kayleenann8 Info: In summer condition still. Watch out for the people sitting in the middle of the road to get pictures with the aspen. |
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Posted By: sky_high Info: Independence pass is open for business. Nothing to add to the last post regarding the trailhead as it is right off the highway and clear to all comers; parking will be sparse after 6 am. I’ll just mention, beyond the trailhead if you are looking to camp it is getting crowded and getting far along the road takes a vehicle with decent clearance and some careful driving. Nothing requiring lots of torque, but plenty of holes, dips, and twists. |
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Posted By: Joan Info: Arrived at 7 a.m. on a Sunday in July and found the La Plata Gulch Trailhead parking lot to be full (holds around a dozen cars), but there was space on the first 20 feet of 82C (the private dirt road) still open (when I returned in the afternoon I saw that late-comers had availed themselves of that space). There was also room on the shoulder of 82 immediately before and after the parking lot that latecomers used. NOT BAD for a Sawatch TH given how late I arrived! Plus, 82 is paved, so unlike other 14er approaches, my 2WD purred contentedly with getting my carcass to the TH!! |
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Posted By: cdecker Info: Although CO-82 was technically closed it had only minimal snow at 6AM. By the time we drove out in the afternoon it was just wet. The TH parking was mostly snow free by afternoon. |
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Posted By: Solo Info: Drove rented ford SUV to within a half mile of TH. After walking it it turns out I could have EASILY gone all the way. I’m sure a subaroo could make it... with an occasional bump. |
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Posted By: kingshimmers Info: Trailhead parking is open, and the dirt road from the parking to the start of the trail is dry. |
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Posted By: freeinthehills Info: Lots of snow. Activity has resulted in a firm path to about 10.8. I broke off this and skinned the rest of the way to the N. Ridge. Minimal dirt exposure. |
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Posted By: JQDivide Info: The road is clear to Twin Lakes. Patchy ice on the road from Twin Lakes to TH. Drive careful. Expect a little longer drive. |
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Posted By: Eagle Eye Info: (despite Independence Pass being closed) Colorado 82 was in great shape from the US 24/CO 82 junction to the TH. I saw and heard plows on it this day. There is only a small pull-off area currently plowed clear at the TH, with room for probably 4 maybe 5 cars. |
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Posted By: mspalding Info: Everything is as described. But when you are hiking on the road from the trailhead watch for the trail turnoff. I walked by it. There is a no parking sign next to it and it‘s at a sharp right turn in the road. |
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Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Open and the dirt road between the trailhead and the start of the trail is dry |
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Posted By: vdavidoff Info: Road plowed and clear (less some patches of packed snow) to the trailhead. Trailhead parking area is not plowed, however. |
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Posted By: Lute82 Info: room for several tents right at trail head, saw at least 5 decent amout of parking. |
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