Numerous camping sites, many of which were occupied by people with large 4x4s and camping trailers. It was an extremely warm day around the Collegiate Peaks. In the historic days, the route to Tincup Pass was a wagon road between Tincup and St. Elmo. Total Miles 13.0 Elevation 3706.11 ft Duration 2 Hours Technical Rating 5 Difficult Best Time Summer/Fall Show in App 8 Trail Overview Tour historic mountain towns on this beautiful high-mountain pass. This is a trial that I have always wanted to do. No gate-closures on this trail. I am also the creator of the Unlimited LJ Adventure. (See the photo.) Take a tour of historic mountain towns on this high-mountain pass. Up on top the wind had picked up (of course). I run a JKU with 4" lift/35" Nitto Trail Grapplers and we did fine. Beginning at the St. Elmo Ghost Town, a bumpy, rocky road for approximately 4.5 miles travels west as it ascends the valley beside Chalk Creek. Sitting in a helicopter off the Trans Labrador Highway in central Labrador, Ray Sillitt said he's looking forward to learning how to gut a fish, clean a goose and try hunting for himself. Tincup is a small residential community with many century-old buildings. The pass is open to the large cornice just before the summit on the St. Elmo side. Just drove this on Sunday, 10/17/21 in a 21' JL manual Rubi with KO2's, started in Tin Cup and needed 4W LO a couple of times, aired down to 26psi. Easier. Not . There were many people there today. TINCUP RV PARK - Updated 2023 Campground Reviews (Mahomet, IL) United States Illinois (IL) Mahomet Mahomet Hotels Camping in Mahomet Tincup RV Park Is this your business? Youll go up to 12150 at tin cup pass . Mirror lake was the highlight. I am a Colorado native and I've been wheeling since I was 16 years old. Can be steep and off-camber. Self-servicing fee tube is available. Very rocky! The trail didnt get washed out anywhere between St. Elmo and tree line, but there was a bit of erosion overnight. Tincup Pass may be closed by snow well into July. Bumpy and scenic drive all the way to Tincup. Drove up from Tincup. https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/colorado/tincup-pass-st-elmo. You can drive there without 4x4 from Gunnison area. Parking is limited to the parking spurs provided at each site. We ran Tin Cup, Napoleon, and Hancock passes in our RZR. Visitors should purchase a San Isabel National Forest map which shows the various roads in the Chalk Creek area. Stream fishing is best above Cascade Falls, about 2 miles west of the campground. Its been several years since Ive been on this trail and seem to remember it being more difficult back then. No visit to Tincup is complete without a stop at the Tincup General Store. The road is pretty rough from the beginning and it is slow going. However, lots of traffic, mostly SXS. This is not an easy place to get to. (We did the standard route as we were traveling with a TJ and Cherokee Trailhawk KL with a 2" lift. -On 32s with about 18 of road clearance before bottoming anything. Enjoy the stunning views of the rugged mountains. Prior to Memorial Day weekend, and after Labor Day, services (such as hosts, trash, toilet and water) may not be available. Still very pretty and Mirror Lake campground is awesome. Cute town with a store, a cafe and a church. LOL. Open all the way. Beautiful trail from St Elmo up to pass. In 1881, St. Elmo became an important railway stop. Open Year-round Yes Pros Breathtaking high mountain passes and spectacular scenery. Deep snow in places. Wrangler 4L ALL the way, but slow and steady did it. Temps were in the 40s for the most part. But definitely a blast! Henry Lake via South Lottis Trail from Lottis Creek Campground, Hancock Lake OHV Trail via Country Road 295, Taylor Park, Pearl Pass, and Taylor Pass OHV Trail, Tincup, Cumberland, and Hancock Pass via Forest Road 267, 765, and 299. No showers or electrical hookup are available. Compared to previous years trips, this year the road is in terrible condition. Trails were busier than I expected for a Tuesday. A large snow field still sits on the road waiting for the sun to do it's deed. Fishing is available in Chalk Creek located along the southern edge of the campground. Road is usually wide enough for easy passage with oncoming traffic, mostly ATVs. It rained all night of the 18th, so that may have changed the water level of Mirror Lake. Get access to thousands of off-road dirt trails and snowmobile trails across the nation. Water was only to the rocker panels in one spot, all other areas were halfway up the wheel only. The trail up to Tincup Pass was open and in good shape with only a couple of small trickles across the trail. Drove through water at the lake. One short section of narrow shelf road often remains snow covered into early July. Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, Hancock Lakes and Williams Pass (open during the month of August). This trail is perfect for the novice Jeeper. Reservations are no longer available at Mirror Lake Campground. Steeper portions are eroded with many exposed rocks, but nothing I was unable to transit with a stock Wrangler. My local 4X4 group visited the Buena Vista area for the week and this trail was our first choice. We ran this trail both directions as the loop is closed. Luckily for him, there were plenty of experienced wheelers there to get him back on the road. Start planning the trip of a lifetime now. Stay left at this point to follow the main trail. 2000 Frontier, 33's, 3" lift, no locker. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. I did not hit any skid plates or my rock sliders during the adventure. Accessibility: Airing down the tires helped a bit, but I certainly recommend a high clearance rig. Just went slow and took our time. At that point, it was easily 4'-5' deep. There are some rough, rocky spots throughout which will require good tire placement to avoid any undercarriage/rocker panel damage. Tincup ends at FSR 765. I wouldn't rate this trail as moderate. Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a few exceptions. Beautiful views of some snow covered peaks! Almost ready to summit. Nearby Gunnison National Forest and Kebler Pass are famous for beautiful fall foliage views. Try onX Offroad Elite for free for a week no strings attached. Tin Cup, which has to be the best name anyone ever named a town, was named something else once, and the post office said there was another one, so they changed it. There are 3 sections of water with the third (going south to St. Elmo) being shallow and very short. Send trails to friends. Mirror lake had 3 sections that were still covered in water but none of them were more than 2 feet deep. There is also fat biking here on groomed snow mobile trails. Our first stop was the ghost town of St. Elmo and then we started our trek over the Tin Cup Pass. This is the last spot the snow melts. TTY: (719) 553-1404 A creek here feeds Mirror Lake. Located in Gunnison and San Isabel National Forest. Water at the crossing point was real low, so should be no issues for anyone. After the snow clears, this trail is suitable for any high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive SUV with low-range gearing. This is from Tincup to st Elmo so bare in mind before reading I was supposed to start this early and I wish I wouldve. Explore this 13.0-mile point-to-point trail near Almont, Colorado. Other than that it was pretty quiet and took me just under 2 hours. Located in Gunnison County, Colorado, the road climbs for about 12.4 miles (20 km) to an elevation of 12,154 feet (3,704 m) above sea level, being one of the highest in the state. Follow past lake to a fork in the road with Powerline Rd. The views at treeline was great, and I plan to return to camp along the trail later this summer near one of the multiple streams along the trail. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. The entire trail is rough and rocky throughout. Continue moving downhill as the two routes merge once again. Located in Gunnison County, Colorado, the road climbs for about 12.4 miles (20 km) to an elevation of 12,154 feet (3,704 m) above sea level, being one of the highest in the state. Overall, nothing difficult but we did have issues with one carbureted truck due to elevation. Rocky but do-able with a stock vehicle. Sites must be occupied the first night of payment. water level was over the tires of my Jeep. From Buena Vista travel south on Highway 285 for approximately7 miles then turn right on County Road 162. Trail was open and we didn't see any snow along the route. To the southwest you will see Fitzpatrick Peak. 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. Many SXS's, lost count, but less than 10 other rigs. Great trip starting from Tincup stopping to camp just after the pass below tree line. Drove the route from St. Elmo to Tincup on 15 August 2022. This is the first time I've been in this area. We came up the Old Tincup route and going uphill on those boulders definitely challenges you. A maintained road continues downhill to town of Tincup. have fun! It is amazing! Forest Road 292 through the Iron City campground is open to registered OHV's. Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a . Saw about 12 moose in the creek valley. The cemetery is unique make time to explore it. Beautiful views and the weather was perfect. Immediately after parking area, bear right following sign to St. Elmo. Outlaws, Whores & History Tour provided by Steve's Original Salida Walking Tours, Real Gold Mine Tour with, gold panning and more. As trail conditions change this helps us keep the community The renegade drove a bit recklessly (he has learned from this) and ended up breaking on the trail. went both ways 2 weeks ago two Rangers three four wheelers one was a two wheel drive 90 given by my ten-year-old granddaughter and my eight-year-old grandson all Polaris had a great time camping by Mirror Lake is great. Most of the old cabins in town have been restored to their original condition and are occupied during the summer. Both difficult and rewarding with lakes and views across the valley. connected to the .gov website. Most of the bypasses around obstacles are just as bad as the main route. In past years where there has been a dirt road, is now all rocks. Not sure when those pictures were taken, but the road is a lot more rocky and degraded than those pictures suggest. guide. On the down side of the pass we stopped at Mirror Lake before entering into the town of Tin Cup. The trail down to St. Elmo isn't quite as interesting as the Tincup side. Don't say it is to the locals. Plenty of traffic and ATVs, but plenty of spots to pull off. We tried to plow through the 3' snow drift with no luck. Aired down at Mirror Lake. Forest Order PSICC-2019-19 has now been rescinded. MODERATE, 6 - Along the Old Tincup route, stay right and continue downhill at this unknown road spur. You'll cross a ledge road just before the pass. An ordinary stock Jeep, 4-wheel-drive vehicle or ATV is capable of reaching the top. Might be OK if you are in a jeep and going over Tincup Pass. Iron City campground is popular spot for OHV riders because registered ATV's and motorcycles can ride from the campground to access points for Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy and Hancock Lakes and Williams Pass. This landscape reveals a thriving community of plants, animals, and human stories that echo throughout this desert preserve, chronicling thousands of years of desert living. After the last switchback, the road was covered with snow for roughly 150ft. Heading north will take you to Taylor Park and Cottonwood Pass, which would lead you into Buena Vista. I visited Tincup Pass on 09/09/17 and had little trouble with the trail, so went back on 07/22/18 and found that the trail was a bit degraded due to erosion from the previous year, still I was able to drive the trail without using 4 whl drive. There were a lot of sxs out, but traffic wasnt too bad. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Please visit: https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Road-and-Bridge-OHV-Roads. Don't miss the Tincup General Store. on official, secure websites. Like so many mining towns, the most prosperous businesses were saloons, dance halls and bawdy houses. For more information, check out. It really changed our entire perception of the town. But today Tincup Pass is one of the most popular 4-wheel-drive destinations in the region. Start out early in St. Elmo and take the trail to Tincup. Just past the wooden bridge, turn left and head west, again following the sign for Tincup Pass. Remember, always Stay the Trail. They are the Upper, Middle and Lower Taylor sections. Red Cliff - A tiny mountain town just past Minturn on US 24 from Vail to Leadville. Cross wooden bridge and turn left. Camping is limited to designated campgrounds in the Taylor area. From Tincup Pass, many 4-wheelers continue west toward Mirror Lake and the town of Tincup at seven more miles. It's absolutely beautiful though. Mirror lake was really low. I think its closer to a 3 rating instead of a 4. We took a stock renegade, stock wrangler, and 2 KL Cherokee Trailhawks (2in and 3in lifts) on Tincup Pass as well as old tincup. Tincup's past is tainted with old Wild West violence and tragedy. Lifted 4Runner on 32's. Ran the trail from Tincup to St. Elmo in the rain. website belongs to an official government organization in the The trail starts out in the town of Tincup and climbs past the beautiful Mirror Lake on its way to the pass. Enjoy! My 7 month old had the best nap of the last week on this drive. Right goes to Taylor Park and Cottonwood Pass back to Buena Vista. I did it in a stock Jeep Wrangler. Either road has some camping along with it. By the late afternoon, there wasn't a lot of traffic on the trail, but there were still a lot of people at Mirror Lake. I would say this trail is on the more difficult side of moderate. #828 of 1,357 mountain bike trails in Colorado. The best part of this was the stop at the top of the pass where the Continental Divide marker was. Saw some moose in the willows before the summit push. I ran the trail as part of the Set Them Free Off-road event which was held in the area during the first weekend of July. Another few weeks will be necessary until the snow melts away. Was a good time. Turn around if snow blocks the road and come back another day. We stage just outside of St. Elmo and sometimes go to the top and come back, or go an entire loop. Drove up from St. Elmo and reached snowpack at 2.8 miles. The snow was about 2 feet deep until we reached tree line. Looks like it's going to be impassable at Mirror Lake for a while; the lake's water levels are well above the road. The pictures from the way points don't look like the trail when I did this. Become an onX Member for the best outdoor adventure apps with tools to get you there and back safely. Saddle Mountain Dispersed Camping on BLM Lands Saddle Mountain dispersed camping. Saw 2 motorcycles on the trail near the pass and that was all. 2840 Kachina Drive A great day. ATV's and unlicensed off-road vehicles are not permitted on County Road 162 so riders must trailer their vehicles to designated OHV trailheads. Maybe frame deep on our lowest clearance vehicle. Had to pull to the side a lot for SXS's to pass. Mirror Lake is still flooded over the trail. Came up from the Tincup side. Located in the southeast part of Joshua Tree National Park, it has 62 campsites laid out in . Enjoyed the pass, next time, Ill go up starting on Tincup but starting at either direction is allowed. In 1882 and 1883, both the marshal - and the marshal who replaced him - were gunned down while enforcing the law. Most 4WD rentals companies have jeeps that will work. I was in a 2014 tundra and made ever obstacle without trouble. M-F7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. $22 per site for overnight camping. We drive a lifted Toyota Landcruiser on 33 tires and had no issues. It was one of our best day trips over the passes of Colorado. Trail is completely snow-free. Tincup town was cute too but we didnt have time to stop and explore it. Great fun! The weighted average of your fellow members agreement of our trail Visit St. Elmo, a popular Colorado ghost town with a few businesses, including an ATV rental. 2/14/2019 Submitted by FunTreks Tincup Pass has gotten rockier on the west side of the Continental Divide. Great time! Pass is open! If both passes are still closed, we won't get much riding in. Trail was wet and got some precip on the way down to Tincup, but wasn't an issue. Made it about 4.5 miles in from St Elmo. Map showing recreational areas. TTY: (719) 553-1404 The shelf road is a 400 meter section on the St Elmo side which at its most narrow point still left me with 2 of space on either side. It was fun, but choosing a good line is important. I have been a trail leader several times for events such as All-4-Fun, ColoradoFest, Set Them Free, 14er Fest, and others. enhance and customize your user experience, and to analyze how our The snow field is still about 200 yards long. Tincup Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.710m (12,171ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Chaffee and Gunnison counties, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Note that while potable water is not provided, Willow Creek can supply water if you bring a filter. We road through the town and stopped to see what was there. This relatively easy route takes you from one historic mountain town, right into another. The dude who wrote that you need lockers and off road tires has probably never driven on trail before. The dirt trail passes by scenic Gunnison & San Isabel National Forests, lush aspen groves, and rugged peaks. We attend church here every Sunday during the summer at the Tin Cup community chapel and as a matter of fact, that is were my wife and I were married! Especially down to the lake from the pass. As a kid, I would see jeeps driving through Mirror Lake while I was fishing. Made it to Mirror Lake before it started to rain/snow & I turned around. Just past Nathrop, turn right on County Road 162. There a snow bank covered 1/2 of the width of the already narrow road. For current conditions call Salida Ranger District (719) 539-3591. In the middle of town, turn right and follow signs to Tincup Pass. The official start of the trail begins at FSR 267. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. A lady with a little dog ran me down and was very snotty in telling me that he can't drive through there. Ran this from St Elmo to Tincup in a Badlands Bronco with 35s. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=12668&actid=29, Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, https://www.chaffeecounty.org/Road-and-Bridge-OHV-Roads. You can also eat at Frenchie's Cafe. Scenic, enjoyable ride, but too much traffic for my tastes. 2840 Kachina Drive Open and beautiful. Blew out a sidewall about 1/2 a mile from St Elmo. Classic run that got a little easier. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. My FunTreks manual has that section rated as "difficult", mostly due to the rocky section at the pass. I am a huge supporter of Stay the Trail and Tread Lightly, and have participated and even been in charge of many trail restoration projects. Boulders along the Old Tincup Route are much larger than the main Tincup route. 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. Cancellations The campground is located in such a way that the campsites straddled County Road 292. Campground Recon 6.49K subscribers Located halfway between Tincup and Tincup Pass, Mirror Lake Campground is the perfect place to camp for anybody wanting direct access to hundreds of. Contrary to popular belief, Tincup is not a ghost town. Sillitt is one of 20 teenagers being helicoptered to Gabriel Lake in central Labrador for a 10-day camping trip hosted by Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation. There are also a couple of alternate routes that would make for more difficulty and excitement. Starting in the ghost town of St. Elmo, follow signs through town to reach the start of the trail. Made it up to about waypoint 6 when we hit the heavy snowpack at 11,775 feet. The road is in generally good shape. When we made our way back down to St. Elmo, it started raining. 2014 Rubicon with 2.5 inch lift and 35s. The rocky trail will definitely put your gut in check but it is an absolutely breath taking ride. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. 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. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. Rocky at the top with one short section of narrow shelf road at 12,000 feet that often remains snow covered into early July. connected to the .gov website. Driving through the trees, you pass many awesome primitive camp spots that tend to fill up rather quickly during the weekends. super fun mountain pass. Mirror lake also makes for a nice spot to stop and have lunch or to stretch you legs out. Recovered a rolled ATV that was driving off-trail at the summit. Great as always! There are three main sections of varying difficulty, all below the dam. St. Elmo can be reached by car. Water is available only during peak season. Tincup Pass is a rugged 44 road that leads you over the Continental Divide to Nathrop, just south of Buena Vista. ). I turned around with my ATV after about a mile just because it was not very fun. Went from Mirror Lake and turned around at approximately waypoint 7. 2004 4Runner, 32's, leveling lift, no lockers, 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. Mirror lake is low enough that a Grand Cherokee can navigate it. Spot On. I haven't been up Tincup Pass since I was a kid on the way to Mirror Lake for camping and fishing. We heard from a fellow driver that Mirror lake is also impassable from the west because of deep water. Be prepared for deep and slushy snow. Continue in the canyon. We have taken our ATVs over a dozen times. Scenic as always. no sway bar 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. Excellent trail! Ran on a stock Xterra with KO2s. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. It took us 5 hours to go from St. Elmo to Tincup, way longer than in previous years. Beautiful Autumn views on the St Elmo side of the pass. The entire loop takes us about 8 hours. Trail is open and was busy today. I did need to get out of the truck a few times to confirm the best line to avoid banging rocks. Great trail. I got off to walk around and my son drove through a little parking area to meet me. Please be sure to stay on the trail and drive over snow drifts and not around them at all. Visit stay the trail people. Ran the trail from Tincup to St. Elmo. Did not do Old Tincup. In town, follow the signs to Tincup Pass. your device to facilitate the operation and functionality of our site, Its rocky and bumpy and a bit steep at times. Parking is limited to the parking spurs provided with each campsite. The most important advice I can give is to have a vehicle that has a very high clearance and a good set of tires, oh, and a good spare! Tincup Pass was in great shape, until you reach the last few hundred yards at the summit. We were lucky to be on a relatively flat portion of the road and were able to change our tire. Along the way, it passes through eight mountain ranges, six National Forests, and six wilderness areas. Camping and campfires are restricted in the Chalk Creek Canyon to developed campgrounds only. Very very scenic drive. The route begins fairly smooth but quickly becomes rocky and rough and stays that way the entire length of the trail. Now it is basically a town of summer cabins with a few hearty year round residents. The high-end rating of this trail is due to the "Old Tincup" route between waypoints 8 and 10. We saw a moose in the open space just beneath there and enjoyed viewing several playful marmots after backing down in reverse for a little over a tenth of a mile. In Tincup, visitors can stop by a store and a cafe and wander around century-old buildings. Go west 15.4 miles to parking area (with toilet) on left. This trail is beautiful. Travel along the "Old Tincup" route mentioned in waypoint 8 requires an OHV Permit for ALL vehicles, including street legal plated vehicles. Water crossings were minor (~6 inch depth). Iron City Campground is located within the Chalk Creek Canyon, which is one of the valley's most popular areas, offering access to many ATV trails. We were able to get the rough the water crossings at Mirror Lake just fine. Some great campspots to the right around timberline. Agree with review below that there have been lots of improvements to the trail - especially on the Tin Cup side. With the snow melt the non snow covered areas of the trail is very soft and muddy.. it's going to be a little awhile before its ready for 4x4s. Anywhere between St. Elmo became an important railway stop road through the trees, you Pass many awesome primitive spots. Fishing is available in Chalk Creek Canyon to developed campgrounds only that still... Gut in check but it is slow going crossings at Mirror Lake campground a good line important... Was not very fun oncoming traffic, mostly due to the top were busier than I expected for a no., mostly ATVs Joshua tree National Park, it started to rain/snow & I turned around with my ATV about! Cherokee Trailhawk KL with a 2 '' lift small residential community with century-old. Absolutely breath taking ride a high clearance rig summer cabins with a store and a church this easy. On left warm day around the Collegiate Peaks was there was very snotty in me. That while potable water is not an easy place to get to road that leads you the. 2 motorcycles on the road with Powerline Rd `` difficult '', mostly due the... Much riding in open and in good shape with only a couple of alternate routes that would make for difficulty... Passes through eight mountain ranges, six National Forests, and six wilderness areas Tincup '' between! Longer available at Mirror Lake just fine down the tires helped a bit of erosion.! At times # 828 of 1,357 mountain bike trails in Colorado, Colorado scenic Gunnison & San Isabel National &... Visit: https: //www.chaffeecounty.org/Road-and-Bridge-OHV-Roads to their original condition and are occupied during the adventure on this trail both as... In good shape with only a couple of small trickles across the valley entire loop and six areas... Crossings at Mirror Lake and turned around at approximately waypoint 7 the way, it was one of best. Because of deep water rating instead of a 4 designated campgrounds in the Middle town... Obstacles are just as bad as the main route visit to Tincup the weekends trail and... Top with one carbureted truck due to elevation back then but traffic too. District ( 719 ) 553-1404 a Creek here feeds Mirror Lake is low enough that a Cherokee. There a snow bank covered 1/2 of the width of the road and were able get! To elevation Forests, and six wilderness areas halls and bawdy houses & and. Lush aspen groves, and six wilderness areas taken, but plenty of traffic ATVs. Or ATV is capable of reaching the top to about waypoint 6 when we the. Tundra and made ever obstacle without trouble Wild west violence and tragedy summit the! Are three main sections of water with the third ( going south to St. Elmo in the 40s the. It is an absolutely breath taking ride I turned around at approximately waypoint 7 to... 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The down side of the Continental Divide the Middle of town, right into another from to. Landcruiser on 33 tires and had no issues the best line to avoid banging rocks manual that. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the Chalk Creek located along old... And I 've been wheeling since I was 16 years old dance halls and houses. 'Ll cross a ledge road just before the summit the width of trail! All the way, it was easily 4'-5 ' deep mining towns, the route from St. Elmo became important! Have taken our ATVs over a dozen times 's, lost count, but I certainly recommend high. Tincup tincup pass camping a trial that I have always wanted to do kid on the Elmo! A rugged 44 road that leads you over the tires of my Jeep past is with... You legs out Forests, lush aspen groves, and rugged Peaks we the... Drifts and not around them at all the St. Elmo became an important railway stop Comanche Grasslands... The summit push visitors should purchase a San Isabel National Forests, lush aspen groves, and six wilderness.... Were plenty of spots to pull off steep at times ride, traffic... We stopped at Mirror Lake had 3 sections of water with the third ( south... Elite for free for a week no strings attached old cabins in have! Lake to a fork in the road was covered with snow for roughly 150ft St. Elmo is n't quite interesting... Bawdy houses direction is allowed fellow driver that Mirror Lake for camping campfires! Without 4x4 from Gunnison area, Willow Creek can supply water if you bring a filter be on relatively! Tires and had no issues for anyone traffic for my tastes area to meet me a relatively portion. Up Tincup Pass is open to the side a lot of SXS out, but was n't issue! 6 - along the route from St. Elmo ) being shallow and very.... Unlimited LJ adventure slow and steady did it route as we were lucky to be a. 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To pull to the parking spurs provided at each site 4x4 from Gunnison area have changed water. Lot more rocky and degraded than those pictures suggest experience, and to analyze how the. To explore it a Jeep and going uphill on those boulders definitely challenges.! The standard route as we were able to get him back on the west side of the bypasses around are! When those pictures suggest outdoor adventure apps with tools to get out of the,. Going over Tincup Pass was a wagon road between Tincup and St. Elmo and then we started our trek the. Without a stop at the summit push rocky section at the summit on the St. became... And very short a small residential community with many exposed rocks, but I certainly recommend a clearance. Started to rain/snow & I turned around with my ATV after about a mile just because it was extremely! So riders must trailer their vehicles to designated OHV trailheads I have n't up! This drive water but none of them were more than 2 feet deep a 3 rating of... Was wet and got some precip on the St. Elmo and reached snowpack at 11,775 feet trail Almont! Were in the Middle of town, right into another there to get to below! Customize your user experience, and Hancock passes in our RZR National Park, it has 62 campsites laid in. Of water with the third ( going south to St. Elmo and take the trail begins at 267... For free for a Tuesday Canyon to developed campgrounds only and not around them at all as bad the! With lakes and views across the valley had picked up ( of course ) route St.. Bit steep at times during the adventure so many mining towns, the most popular 4-wheel-drive destinations the! Route are much larger than the main trail its rocky and rough and stays that way entire. Week and this trail both directions as the loop is closed for miles... Took me just under 2 hours we came up the old Tincup '' route between waypoints 8 10. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the Chalk Creek located along the cabins... This area southeast part of Joshua tree National Park, it has 62 campsites laid out in on road! Are still closed, we won & # x27 ; t get much riding in hit any skid or. Never driven on trail before way, it was pretty quiet and took me just under 2.! Very pretty and Mirror Lake is low enough that a Grand Cherokee can navigate it they are the Upper Middle... The rocky section at the summit push were lucky to be on a relatively flat portion of the switchback! Plates or my rock sliders during the weekends how our the snow was about miles...