Hermit Pass Road Trailhead

Posted On: 5/25/2026 By: mountainero
Info: Large snowbank just below 12k. Road is narrow and on a shelf at this point. I got about 20 yards into the snowbank and bailed. Turned out to be the right call as the pass is still snowed in. ATVs and smaller Side by sides could make it to 12.6k or so if they wanted to.

Posted On: 1/5/2026 By: Dad Mike
Info: Road is dry or packed ice / snow to 1.5 miles after the intersection with the Rainbow Trail. Easily drivable in any 4wd vehicle.

Posted On: 8/17/2025 By: MaryinColorado
Info: Drove it strictly for the off-roading fun in my stock 4Runner. It didn't disappoint! I aired down at ~9200' and was really, really glad I did. What a rough road with a LOT of pointy rocks. In fact, I actually parked at the switchback below top of pass proper because of a short stretch of unavoidable pointy nonsense. I just really didn't want to risk it, not worth it just for top of pass hero shot. Bonus: there is not the marmot frenzy at the switchback below, either! I still deployed my anti-marmoting, just in case, but really we saw no evidence of marmots hanging out below the pass. Top of pass, different story!! In fact, we scared off a marmot that was very keen about the underside of an unattended, unprotected ATV that was parked up there.

The road is not for the faint of heart. Took about 2 - 2.5 hours total. True 4x4 a must, gears and all. Protection a must. I would argue that being able to air down is a significant risk mitigator. You might get lucky. You might not. Custer County SAR posted earlier in the season about two vehicles with punctured tires up there, and I now know why.

Crazy good views! No regrets.

Posted On: 6/23/2025 By: ColoNativeGal
Info: Dry until the north side near the top of the saddle. 2 snow patches remain, one you can drive through, the other you cannot. Lots of atvs, side by sides and off road capable vehicles driving and camping in the dispersed spots. Beautiful area.

Posted On: 5/26/2025 By: hr011242
Info: Made it to about 12k until hitting the show-stopping snow drifts.

Posted On: 7/23/2024 By: Uffda
Info: Large drift still blocking one of the last switchbacks directly below the pass.

Posted On: 5/26/2024 By: yaktoleft13
Info: Determined drivers and vehicles can make it to 11k before a large snowdrift blocks the road.

Posted On: 4/22/2024 By: Justin9
Info: Hermit Pass Rd. clear of snow to 9750'. Continuous snow starts 1/2 mile from there. Get on it early as snow was very soft by noon.

Posted On: 8/15/2023 By: malogos
Info: Open to the pass. Rocky throughout. Took 1.25 hours in a 2 door Jeep on 35s.

Posted On: 7/19/2023 By: Jay521
Info: Maybe I'm just becoming a softie but I swear the road is worse than a couple years ago. Made it to 11,6 with my FJ before my fillings were all loose. Going down seemed worse, but it always does. Sure was a pretty day, tho - wildflowers were awesome!

Posted On: 5/9/2023 By: Reg0928
Info: I was able to get my Tacoma to 10k ft before hitting a large drift. Road still sucks. There are currently a couple decent mud holes.

Posted On: 9/25/2022 By: angry
Info: Most TH updates and peak CR's comment on how horrible the road is...yada yada. It isn't that bad and hasn't changed since I was last on it in Sept 2020. Typical 4WD road made easier with clearance and capable driver. Fall color underway.

Posted On: 7/16/2022 By: denvermikey
Info: Clear to pass, if you are masochistic enough to drive that far.
Plan on 1:45-2:00 each way of slow, bouncy, rough driving. Good skills, clearance, and AT tires w/ 4wd needed here.

Posted On: 10/17/2021 By: CheapCigarMan
Info: I found the road to be long, lumpy & bumpy. No major obstacles to overcome, just very bumpy. Like driving over small bowling balls.
Snow several inches deep. Driving in after dark made icy conditions which then warmed up during the next day.
I made it to the switchback just under 11,200'. I couldn't go any further as I couldn't get over icy rocks.
There were snow drifts just below the top of the pass that would not be passable.
There was a Jeep that made it to 12,000' the next day and an ATV that made it above that the day before.
I agree with others that if you can make it to 10,500' you can make it all the way to the top of the pass in summer conditions.

Posted On: 8/22/2021 By: IHikeLikeAGirl
Info: Update: Road is still awful...in case you were wondering....

Made it all the way up to the pass in a stock, Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with metal skid plates and Falken Wildpeak A/T tires. That being said, I will never put my vehicle, tires, body, and mental well-being through that again. Sections of the road are stressful, 90% is tiresome and annoying, and the road never......ever.......ends....

As others stated, the jostling and bouncing cannot be emphasized enough, it is probably the most maddening part of the road, and the reprieves are few and short lived.

The following information is for anyone thinking of taking this on in a 4WD with clearance akin to a stock Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk:

Having a passenger get out to spot and guide, saved me some time and anxiety. Thank you Dave!

Meaty skid plates are a must. Hit bottom, I don't know how many times. Some of the impacts were due to my jeep bouncing like a lowrider competition, the tires kicking up the loose rocks, and a few were just plain unavoidable.

Was thankful to have a (relatively) narrow wheel base as I often had to squeeze between large rocks and between a large rock and the edge of the road. At one point my passenger softly muttered, "please go left, please go left, please go left" as he had too good of a view of how close I was to the edge of the road and a steep drop off on his side of the car.

I would recommend tires with a meatier tread than I have or maybe deflate them a bit. My tires spun at times and I had to back up and make a faster run at a few sections. Wasn't happy doing that, given the maneuvers I was having to make.

Bring a tire repair kit, air compressor pump, a good jack, and know how to change a tire (just in case). I did not spring a leak, but I am not sure how that was possible. SO many pointy rocks.

And lastly, bring passengers that are not offended by cussing and audibly expressed frustrations.

Good luck!