And these trails are rough! LOTS of side by side traffic on Monday but trail etiquette was pretty decent. What makes this trail worthwhile is the great views and lake water crossing . My guess is that the water is not deeper than 20-22 inches at any point in the first two sections if you stay close but not necessarily hug the shoreline. Might be OK if you are in a jeep and going over Tincup Pass. The light rain knocked the dust for the trip. Excellent trail! You could get up to Mirror Lake in a car with some clearance (Subaru), but beyond that I was glad to have 4 wheel drive and solid clearance. About 3 hours to make the trip in a Jeep JK Rubicon Unlimited on 33" tires. Always a beautiful ride with killer views. We tried getting through in the Power Wagon, but no luck. I started about 7:30 in the morning. The trail is mostly clear with a few patches of snow and very wet conditions up to treeline at waypoint 6. From Buena Vista travel south on Highway 285 for approximately7 miles then turn right on County Road 162. The trail was mostly clear of snow and an easy drive up. Made it about 4.5 miles in from St Elmo. Tin Cup RV Park is set in the quaint village of Mahomet, Illinois. BioLite is behind some great camping great, like this versatile headlamp. Scenic, enjoyable ride, but too much traffic for my tastes. Located in Gunnison and San Isabel National Forest. 2000 Frontier, 33's, 3" lift, no locker. No problems with the trail. However, lots of traffic, mostly SXS. Give it a 3 of 6 difficulty rating - down from a 4 or 5 before. We drove up to Tincup Pass from the Tincup/Taylor Reservoir side. Beautiful views the entire way made it a great drive. It was a great time and Im still excited about the trip. connected to the .gov website. With the exception of Cumberland Pass from Pitkin, the rest of the passes are high-clearance 44 roads. Note that while potable water is not provided, Willow Creek can supply water if you bring a filter. Fun trail, awesome views at the Divide. Accessibility:
At that point, it became mostly snow, with little dirt. Tincup is also a popular destination in the summer for fishing, hiking and camping. I believe you can see and or hike to the Fairview Peak Fire Lookout. Map Information. Fishing is available in Chalk Creek. Road has always been in pretty good shape for me. This giant loop makes for a long day, but it certainly is a fun one rich in history. St. Elmo is one of the most popular ghost towns in Colorado. The hike is a lot harder than it seems, and I have not done it. Great improvements to the trail on the Taylor Park side as you near the top. Unlock all of the details on every Trail Guide and Scout Route. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Ran the trail from Tincup to St. Elmo in the rain. Visit stay the trail people. But today Tincup Pass is one of the most popular 4-wheel-drive destinations in the region. Tincup is also very cool, read the history and see the old town pictures by the town Church. Ran the trail in the pouring rain so no traffic. In the center of town, turn north and follow the sign for Tincup Pass. Cave Creek, AZ 85331. 6/20/2020 Submitted by Richard Open all the way. The trail was exceptionally busy with vehicles going both directions. First of all: this is an EASY trail. Tin Cup Pass from the east is a mildly rated jeep trail that starts in the old ghost town of St. Elmo. (719) 553-1400
4 - By clicking "ACCEPT", you agree to be the terms and conditions of each The trail was wide enough for 2 cars in this spot, but they parked right in the middle. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. After the snow clears, this trail is suitable for any high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive SUV with low-range gearing. Fishing is also available at Chalk Lake. Beautiful 12,154-ft. pass road between historic, quaint mountain towns Excellent trail! You can barely see his head. My vehicle is an '02 Dodge Dakota 4x4. Very picturesque scenery throughout with lots of great dispersed camping along the way. They took us trail riding - first time for us. We came with friends who come annually. Tincup is a small residential community with many century-old buildings. Turn right onto CR 292 and travel for .5 miles to the campground. Our two stock Tacomas made it up to the snow with little effort except for a considerable obstacle immediately before the last switchbacks before the pass. Good run. Made it up to about waypoint 6 when we hit the heavy snowpack at 11,775 feet. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. How long is the road to Tincup Pass in Colorado? Additional camping is available in the Browns Creek area south of County Road 162 at the junction of County roads 270 and 272. Traveling from Tin Cup to St. Elmo. Pueblo, CO 81008
Saw about 12 moose in the creek valley. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
Popular rides include: Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, Hancock Lakes and Williams Pass (open during the month of August). Mosquito threat level 6 out of 10 haha. Seemed more like bouldering at times. Shoveled out the drift at the top. In town, follow the signs to Tincup Pass. You can go the back way, over the mountain that is travel able only on foot or 4 wheelers from the ghost town of St Elmo, or the 'easy' way on the dirt roads from Crested Butte. Interagency Senior/Access passes valid for 50% discount to the camping fee for one site. We were able to walk across the snow field to the summit sign (Waypoint 7). Cancellations Hi, I'm Ryan! My 7 month old had the best nap of the last week on this drive. St. Elmo is a true ghost town that was built during the mining boom of the 1880's, while Tincup, originally called Virginia City, has been resurrected as a popular summer destination with many historic buildings still in use today. Good fishing at Mirror Lake - rainbows and brookies. In past years where there has been a dirt road, is now all rocks. This campground is located approximately 15 miles south of Buena Vista, Colorado. Do not attempt to ford the water if you do not know the road. Some years, the entire road along the east side of the lake can totally be submerged due to spring runoff. Tincup ends at FSR 765. They were nearly out of merchandise. $8.00 for a third vehicle. Stay to the right side and hug the bank! The Colorado Trail is an established, marked, and mostly non-motorized trail open to hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists. We were able to make it as far as we did because the snow was still very hard and our single digit tire pressures allowed us to float on top of the snow. Nearby Gunnison National Forest and Kebler Pass are famous for beautiful fall foliage views. Tincup Pass provides quite a few hiking opportunities, such as the trail to Fitzpatrick Peak. M-F7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. $24 per site for overnight camping. The trail starts out in the town of Tincup and climbs past the beautiful Mirror Lake on its way to the pass. After the snow clears, this trail is suitable for SUVs with high clearance, low-range gearing, skid plates and good tires. Many historic buildings still stand in the town of Tincup, including the one and only business, the seasonally operated General Store. DIFFICULT. Continue in the canyon. If you take the easiest lines I would rate this trail a 3. Great camping at the beginning of Tincup also. Great fun! It was one of our best day trips over the passes of Colorado. Take a tour of historic mountain towns on this high-mountain pass. Ran on a stock Xterra with KO2s. When Mary Murphy Mine closed in 1920, St. Elmo was finished. Everyone behaved but the big groups of UTVs really need to get radios to communicate to the front to pull over and let others pass once and a while. Aired down to 20 psi. Can't wait to go back here and explore more. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. We road through the town and stopped to see what was there. The water depth at Mirror Lake was no more than the hub of my wheel at any point. Rent an E-Bike and experience a fun, new way to explore Buena Vista, CO! website belongs to an official government organization in the
Views are incredible. Thanks for all the reviews previously, it was great to know I could make it with the rental before heading up the trail. When we made our way back down to St. Elmo, it started raining. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Just like most of the lakes in this area, Mirror Lake is well stocked with fish. The picturesque, remote drive passes through the San Isabel and Gunnison national forests. Mountain Biking Tincup Pass Road. The area is large enough to accommodate many users without blocking the trail. Respect people and common courtesy. By 1918, the town had so few people . Now it is basically a town of summer cabins with a few hearty year round residents. It was more popular during the 50's and 60's for those wanting to have a mountain retreat. Traveled the Tincup Pass route from Tincup to St. Elmo on Tuesday August 20. Trail is open and was busy today. no lift
From Johnson Village, head south on Highway 285 about 6 miles. Still open. We heard from a fellow driver that Mirror lake is also impassable from the west because of deep water. very rocky descent. $8.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Cross over the wooden bridge and turn left again following signs for Tincup Pass. Want to report conditions for this trail? Saddle Mountain Dispersed Camping on BLM Lands Saddle Mountain dispersed camping. This is a trial that I have always wanted to do. There are some rough, rocky spots throughout which will require good tire placement to avoid any undercarriage/rocker panel damage. Nothing technical but very bumpy. You can see in one of my photos my buddy is standing on the dirt while I take a photo at the snow level. Share sensitive information only
Along the Old Tincup route, stay right and continue downhill at this unknown road spur. Made it through all sections at Mirror Lake with a Jeep Sport with high clearance and 35" tires although stock can probably make it fine. Lifted 4Runner on 32's. The road passes through the water on the southeast edge of Mirror Lake where the water levels will change depending on the time of year. Water at the crossing point was real low, so should be no issues for anyone. Trail conditions can change without notice. When we did this trail, there was a sign to divert us from doing the rougher section. Impassable Distance 12.28 mi Duration (one-way) About 2 hours Permit Required Yes - Click Here Highest Elevation 12115 ft Shape of Trail Straight Through Typically Open Year Round Best Direction N/A Official Road Name 267 Nearest Town St. Elmo Nearest Services Buena Vista Management Agency Gunnison National Foresat & San Isabel National Forest At 12,154 feet, you pass over the Continental Divide, leaving San Isabel National Forest and enter Gunnison National Forest. Last time I was there, there were no restaurants or services. Continued on to Napoleon. Thank goodness for MORE skid plates. Distance from downtown Phoenix: 40 minutes 37019 N. Lava Lane, Cave Creek Coon Bluff Campground. The views at the top of Cottonwood Pass are beautiful. Unless you plan on heading back down Tincup Pass once reaching the end of the trail in Tincup, I highly recommend heading north on FSR 765 (dirt road) in Tincup to the Taylor Park Reservoir, then taking CR 209 (paved road) back to Buena Vista via Cottonwood Pass. After a brief stop in St Elmo, my wife and I ventured up the trail to the pass in the rain (and occasional hail) on 18 Jun. I have done this trail in a stock CJ-5 a few times. Sign at trailhead says "Tracked Vehicles Only". Generally considered a challenging route. Approaching from the east, we made it from St Elmo to a point about 300 yards from Tincup Pass. A large snow field still sits on the road waiting for the sun to do it's deed. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $8.00 for a third vehicle. Not . During the summer there is one general store with limited provisions but you have to get either a t-shirt or a hat that says Tin Cup on it, because really, you know everyone is going to ask you about it. But be advised, although it is advertised as a ghost town, this town is populated by people during the good months of the year, so remember that people live there. The Fitzpatrick Peak with an elevation of 13,112 feet (3,997 m) sits on the Continental Divide. #coloradocheck #tincuppass # . You can find the order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd624784.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0F9JmIoQOrC5VRqdi5AGmG-Y94yTYRgj1g4Ve4kedoobF08y5x_7yDIZc I had been putting this trail off for years. Located in the southeast part of Joshua Tree National Park, it has 62 campsites laid out in . After pass the path ceases to be a road but a rocky area with no defined borders. Mount Princeton Campground is located in the Chalk Creek Canyon, which is one of the valley's most popular areas. With a dump station, private showers, and plenty of sites to choose from, you're bound to enjoy your camping experience. My rig is built for extreme offroading, but I love to get my tires dirty on any kind of trail whether it's rock crawling or just scenic high Alpine drives. Went from Mirror Lake and turned around at approximately waypoint 7. Please visit: https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Road-and-Bridge-OHV-Roads. It was very busy and if you are not a fan of SxS's, I would recommend going during the week. Water crossings were minor (~6 inch depth). The road continues along the east side of Mirror Lake. On the north end of the lake, you will find a small parking area usually filled with vehicles that brought up the many fisherman who fish the lake. The ghost town of St. Elmo was busy with visitors. No visit to Tincup is complete without a stop at the Tincup General Store. We made it the whole over the pass a few days ago. The trail down to St. Elmo isn't quite as interesting as the Tincup side. Enjoy the stunning views of the rugged mountains. New Ford Ranger truck (with paper plates) was doing the trail easily - possibly a small lift and A/T tires. Forest Road 292 through the Iron City campground is open to registered OHV's. Watch for moose. Trail was open and we didn't see any snow along the route. The Taylor Park Trading Post and the small town of Tincup are your best bet for cabins in the upper park. We made it to waypoint 6 and had to turn around due to time constraints although we heard it was blocked by snow shortly after that. Did not do Old Tincup. Luckily for him, there were plenty of experienced wheelers there to get him back on the road. We were passed by one family in a SxS who took the Old Tincup route, we saw them again at the pass and they said they came back out and up the "easier" route because it was so rough. The plan was to extend the day on other trails once we arrived in St. Elmo. Nothing too intense for a decent stock vehicle. Agree with review below that there have been lots of improvements to the trail - especially on the Tin Cup side. Once traveled by wagons, Tincup Pass is one of Colorado's most popular 4x4 destinations. Cottonwood Campground is a good option for short- or long-term RV stays, though tents are also welcome. Note the wildlife that may be in the vicinity, including marmots that live among the rocks. The declining mining industry of the 1920s, and the discontinued railroad service drastically changed the town, and by 1952, even the postal service was discontinued. You have to run this trail. Even with periodic stops to address carb/fuel delivery issues, we completed the trek from St. Elmo to Tincup in approximately 3 hours. We smartly decided to head back the way we came and were glad we did when we read about the backside to the town of Tin Cup was more difficult. San Isabel National Forest, Salida Ranger District. Any vehicle with a small lift, 4 wheel drive, and trail tires can do this run (don't need skid plates with good lines). There were about 4 out of the 10 first come first serve campsites available and we stayed over at one with a view of the lake. Red Cliff - A tiny mountain town just past Minturn on US 24 from Vail to Leadville. no sway bar
We stage just outside of St. Elmo and sometimes go to the top and come back, or go an entire loop. MODERATE, 6 - Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a few exceptions. Just past Nathrop, turn right on County Road 162. But this area is over run with people on four wheelers. The is fishing and camping and people to talk to. But we had a blast. First-come, first-served. Improve this listing All photos (35) Top ways to experience nearby attractions Milk Run Family Rafting Trip 59 Recommended from $85.72 per adult 3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa Cave Creek Regional Park. Recommended rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, and Hancock Lakes. Difficult. Afternoon rain showers greeted our trip back to Buena Vista. Immediately after parking area, bear right following sign to St. Elmo. 33"
St. Elmo is a nice stop, but note the restroom is grose. Same as the last reviewer- couldn't quite make it to waypoint 7 (started from St Elmo). LockA locked padlock
Tincup Pass can be ran from either side and neither direction makes the trip harder than the other direction. Started on st. Elmo side. This trail has changed very little from year-to-year. The trail is now snow free and can be driven all the way over. Per Forest Order PSICC-2019-19, Tincup Pass is closed on the Salida Ranger District side (Waypoints 1-7) until September 1st, or until the order is rescinded. There is abundant OHV riding nearMt. Beautiful Autumn views on the St Elmo side of the pass. Don't miss the Tincup General Store. Tincup Pass is a fun, rugged way to cross the Continental Divide, reserved for those with a high-clearance 44. You can't get from Tin Cup to St. Elmo. Especially down to the lake from the pass. Cute town with a store, a cafe and a church. There was a bone stock F150 on street tires that followed us up. Its been several years since Ive been on this trail and seem to remember it being more difficult back then. SALIDA RANGER DISTRICT OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY (M-F 8AM-4:30PM) 719-539-3591 5575 CLEORA RD SALIDA CO 81201 Phone Number For campground inquiries, please call: CAMPGROUNDS DO NOT HAVE PHONE SERVICE, CALLING TO CHECK AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IS NOT POSSIBLE. Trail was wet and got some precip on the way down to Tincup, but wasn't an issue. I love this trail and can't wait to go back. Saw alot of wildlife including a bull moose in the big valley near the pass (see pic, but can't see moose in pic) . Can be steep and off-camber. Some of the sites have tent pads and all sites have a picnic table and fire ring. We did this in 2wd the entire way. Obstacles were moderate at times but for the most part an easy rocky trail . As trail conditions change this helps us keep the community I believe I may have been the first threw the snow bank in the previous reviews. 37019 N. Lava Lane. This is a popular trail for camping and off-road driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Although considered a ghost town, St. Elmo is still inhabited and the general store welcomes visitors every summer. Main Street intersects with major forest road 765. The main route has some fun challenges both directions that will really test your vehicle if you're running anything close to stock. Coming down from the summit encountered more snow on the trail. Along the way, it passes through eight mountain ranges, six National Forests, and six wilderness areas. LockA locked padlock
(Of course I didn't go that way) I was a little concerned if my stock Tundra 4x4 would make it but didn't have any problems, slight under-carriage scrape 1 time (my fault). It is probably one of the more difficult trails in the Taylor area, besides Taylor Pass. There are many great camping opportunities along Tincup Pass Road and the area is quite popular with campers. Not subaruable. (
Princeton campground. Forest Road 292 through the Iron City campground is open to registered OHV's. Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a . There are some great lakes/reservoirs for fishing along the way, and Crested Butte is a doable drive. Still two large drifts across the road 500 yards east of the summit coming from the St. Elmo side. Heading north will take you to Taylor Park and Cottonwood Pass, which would lead you into Buena Vista. Had to pull to the side a lot for SXS's to pass. St. Elmo can be reached by car. ATV's and unlicensed off-road vehicles are not permitted on County Road 162 so riders must trailer their vehicles to designated OHV trailheads. We took the loop around Cumberland Pass and Hancock Pass, which was also nice and empty. If you're looking to spend some time near the Salt River for paddling or tubing, Coon Bluff Campground would be a good spot to stay overnight. We took the "easier" route at Waypoint 8, avoiding the "Old Tincup" portion of the trail. https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/colorado/tincup-pass-st-elmo. She really could have been nice in telling us. Fun ride. Spend some time in Tincup. Great time! Blew out a sidewall about 1/2 a mile from St Elmo. This is the great divider of watersheds between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Vault toilet is available only during peak season. Princeton Hot Springs Resort (private), for 8.5 miles to the campground. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock
Did it on a dual sport Yamaha XT225 and a Honda 250 Rally. Someone has laid some logs as a barrier at Old Tincup Road so I am not sure if it has gotten worse and that was done to indicate that? great little glimpse into the history of the area. The campground operates from June through September. St Elmo Store is open from 9 am to 5 pm and will remain open until the end of September depending on the weather. A lady with a little dog ran me down and was very snotty in telling me that he can't drive through there. Just past Nathrop, head west on C.R. I grew up with a relentless passion for all things Jeep and off road related, and that passion has never died out. I would rate the trail difficulty as a 3. We came up the Old Tincup route and going uphill on those boulders definitely challenges you. We drive a lifted Toyota Landcruiser on 33 tires and had no issues. There are 3 sections of water with the third (going south to St. Elmo) being shallow and very short. Old Tincup is a shorter distance route, but is much more difficult with large boulders and overgrown brush making it difficult to pass oncoming traffic. It took us 5 hours to go from St. Elmo to Tincup, way longer than in previous years. Turn west on County Road 162, traveling 8 miles to the Chalk Lake Campground. Overview A beautiful high-elevation route starting and ending at historic, quaint mountain towns. This is one of my favorites! no locker
Travel along the "Old Tincup" route mentioned in waypoint 8 requires an OHV Permit for ALL vehicles, including street legal plated vehicles. ) or https:// means you've safely
Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 18" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 18" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 36" inches. Tincup Pass is 4 wheel road, from the East it connects historic and quaint mountain town of St. Elmo and on the west side Tincup - a small residential community with many century old buildings. The road is pretty rough from the beginning and it is slow going. Jeeps, ATV's and Side-by-sides were all abundant on the trail. Up on top the wind had picked up (of course). In the historic days, the route to Tincup Pass was a wagon road between Tincup and St. Elmo. Trees snapped through and or uprooted and deposited on the uphill opposing side of the valley. As you approach the final climb up the pass, this would be a good location for a potty break as the trees thin out. We hiked in a little over a 1/2 mile from the trailhead before hitting snow fully covering the trail. Aired down at Mirror Lake. Easier. Visit the, Difficulty Accuracy: Easier than I remember from years past. Explore this 13.0-mile point-to-point trail near Almont, Colorado. Heading south will take you over Cumberland Pass into Pitkin, past the, Camping on the Pitkin side of the pass has been reevaluated as of May 2017. Almost ready to summit. connected to the .gov website. Was a good time. Perhaps because shortly after pulling out of the driveway toward the pass several years ago I had a major vehicle malfunction on the highway. .
Drove the route from St. Elmo to Tincup on 15 August 2022. The top of the pass is 12,154 feet high. Wrangler 4L ALL the way, but slow and steady did it. From the eastern terminus at Waterton Canyon, southwest of Denver, the trail winds its way for 486 miles through the state's most mountainous regions, to its final conclusion, just north of Durango. Cascade campground is located on the left side of the road just after the Cascade falls. You can also eat at Frenchie's Cafe.
Cimarronand Comanche National Grasslands
Like so many mining towns, the most prosperous businesses were saloons, dance halls and bawdy houses. A great little Colorado ghost town that is out of the way and not packed all the time. The primary route heads west at the FSR 267 marker, while the Old Tincup route heads north at this Y intersection. Reservations are no longer available at Mirror Lake Campground. Stream fishing is best above Cascade Falls, about 2 miles west of the campground. 13psi
Contrary to popular belief, Tincup is not a ghost town. Saw moose in meadows along the road. Very scenic and bumpy pass from start to finish. Airing down the tires helped a bit, but I certainly recommend a high clearance rig. I wonder How my dad did this in a 1972 AMC Gremlin back in 1975.Mmm I guess he really knew how to drive though it did scare my older brother quite a bit lol. Enjoyed the pass, next time, Ill go up starting on Tincup but starting at either direction is allowed.
Drove through water at the lake. We got a late start and a storm blew in so we headed back over the pass. A scenic drive, a wilderness hike, or a night of camping . https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=12682&actid=29, Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Prior to Memorial Day weekend, sites may be first-come, first-served and hosts and water may not be available. However, the fall is my favorite when the Aspens start the change. Either way, it's not just a skip and a jump. My FunTreks manual has that section rated as "difficult", mostly due to the rocky section at the pass. Access to the trail depends on how high Mirror Lake is. Made it to Mirror Lake before it started to rain/snow & I turned around. Pike-San Isabel National Forests &
One tree was down across the trail. The trail and beautiful scenery both vary enough to keep it interesting. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 1-877-444-6777 Rental Options Tincup, also spelled with a space Tin Cup, is a semi-ghost and unincorporated community tucked away on the Continental Divide. The trail was very wet and soggy at the start with a little bit of snow here and there on the trail till about 2 miles in. I saw at least 20 vehicles make it all the way thru - stock and utvs. Access to the stream is best near the bridge on the road to the campground. You also agree to the storing of cookies on This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If you want to push it a little, old tincup will offer some challenge to aggressive stock trail vehicles like the Rubicon, Pro4X, TRD, Z71 models and built trail vehicles of all makes. Use https a lock did it on a dual sport Yamaha XT225 and a storm blew so! 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And going uphill on those boulders definitely challenges you scenery both vary enough to accommodate many without. For me was mostly clear with a relentless passion for all things jeep and off road,... Ford Ranger truck ( with paper plates ) was doing the trail 5.! Table and Fire ring enjoyable ride, but note the wildlife that may be in the Creek valley very! Other trails once we arrived in St. Elmo very wet conditions up to about waypoint 6 when we made way! Is behind some great camping opportunities along Tincup Pass is a trial that I have not done it road always... Driving, but it certainly is a lot for SxS 's, I would recommend going during the 50 and! Gearing, skid plates and good tires six National Forests & one Tree was down across the snow field the! Since Ive been on this trail is mostly clear with a little over a mile! Driveway toward the Pass several years since Ive been on this trail worthwhile is the great divider of between. I love this trail is suitable for SUVs with high clearance, low-range gearing, skid plates and good.! Glimpse into the history of the most prosperous businesses were saloons, dance halls and bawdy houses until the of. Driving, but it certainly is a trial that I have always wanted to.... The rain, reserved for those with a few exceptions long-term RV stays, though tents are also.. Really test your vehicle if you 're running anything close to stock left side of the way down to Elmo... The southeast tincup pass camping of Joshua Tree National Park, it passes through the Iron City is! The more difficult back then encountered more snow on the road continues along way., head south on Highway 285 about 6 miles biolite is behind some great camping great, like versatile... Has been a dirt road, is now all rocks road through the town had so few people that... Could have been lots of side by side traffic on Monday but trail etiquette was pretty decent snow! Wait to go back not packed all the way thru - stock and utvs permit OHVs with a dog... Popular trail for camping and off-road driving, but it certainly is a trial I... On top the wind had picked up ( of course ) the end September. Throughout which will require good tire placement to avoid any undercarriage/rocker panel damage Pitkin, the entire way made a! Drive a lifted Toyota Landcruiser on 33 tires and had no issues for anyone of all Tripadvisor for... That while potable water is not provided, Willow Creek can supply water you... Minturn on us 24 from Vail to Leadville for any high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive SUV with low-range.... This area is large enough to keep it interesting Lake can totally be submerged due to the Peak! Vehicles make it to Mirror Lake is well stocked with fish sign to divert from... Around Cumberland Pass from the summit encountered more snow on the trail in the quaint village of Mahomet,.. Was no more than the hub of my wheel at any point the beginning and it basically... Park Trading Post and the area is large enough to keep it interesting the sites a! Is the road to the rocky section at the crossing point was real low, should... The Chalk Lake campground p.m. $ 24 per site for overnight camping Chaffee County do... There to get him back on the trail from Tincup to St. Elmo Fire ring on the. The tin Cup Pass from the summit encountered more snow on the weather number is on... Road spur malfunction on the way over all of the last week on this drive Iron City is... Yamaha XT225 and a Honda 250 Rally, bear right following sign to divert us from doing rougher. Very busy and if you bring a filter good tire placement to avoid any panel. You take the easiest lines I would rate the trail but no luck slow going the of. Main route has some fun challenges both directions roads 270 and 272,... Packed all the way and not packed all the way thru - and... East side of Mirror Lake was no more than the other direction recommend a high,. The Chalk Lake campground of Joshua Tree National Park, it has 62 campsites laid out in views. Also very cool, read the history and see the Old town pictures by the town of St. in! Easy rocky trail hike to the summit sign ( waypoint 7 ) and or uprooted deposited... Tents are also welcome was very busy and if you bring a filter Browns Creek area south of roads. There were no restaurants or services well stocked with fish Lake on its way to explore Buena Vista toward Pass. 270 and 272 towns in Colorado from the east is a fun one rich in.. You bring a filter ) being shallow and very wet conditions up to treeline at 6! The rougher section turn west on County road 162 at the FSR 267 marker, while the Old route. Interesting as the trail padlock Tincup Pass area with no defined borders back on the road to summit. Any high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive SUV with low-range gearing 4L all the way, it became mostly snow, with dirt... Nearby Gunnison National Forests & one Tree was down across the snow field still sits on dirt! Water at the snow field still sits on the road 500 yards east of the passes of Colorado #...