Colorado Trail Status, Closures, repairs, discussion.

X-post from the Southwest forum:

Hi all, my apologies if this has been asked and answered before.

I'm looking at routes from Moab to Gateway, CO and google recommends Dolores Triangle Rt/Gateway Rd. I'll have my dad following me in his Highlander (stock with AWD) pulling a small pop-up camper. I'm wondering if under dry conditions he'll be able to make that drive?

I'm confident I'll be ok in my DCLB with 2" lift. It seems like that stretch of the Dolores Triangle Rt is basically just a dirt road and doesn't include any deep river crossing but I've never travelled it so I'm not 100% certain.

thanks!

 

it's a simple dirt road dry... it can get rutty through one section which rutty means real shitty when wet. dry you're fine though.. the descent down into the john brown canyon will destroy brakes, so be mindful of that and take a break on the way down.

 

Thank you so much! That's what I thought and thanks for the reminder!

 

Hey @lambo @johntoyota @Wulf etc...

I just got off the phone with USFS Ranger South Platte District... Rampart Range opened today.

PAY FOR DESIGNATED CAMPSITES will be on recreation.gov sometime in the next week.

 

hopefully that will divert traffic from other areas lol

 

Saw that on IG. Hope the pay in advance thing doesn’t fuck with random spontaneous trips.

 

chances are it will. but i thought it was only 3 camp areas from castle rock to colorado springs. there are tons of other areas people aren't terribly familiar with that are just a bit farther.

 

From my understanding when I read about it last year, it only affects the major roads like Dakan, main Rampart, and Jackson Creek. Plenty of other off shoots that I don't believe are affected by this. Unfortunately those off shoots may now be over run by assholes.

I don't care too much, I really don't spend much time around Rampart because it's typically a shit show, but yeah it might fuck with those nights you wanna get out of the city for something quick.

 

Group sites are $20
If I remember correctly, other sites are $10

 

Slaughterhouse Gulch is open for the season.

 

camping at Rampart?

why don't you just pitch a tent in the middle of the road out front of your house?

 

I'd prefer someone to pay me to camp along Rampart tbh

 

Rampart range is a complete shut show! I can’t even imagine camping out there. I did ironclads today and it is right up there with rampart. The rental side by side crowd up there is out of hand. Trash everywhere. Access gate to t-33 plane crash site trail is closed still.

 

Hello everyone, this seems like the perfect place to ask a few questions about vehicle prep. I want to take some vacation time and drive from Baltimore to CO, with the main goal to drive the Alpine Loop. My rig of choice would be my 3rd Gen 4runner. It's got the fac-tree e-locker, stock height suspension ( but relatively new components, I just didn't see the need to lift it) and 265-75-17 Hankook Dynapro AT/M's. No bumper mounted winch. I have recovery straps and a decent come-along, shovel, some spare axle shafts/tools, ect... I won't go into the wilderness completely unprepared.

I'm not a novice off-road driver, but most of my experience was either in the SoCal desert or the forests of the PNW. I could use any opinions if this is a decent vehicle to drive the loop with. I've been keeping my eyes open on the trail reports to see when they all might open up, I know that CO got some heavy, late spring snowfalls this year.

TIA- I'm looking forward to getting feedback from the locals!

 

You'll be fine with the 3rd gen 4runner. Pull over for people that have more experience/speed. Know the right of way (uphill has right of way).
The Alpine loop is pretty tame. I drove it with a mountain bike mounted on a hitch rack on my 1st gen Tacoma and didn't drag anywhere. I didn't need a winch, didn't use my MaxTrax, etc.

Just air down to make it a bit smoother and have a way to air back up (or plan to stop at a gas station in Lake City or elsewhere to do that).

 

The recent mass closures tell you all you need to know about the USFS's mindset...soon there won't be anywhere to camp/offroad along the front range and probably even beyond. I live not too far from Ironclads / Bunce School, would never even consider going up there these days for camping.

 

keep an eye on http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm for trail opening. i believe cinnamon is open for the season, but engineer won't be open for another couple weeks (6/7/20 opening last year). every year that changes, 2019 didn't open until 7/11/19. with this year being a lower snowpack year, it will most likely be in June. by september the snow chances pick back up and the pass will close Sept/Oct.

definitely air down as Jason mentioned.. it's not a difficult loop, but it is very bumpy and you'll appreciate the lower tire pressure.

 

Bunce/Ironclads/T-33 Crash are all beyond redemption due to the SXS infestation up there. It’s too bad because that’s a nice area.

 

Engineer Pass (Ouray County side) is open.

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/...000000000000&ttype=detail&cid=stelprdb5300963