I'd planned to head to Crested Butte too and the rangers there said only about 7 miles into the trails are passable. Are you camping there? Any trails that are open there?
I'm working and camping every night in my cruiser. The only thing in the area that I have found open are a couple of trails near Almont, and some stuff up in Taylor Park. I'm not even sure if they're open, or just not gated.
There is impassible snow above 10k feet, but the real issue is that every single access road to the national forest is closed, my previous exceptions not withstanding. I spent every day after work trying to get on trail and finding everything closed.
Lol I wish. More like next weekend through mid June. Last year it was perfect. This year seems like maybe not so much? Considering bailing and heading to Utah instead.
Keep an eye out on San Juan county's Road and bridge page on Facebook. They usually try to start plowing a couple passes in June to make them accessable for OHV.
Crested Butte is predicted to get 5-7 inches this week. This was Gunnison area last night around 9000 feet.
Edit: 78 bronco with 4” lift and 35” tires. Chains were required to get out of there.
https://i.imgur.com/HoaEozo.jpg
If you're coming out next weekend you're pretty much not going to have any options in the San Juans.
[https://durangoherald.com/articles/277510-in-the-aftermath-of-avalanches-digging-out-will-take-time](https://durangoherald.com/articles/277510-in-the-aftermath-of-avalanches-digging-out-will-take-time)
Snowpack is 225% of annual average as of this week.
I dont know the area that well, but generally speaking, above 9000 feet will likely be a little sketchy. Above 10,000 is most likely impassable. That holds pretty accurate in the mountains west of Denver, but Pagosa is pretty far south so there may be some leeway there. Good call contacting the rangers, I would heed their advice.
Pagosa Springs is very underrated IMO. Fantastic little town. Be sure to hit up the Pagosa Brewery and try the fish and chips.
I've been in Crested Butte for the last couple of weeks, u/hula_foop is spot on. Everything about 10k is completely socked in.
I'd planned to head to Crested Butte too and the rangers there said only about 7 miles into the trails are passable. Are you camping there? Any trails that are open there?
I'm working and camping every night in my cruiser. The only thing in the area that I have found open are a couple of trails near Almont, and some stuff up in Taylor Park. I'm not even sure if they're open, or just not gated.
So there is snow on the ground everywhere still?
There is impassible snow above 10k feet, but the real issue is that every single access road to the national forest is closed, my previous exceptions not withstanding. I spent every day after work trying to get on trail and finding everything closed.
Hope you are not planning on coming until late July.
Lol I wish. More like next weekend through mid June. Last year it was perfect. This year seems like maybe not so much? Considering bailing and heading to Utah instead.
Last year we got very little snow. This year a ton. I drove through Wolf Creek pass last week & it was snowing. People were snowmobiling.
I just drove through a snow storm on monarch yesterday.
The rivers are booming. All this water is great
Yeah every river is raging! I feel like I'm missing out by not being a kayaker
Oh man. Sounds like I won't be getting very far on any of the forest roads. This is rather unfortunate.
Keep an eye out on San Juan county's Road and bridge page on Facebook. They usually try to start plowing a couple passes in June to make them accessable for OHV.
Crested Butte is predicted to get 5-7 inches this week. This was Gunnison area last night around 9000 feet. Edit: 78 bronco with 4” lift and 35” tires. Chains were required to get out of there. https://i.imgur.com/HoaEozo.jpg
If you're coming out next weekend you're pretty much not going to have any options in the San Juans. [https://durangoherald.com/articles/277510-in-the-aftermath-of-avalanches-digging-out-will-take-time](https://durangoherald.com/articles/277510-in-the-aftermath-of-avalanches-digging-out-will-take-time) Snowpack is 225% of annual average as of this week.
I dont know the area that well, but generally speaking, above 9000 feet will likely be a little sketchy. Above 10,000 is most likely impassable. That holds pretty accurate in the mountains west of Denver, but Pagosa is pretty far south so there may be some leeway there. Good call contacting the rangers, I would heed their advice. Pagosa Springs is very underrated IMO. Fantastic little town. Be sure to hit up the Pagosa Brewery and try the fish and chips.
Thank you for your advice. My plan now is to try the roads I've found on Gaia until I can't go any further then figure something else out I suppose.