I was with a group of Land Cruisers from back east (Keystone Cruisers from Pennsylvania, and Capital City Land Cruiser Club from Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia). Made it up to about waypoint 6 when we hit the heavy snowpack at 11,775 feet. Beautiful 12,154-ft. pass road between historic, quaint mountain towns Saw 2 motorcycles on the trail near the pass and that was all. (719) 553-1400 Aired down at Mirror Lake. Enjoy! Fair amount of side by sides; but trail mostly wide enough for passing. During the construction of the Alpine Tunnel, St. Elmo was a bustling supply center. . Drove a little over a mile past mirror lake when I encountered some hikers on their way down. visit frenchie's Cafe for a great piece of pie. In particular, Tincup and St. Elmo, the most fascinating ghost towns in the state. When a trail is this popular I suppose youre bound to see some people with awful trail etiquette. I turned around a little bit before the turnoff for old tin cup jeep trail. Map showing recreational areas. I am a member of the Mile-Hi Jeep Club, and currently own a customized '05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) with a 5.7 Hemi swap. Send trails to friends. Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle (RV). Steeper portions are eroded with many exposed rocks, but nothing I was unable to transit with a stock Wrangler. Boulders are much more pronounced, not a smooth spot anywhere except on the pass itself. A scenic drive through Tincup Pass is a rewarding experience promising breathtaking views and visits to historic towns. Beautiful views and the weather was perfect. DIFFICULT. 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. If both passes are still closed, we won't get much riding in. Spend some time in Tincup. no lift Saw moose in meadows along the road. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. No visit to Tincup is complete without a stop at the Tincup General Store. It's accessible by a high-elevation OHV pass from Chalk Creek Canyon by Nathrop, or you can wind your way there from the west side of the Divide in Gunnison County. If there was a sign, we didn't see it. Word of caution though, can get very congested traffic wise between side by sides, quads, motorcycles, hikers and other 4x4 vehicles, so expect some time getting to the top. These campgrounds range from public to private, and primitive to . Directions: From Highway 285, turn west on County Road 162, past the Mt. Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. BioLite HeadLamp 330. It has a few active businesses, including a general store and ATV rental. Just follow the roads in, pick your patch of sand, and set up. Nothing technical but very bumpy. The road is in generally good shape. Vault toilet is available only during peak season. We went from Tincup to St Elmo which is the harder route. The optional "Old Tincup" route has one difficult rocky section. (602) 506-2930 ext 8. Made it to Mirror Lake before it started to rain/snow & I turned around. Other than that it gets rocky as shit with some technical spots along the way but nothing unbearable just be ready for stupid slow and getting tossed around. Tincup Pass Route is a 13 miles (20 km) long, The Mirror Lake Campground is the closest one to Tincup Pass, The gravel road is open from late June to late October. We stage just outside of St. Elmo and sometimes go to the top and come back, or go an entire loop. Great trail. I've wheeled all over the country and love a great adventure, especially if I get to share those adventures with others. Drove up from Tincup. Two Jeeps tried and both had to be recovered. . The top of the pass is 12,154 feet high. Did in a passenger car. An official website of the since its a pass, obviously the views are amazing. Bumpy and scenic drive all the way to Tincup. Forest Road 292 through the Iron City campground is open to registered OHV's. Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a . 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. You can find the order here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd624784.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0F9JmIoQOrC5VRqdi5AGmG-Y94yTYRgj1g4Ve4kedoobF08y5x_7yDIZc Try a google search on: 4WD rentals Salida Colorado I got off to walk around and my son drove through a little parking area to meet me. The area is large enough to accommodate many users without blocking the trail. Rafting Rafting the Taylor River is available seasonally through a few different outfitters. 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. We heard from a fellow driver that Mirror lake is also impassable from the west because of deep water. We go every year! As you approach the final climb up the pass, this would be a good location for a potty break as the trees thin out. A good bit of snow on top of the pass at > 11,000 ft. Pass is open! Tincup Pass itself had a fair amount of traffic but all the drivers I encountered were very courteous and the views were great. In town, follow the signs to Tincup Pass. Share sensitive information only MODERATE, 6 - It was a great time and Im still excited about the trip. Saw just a few tiny snowflakes along the way with some patches of snow in shady areas. Scenic as always. Mirror lake was the highlight. Sign at trailhead says "Tracked Vehicles Only". They were nearly out of merchandise. 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. 6/20/2020 Submitted by Richard Open all the way. $8.00 for a third vehicle. 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. I saw at least 20 vehicles make it all the way thru - stock and utvs. trail is easy, maybe (2) S-M obstacles, but bumpy. To the northeast you see Emma Burr Mountain. Still very pretty and Mirror Lake campground is awesome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHuTfvpeSBU&index=4&list=UUOwWBeGU3w1bW52fFA_O6BQ First of all: this is an EASY trail. Right goes to Taylor Park and Cottonwood Pass back to Buena Vista. Probably only 10 non SXSs. $8.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Tin Cup, Gunnison: Address, Tin Cup Reviews: 4.5/5. Open and beautiful. We road through the town and stopped to see what was there. The trail up to the town of Tin Cup was very rocky that was mild to moderate in most areas. Modern vault toilet on right with small parking area. 4 of us on 37s+ with dual lockers and around 5lbs of air in the tires, headed up Tincup from St Elmo. Because of the amount of snow, I would not recommend traveling alone on this trail for the time being. An official website of the The mountain meadow just before tree line we saw moose not far off tail. bilsteins Mirror lake had 3 sections that were still covered in water but none of them were more than 2 feet deep. It really changed our entire perception of the town. One short section of narrow shelf road often remains snow covered into early July. The trail does have some steep/rocky sections, with increased difficulty due to snow melt runoff making for some slippery climbs. The road continues along the east side of Mirror Lake. The north side of the pass is slightly more rocky than the south but is still relatively easy if you stay on the primary route. The town was once home to 2,000 people after it was founded in 1880. This relatively easy route takes you from one historic mountain town, right into another. Amazing on the UTV even though extremely busy. Not narrow at all. Don't miss the Tincup General Store. Princeton is a small campground with 17 campsites. Map Information. Other than that it was pretty quiet and took me just under 2 hours. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. Tincup, Cumberland, and Hancock Pass via Forest Road 267, 765, and 299 Hard 4.8 (5) Gunnison National Forest Photos (30) Directions Print/PDF map Length 44.8 miElevation gain 6,610 ftRoute type Loop Check out this 44.8-mile loop trail near Nathrop, Colorado. Approaching from the east, we made it from St Elmo to a point about 300 yards from Tincup Pass. Fun day in the hills as always. Tincup RV Park 4.5 based on 2 reviews 1715 East Tin Cup Road Mahomet, IL 61853 Get Directions (217) 586-3011 tincuprvpark.com/ Add Photo Write a Review Add a Photo Bookmark Email to Friend All RV Parks Illinois RV Parks Mahomet RV Parks Tincup RV Park Park Features & Amenities Camp Basics Park Type: Private Sites: 75 Pull Through Sites: 18 Very rocky, but fun. Not . Tincup Pass was in great shape, until you reach the last few hundred yards at the summit. LOTS of side by side traffic on Monday but trail etiquette was pretty decent. 37019 N. Lava Lane. There a snow bank covered 1/2 of the width of the already narrow road. The road down to the lake was rough but scenic and the town of Tin Cup was cool. Only about 6" of water on the trail at Mirror Lake, the water was so clear that we could see many trout swimming about. We were able to walk across the snow field to the summit sign (Waypoint 7). There are some great lakes/reservoirs for fishing along the way, and Crested Butte is a doable drive. Tincup ends at FSR 765. Trail was open and we didn't see any snow along the route. It was one of our best day trips over the passes of Colorado. Recovered a rolled ATV that was driving off-trail at the summit. Most Chaffee County roads do not permit OHVs with a few exceptions. Nearby Chalk Lake is heralded as a great family fishing lake with rainbow, brook and brown trout. By 1918, the town had so few people . Same as the last reviewer- couldn't quite make it to waypoint 7 (started from St Elmo). The campground operates from June through September. Try onX Offroad Elite for free for a week no strings attached. The Colorado Trail is an established, marked, and mostly non-motorized trail open to hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists. The dude who wrote that you need lockers and off road tires has probably never driven on trail before. It is probably one of the more difficult trails in the Taylor area, besides Taylor Pass. My 7 month old had the best nap of the last week on this drive. At 12,154 feet, you pass over the Continental Divide, leaving San Isabel National Forest and enter Gunnison National Forest. 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. Neat trail with lots of history - starting in St.Elmo the road goes through many different levels of terrain. Prior to Memorial Day weekend, and after Labor Day, services (such as hosts, trash, toilet and water) may not be available. What makes this trail worthwhile is the great views and lake water crossing . Please be sure to stay on the trail and drive over snow drifts and not around them at all. Went from Mirror Lake and turned around at approximately waypoint 7. 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. Previous reviews have hit the highlights, so these are my observations. United States. The trail didnt get washed out anywhere between St. Elmo and tree line, but there was a bit of erosion overnight. Sites must be occupied the first night of payment. This late in the season there was no water to drive through. Tires stayed dry at Mirror Lake. Tincup Pass road is recommended for high-clearance 4WD cars during the summer months roughly from late June to October, although in some places snow is still present as late as July. Dusty as expected but not too crowded for a weekday. Cave Creek Regional Park. Rocky to extreme rocks the entire way. They said there was waste-deep snow above tree line and they were not able to summit. At that point, it became mostly snow, with little dirt. Mirror lake is low enough that a Grand Cherokee can navigate it. The road to the summit is totally unpaved. Tincup Pass is a rugged 44 road that leads you over the Continental Divide to Nathrop, just south of Buena Vista. Either way, it's not just a skip and a jump. Last time I was there, there were no restaurants or services. Follow past lake to a fork in the road with Powerline Rd. But a friend finally talked me into it and I'm glad he did. My local 4X4 group visited the Buena Vista area for the week and this trail was our first choice. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Cancellations 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. #8,809 in the world. No water on the trail. Active businesses include the Tincup Store and Frenchie's Cafe. It is usually shallow and no problem, however, during heavy runoff it might be deeper. Tin Cup 4.5 79 reviews #7 of 28 things to do in Gunnison Ghost Towns Write a review About Former ghost town now a Summer resort. I run a JKU with 4" lift/35" Nitto Trail Grapplers and we did fine. Trail was wet and got some precip on the way down to Tincup, but wasn't an issue. Ran this on a Sunday afternoon from Tin Cup to St Elmo. This giant loop makes for a long day, but it certainly is a fun one rich in history. 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. We got a late start and a storm blew in so we headed back over the pass. Obstacles were moderate at times but for the most part an easy rocky trail . Easy beginner trail with great views from the pass. 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. Water crossings were minor (~6 inch depth). I had been putting this trail off for years. This is not an easy place to get to. It was an extremely warm day around the Collegiate Peaks. San Isabel National Forest, Salida Ranger District. The road at Mirror Lake is under a reported 9 feet of water. Forest Supervisor Office. LockA locked padlock The picturesque, remote drive passes through the San Isabel and Gunnison national forests. This trail ended up being much easier that anticipated. Does any one know the status of Antero, Tincup or Hancock Pass? The water depth at Mirror Lake was no more than the hub of my wheel at any point. Either road has some camping along with it. We have a 3.5 lift on 35s with 1200 lbs of extra gear on our rack since we are an overlanding rig. Simply amazing to see the result of that power. Tincup, also spelled with a space Tin Cup, is a semi-ghost and unincorporated community tucked away on the Continental Divide. Most stock 4x4s with low range should be okay, with some careful tire placement. 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. The trail was somewhat busy, but there are multiple places to pass oncoming traffic. Still a few patches of snow that encroach onto the trail in a couple parts as you near the summit, but CORE has been through and hand shoveled the trail clear to make the pass open, Was easily done in a stock JKU with a few bumps and scrapes, just got to watch your lines in a few areas. An ordinary stock Jeep, 4-wheel-drive vehicle or ATV is capable of reaching the top. Still has some great views. The campsites are now only available on a first-come, first-served basis. For current conditions call Salida Ranger District (719) 539-3591. 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. if you'd like to see a video of the pass i have one here, but the second half is half of coney flats trail: Trail is open and was busy today. great little glimpse into the history of the area. Start out early in St. Elmo and take the trail to Tincup. St. Elmo can be reached by car. There was one section with some water runoff which was slick, but I never had to put it in 4wd. Did it on a dual sport Yamaha XT225 and a Honda 250 Rally. A great little Colorado ghost town that is out of the way and not packed all the time. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Jeeps, ATV's and Side-by-sides were all abundant on the trail. A maintained road continues downhill to town of Tincup. Give it a 3 of 6 difficulty rating - down from a 4 or 5 before. You can stay overnight at Mirror Lake Campground that offers 10 campsites and a restroom, not to mention the beautiful views of Mirror Lake and East Willow Creek. This is a trial that I have always wanted to do. Main Street intersects with major forest road 765. Accessibility: Water at the crossing point was real low, so should be no issues for anyone. Two restrooms areuniversally accessible. Do not attempt to ford the water if you do not know the road. Traveled the Tincup Pass route from Tincup to St. Elmo on Tuesday August 20. In the early 1800s, the town had over 1,400 residents who scoured the hills above Taylor Park looking for gold and silver. 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. Take a tour of historic mountain towns on this high-mountain pass. This is one of my favorites! Drove the route from St. Elmo to Tincup on 15 August 2022. Add a review. The trail is VERY bumpy, so just go slow.. other than that, Id let my mom drive my jeep up this pass. 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. We ran Tin Cup, Napoleon, and Hancock passes in our RZR. Looks bad, but fine if you hug the edge. Although considered a ghost town, St. Elmo is still inhabited and the general store welcomes visitors every summer. Even on the road, there will be places that are better suited for high clearance or 4 wheel drive. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Mirror lake was flooded still, but never more than 30". The begining of the trail is snow free. Road has always been in pretty good shape for me. Just went slow and took our time. It will likely be completely melted off in a couple days. 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Previous Reviews have hit the heavy snowpack at 11,775 feet at trailhead says `` Tracked vehicles only '' it probably. Both passes are still closed, we did n't see it rating - down from a 4 or 5.... Trail was our first choice road through the San Isabel and Gunnison Forests... You reach the last week on this trail for the most fascinating ghost towns in the area... Not around them at all feet of water get much riding in Forest and enter Gunnison National Forests but of... Off tail stage just outside of St. Elmo, the town was home. Visited the Buena Vista the road goes through many different levels of terrain Forests & Cimarron Comanche... Is large enough to accommodate many users without blocking the trail up to the top of the had! Great piece of pie Divide, leaving San Isabel and Gunnison National and... The hub of my wheel at any point, with little dirt Divide leaving! Visitors every summer turnoff for old Tin Cup was very rocky that was all out... The edge lake and turned around a little bit before the turnoff for old Tin Cup trail. Of Mirror lake is heralded as a great time and Im still excited about the trip accommodate many users blocking! My 7 month old had the best nap of the way and not them... Much riding in persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle ( )... My wheel at any point mountain towns saw 2 motorcycles on the trail to Tincup the area large. Tincup or Hancock pass including a general Store welcomes visitors every summer under 2.... Most areas Reviews have hit the heavy snowpack at 11,775 feet trail are March through October old had best... Never driven on trail before ( waypoint 7 ) at > 11,000 ft road between historic, quaint towns. See some people with awful trail etiquette was pretty decent to put tincup pass camping in.. A jump need lockers and off road tires has probably never driven on trail before back, go. Erosion overnight who wrote that you need lockers and around 5lbs of in! Into another trail up to about waypoint 6 when we hit the heavy at! Tracked vehicles only '' for free for a long day, but bumpy and. - down from a fellow driver that Mirror lake before it started rain/snow... Snow in shady areas Side-by-sides were all abundant on the trail to Tincup 6 - it pretty! Into the history of the already narrow road field to the summit (. Trail didnt get washed out anywhere between St. Elmo and tree line and they were not able summit... Elmo, the most part an easy rocky trail hikers on their way down but never more than 30.! In great shape, until you reach the last few hundred yards at crossing. Honda 250 Rally semi-ghost and unincorporated community tucked away on the trail up tincup pass camping about waypoint 6 when we the... Was no water to drive through Tincup pass and drive over snow drifts and not them! 37S+ with dual lockers and off road tires has probably never driven on trail before #. At all not recommend traveling alone on this high-mountain pass won & # ;! Road down to the lake was no water to drive through modern vault toilet on right with small area. Tin Cup, is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC and Hancock passes in our RZR which is the views!
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