I turned around with my ATV after about a mile just because it was not very fun. United States. Princeton Hot Springs Resort (private), for 8.5 miles to the campground. Somewhat crowded with jeeps and UTVs. Active businesses include the Tincup Store and Frenchie's Cafe. Drove a little over a mile past mirror lake when I encountered some hikers on their way down. Perhaps because shortly after pulling out of the driveway toward the pass several years ago I had a major vehicle malfunction on the highway. It took us 5 hours to go from St. Elmo to Tincup, way longer than in previous years. United States government. Luckily for him, there were plenty of experienced wheelers there to get him back on the road. Then road reappears and nice trip into lake and finally Tincup. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. more, Ghost and Murder Tour provided by Steve's Original Salida Walking Tours, Browns Canyon Sizzler 6-Hour Whitewater Rafting Experience from Buena Vista, Browns Canyon National Monument Whitewater Rafting. I do tend to disagree with the bottom end of the difficulty being a 3. At that point, it became mostly snow, with little dirt. . 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 Prior to Memorial Day weekend, and after Labor Day, services (such as hosts, trash, toilet and water) may not be available. site is used. This entire mountain was once bustling with gold mines. In the middle of town, turn right and follow signs to Tincup Pass. Water is available only during peak season. Tincup is a small residential community with many century-old buildings. However, lots of traffic, mostly SXS. You'll cross a ledge road just before the pass. They are the Upper, Middle and Lower Taylor sections. MODERATE, 6 - Start out early in St. Elmo and take the trail to Tincup. St. Elmo was settled in 1878 and grew to a population of about 2,000. Smooth sailing to mirror lake. Otherwise a fun, bumpy ride up to the pass. Rafting Rafting the Taylor River is available seasonally through a few different outfitters. Tin Cup, Gunnison: Address, Tin Cup Reviews: 4.5/5. #8,809 in the world. The trail is now snow free and can be driven all the way over. 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. The best part of this was the stop at the top of the pass where the Continental Divide marker was. The hike is a lot harder than it seems, and I have not done it. Starting off in St. Elmo was awesome. You can barely see his head. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Mountain Biking Tincup Pass Road. This trail is perfect for the novice Jeeper. Tin Cup Pass from the east is a mildly rated jeep trail that starts in the old ghost town of St. Elmo. Fun day! You can drive there without 4x4 from Gunnison area. Does any one know the status of Antero, Tincup or Hancock Pass? A lady with a little dog ran me down and was very snotty in telling me that he can't drive through there. Crazy! Gunnison Ranger District, Attn: Dispersed Camping Comments 216 N. Colorado St., . Like so many mining towns, the most prosperous businesses were saloons, dance halls and bawdy houses. I think its closer to a 3 rating instead of a 4. (719) 553-1400 water level was over the tires of my Jeep. Mirror lake was the highlight. Drove up from Tincup. 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. 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. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground. Head south on Highway 285 for 6 miles. We drove up to Tincup Pass from the Tincup/Taylor Reservoir side. I will be bringing out-of-state guests on this trail to provide a quintessential Colorado experience. guide. A good bit of snow on top of the pass at > 11,000 ft. Turn around if snow blocks the road and come back another day. Hot, dry day. Camping is free with a Tonto Pass, available at local retailers around the city. Boulders along the Old Tincup Route are much larger than the main Tincup route. It rained all night of the 18th, so that may have changed the water level of Mirror Lake. Only about 6" of water on the trail at Mirror Lake, the water was so clear that we could see many trout swimming about. opportunities are an important component of the high quality recreational opportunities that are synonymous with Tin Cup Pass and the Taylor Park area for a wide range of user groups. Amazing on the UTV even though extremely busy. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Very rocky, but fun. Following heavy winter snows, always call ahead to make sure pass is open or wait until later in July. The trail and beautiful scenery both vary enough to keep it interesting. Either way, it's not just a skip and a jump. ATV's and motorcycles are not permitted off of parking spurs or roadways in the campground. It's called County Road 267. Agree with review below that there have been lots of improvements to the trail - especially on the Tin Cup side. That part of the trail looked much wetter than the St. Elmo side. 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. The trail was somewhat busy, but there are multiple places to pass oncoming traffic. Cute town with a store, a cafe and a church. An afternoon trip to get away from it all, but then to see it all. Its been several years since Ive been on this trail and seem to remember it being more difficult back then. Once above treeline, the trail narrows a bit with a few switchbacks that lead you across a shelf portion that can have snow covering it into early or even mid July. 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. Can't wait to go back here and explore more. no locker Continue in the canyon. (719) 553-1400 Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail Watch for moose. Note that while potable water is not provided, Willow Creek can supply water if you bring a filter. I suspect that it was snowing up higher. $8.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. During the summer, it's a busy little place. The trail is mostly clear with a few patches of snow and very wet conditions up to treeline at waypoint 6. Nothing about it gets too hard until after treeline. 4 wheel Low entire trail. BioLite HeadLamp 330. 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. The entire loop takes us about 8 hours. From Tincup Pass, many 4-wheelers continue west toward Mirror Lake and the town of Tincup at seven more miles. enhance and customize your user experience, and to analyze how our Campers who are unable to find a campsite in one of the four developed campground may camp above the townsite of St. Elmo on4X4 Road 267. Thanks to Colorado Off Road Enterprise and Mile-Hi Jeep Club working with the Salida Ranger district to clear the avalanche debris that closed the trail on the St Elmo side. Hi, I'm Ryan! Mirror lake also makes for a nice spot to stop and have lunch or to stretch you legs out. Most 4WD rentals companies have jeeps that will work. For current conditions call Salida Ranger District (719) 539-3591. Portions not for the faint of heart! There were many people there today. Cottonwood Campground is a good option for short- or long-term RV stays, though tents are also welcome. The pictures from the way points don't look like the trail when I did this. Princeton Hot Springs resort (private), for about 9.5 miles. Very noisy and dusty. When we made our way back down to St. Elmo, it started raining. . 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. You can't get from Tin Cup to St. Elmo. Forest Road 292 through the Iron City campground is open to registered OHV's. There are some great lakes/reservoirs for fishing along the way, and Crested Butte is a doable drive. I have been a trail leader several times for events such as All-4-Fun, ColoradoFest, Set Them Free, 14er Fest, and others. One short section of narrow shelf road often remains snow covered into early July. 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. Took 2 hours from Tin Cup to St. Elmo. there are some nice rock gardens to pick your line through. At times the road was more of a river, which on other trails would have been more difficult, but you still have decently wide trails. Authentic Mining Town form the 1890's - Kind of a Ghost town. The campground operates from June through September. We found the St. Elmo side had some erosion and water puddles, but the erosion on the Tincup side was more pronounced, exposing more rocks. On the Tincup side, the road has been reported as flooded out due to high water in Mirror Lake. The road enters the heart of St. Elmo at twelve miles. Drove up from St. Elmo and reached snowpack at 2.8 miles. Construction crews were beginning work on the bridge at the very start. I grew up with a relentless passion for all things Jeep and off road related, and that passion has never died out. 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. Mirror Lake crossing was no trouble. We tried getting through in the Power Wagon, but no luck. Mirror Lake is still flooded over the trail. Trail is open and was busy today. I am a Colorado native and I've been wheeling since I was 16 years old. "It helps us learn more about our culture," Sillitt . 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. We were running the trail in reverse of this guide. connected to the .gov website. Very scenic and bumpy pass from start to finish. We set out for Tin Cup on an all day adventure after renting a Jeep in Buena Vista. Most of the bypasses around obstacles are just as bad as the main route. They took us trail riding - first time for us. 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: 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? 37019 N. Lava Lane. ). We thought we may have made a mistake half way up in our stock SUV but managed to make it to the pass. An official website of the A scenic drive through Tincup Pass is a rewarding experience promising breathtaking views and visits to historic towns. 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. visit frenchie's Cafe for a great piece of pie. A scenic drive through Tincup Pass is a rewarding experience promising breathtaking views and visits to historic towns. The dirt trail passes by scenic Gunnison & San Isabel National Forests, lush aspen groves, and rugged peaks. The mountain meadow just before tree line we saw moose not far off tail. We also did a short trail to Mary Murphy Mine nearby. But today Tincup Pass is one of the most popular 4-wheel-drive destinations in the region. It puts out 330 lumens, boasts 40 hours of battery life, and fits like . 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. No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Almost ready to summit. Map Information. This is a small campground with 15 campsites. $8.00 for a third vehicle. Easy beginner trail with great views from the pass. The trail starts out in the town of Tincup and climbs past the beautiful Mirror Lake on its way to the pass. In Tincup, visitors can stop by a store and a cafe and wander around century-old buildings. Forest Supervisor Office. Saw some moose in the willows before the summit push. Changes & Cancellations. 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. Water runs down the trail nearly the entire route. We tried to plow through the 3' snow drift with no luck. The trail didnt get washed out anywhere between St. Elmo and tree line, but there was a bit of erosion overnight. There is a TON of snow up on the pass still. Follow past lake to a fork in the road with Powerline Rd. Cutting through two National Forests and crossing the Continental Divide at 12,154 feet, this off-road trail offers beautiful high alpine views while following the same route used by miners and prospectors searching for their fortunes in the late 1800's. 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! Excellent trail! Cave Creek Regional Park. We were able to walk across the snow field to the summit sign (Waypoint 7). Most of the trail is pretty easy but there are large rocks to watch out for. Now it is basically a town of summer cabins with a few hearty year round residents. I started about 7:30 in the morning. I did not drive Old Tincup which means the hardest obstacle for me today was a group of maybe 5 Jeeps parked in the complete middle of the trail, engines off, drivers hanging out in the gigantic camp site that they should have parked in. Tincup is also very cool, read the history and see the old town pictures by the town Church. Mirror lake was really low. 24 deep max probably. Take the right fork and head uphill following the rocky path. After the last switchback, the road was covered with snow for roughly 150ft. Great camping at the beginning of Tincup also. Sign at trailhead says "Tracked Vehicles Only". 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. About 3 hours to make the trip in a Jeep JK Rubicon Unlimited on 33" tires. Don't say it is to the locals. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Take a tour of historic mountain towns on this high-mountain pass. Had to pull to the side a lot for SXS's to pass. Continue moving downhill as the two routes merge once again. It was fun, but choosing a good line is important. First of all: this is an EASY trail. If you take the easiest lines I would rate this trail a 3. 13psi We road through the town and stopped to see what was there. I did need to get out of the truck a few times to confirm the best line to avoid banging rocks. Classic run that got a little easier. 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. 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. We came with friends who come annually. Shoveled out the drift at the top. Parking is limited to the parking spurs provided at each site. Rocky but do-able with a stock vehicle. Tin Cup (Gunnison) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Up on top the wind had picked up (of course). no lift Tincup Pass, St. Elmo Take a tour of historic mountain towns on this high-mountain pass. Turn right onto CR 292 and travel for .5 miles to the campground. The pass is basically boulders and rocks. During peak season dates, some sites can be reserved by visiting. Obstacles were moderate at times but for the most part an easy rocky trail . Now 25% Off. Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle (RV). Neat trail with lots of history - starting in St.Elmo the road goes through many different levels of terrain. Made it to Mirror Lake before it started to rain/snow & I turned around. 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. Snow is extremely deep and off camber before ever approaching the switchbacks. Compared to previous years trips, this year the road is in terrible condition. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Made it about 4.5 miles in from St Elmo. youtube trail channel: b roll offroad Sometimes the water level in the lake is high enough to cover the road and you have to take a higher path above the lake. We did it from St. Elmo to Tincup. St. Elmo can be reached by car. Share sensitive information only Scenic as always. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Contrary to popular belief, Tincup is not a ghost town. I have done this trail in a stock CJ-5 a few times. Started in St Elmo up towards Tin Cup Pass. 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. The high-end rating of this trail is due to the "Old Tincup" route between waypoints 8 and 10. From Johnson Village, head south on Highway 285 about 6 miles. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This campground is located approximately 15 miles south of Buena Vista, Colorado. I believe you can see and or hike to the Fairview Peak Fire Lookout. 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. I did not hit any skid plates or my rock sliders during the adventure. Seemed more like bouldering at times. After the divide mark its not as rocky but the bumpiness continues. With a dump station, private showers, and plenty of sites to choose from, you're bound to enjoy your camping experience. 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. Even on the road, there will be places that are better suited for high clearance or 4 wheel drive. The top of the pass is 12,154 feet high. Airing down is your best for this of course :). Some years, the entire road along the east side of the lake can totally be submerged due to spring runoff. Tincup Pass may be closed by snow well into July. 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. Road is usually wide enough for easy passage with oncoming traffic, mostly ATVs. Road along the east is a TON of snow up on the Tin Cup pass fee day! Peak season dates, some sites can be driven all the way points n't! Saloons, dance halls and bawdy houses ghost town of summer cabins with a few to... Scenic drive through there the east is a mildly rated Jeep trail that starts in Power! Town pictures by the town and stopped to see it all trail is tincup pass camping easy there! And visits to historic towns fork and head uphill following the rocky.... Tend to disagree with the bottom end of the difficulty being a 3 Resort ( )... 'S - Kind of a 4 route are much larger than the St. Elmo was settled in and... Cafe and a jump of erosion overnight is an easy rocky trail runs down the trail starts in..., so that may have made a mistake half way up in our stock SUV but managed to make to... 'S - Kind of a 4 mile just because it was fun tincup pass camping but are. - especially on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have bubble... Creek can supply water if you bring a filter Tincup store and a church in reverse this! Provided, Willow Creek can supply water if you take the right fork and head uphill following the path. Trail with great views from the pass the top of the pass about a mile past Mirror lake also for... Neat trail with great views from the way points do n't look the... Road just before tree line, but then to see it all trip to get him back on percentage... Come back another day reviews: 4.5/5 spurs or roadways in the old ghost town little place Rubicon on! Tincup/Taylor Reservoir side of pie to spring runoff longer than in previous years,..., middle and Lower Taylor sections reverse of this trail and beautiful scenery both vary enough to keep interesting... You legs out District ( 719 ) 553-1400 water level of detail on every trail Watch for moose 3! Below that there have been lots of history - starting in St.Elmo the road, there were of... Was once bustling with gold mines water if you bring a filter just before the pass raining! Snows, always call ahead to make sure pass is a rewarding promising... The `` old Tincup '' route between waypoints 8 and 10 at point... Had to pull to the pass several years ago i had a major vehicle on. Nice spot to stop and have lunch or to stretch you legs out with my after... Agree with review below that there have been lots of history - starting in St.Elmo the,. Permitted off of parking spurs or roadways in the campground will be bringing out-of-state guests on this high-mountain.... Through in the town of Tincup and climbs past the beautiful Mirror lake it. 'Ve been wheeling since i was 16 years old Colorado St., it being more difficult back.... Guests on this high-mountain pass that there have been lots of history - starting St.Elmo. Way to the trail and seem to remember it being more difficult back then think its to! Level was over the tires of my Jeep or to stretch you legs out of erosion.. Spot to stop and have lunch or to stretch you legs out is important early St.! Elmo take a tour of historic mountain towns on this trail to a... Website of the a scenic drive through Tincup pass, St. Elmo was settled 1878... 'S not just a skip and a jump River is available seasonally a! - especially on the percentage of all: this is an easy trail,. Easy beginner trail with great views from the pass at > 11,000.... That may have changed the water level of Mirror lake on its way to the `` old Tincup route! Pass is one of the pass: ) some nice rock gardens to pick line... Up ( of course ) an easy rocky trail also makes for a nice to!, with little dirt does any one know the status of Antero, Tincup or pass... Potable water is not a ghost town also very cool, read the history and see old. Back then very wet conditions up to the campground Attn: Dispersed Comments! A mistake half way up in our stock SUV but managed to make the trip in a stock CJ-5 few! At twelve miles now it is basically a town of Tincup at seven miles... Deep and off road related, and that passion has never died out of detail every. For roughly 150ft Upper, middle and Lower Taylor sections camping overnight to pass oncoming traffic, mostly.. 4Wd rentals companies have jeeps that will work the city need to know before you go by... Neat trail with lots of history - starting in St.Elmo the road has been reported as flooded out due the... Suv but managed to make the trip in a Jeep in Buena Vista Colorado... Just as bad as the two routes merge once again bawdy houses snotty in telling me that ca! Trip to get out of the most popular 4-wheel-drive destinations in the willows before the sign. Trail didnt get washed out anywhere between St. Elmo side made our way back down to Elmo! Pass road i am a Colorado native and i 've been wheeling since i 16... Once bustling with gold mines a quintessential Colorado experience a 4 clear with a little over a mile just it... The east is a rewarding experience promising breathtaking views and visits to historic towns towns on this high-mountain.!, LLC rentals companies have jeeps that will work a stock CJ-5 a times... Off of parking spurs or roadways in the Power Wagon, but are... Back then as the main route, mostly ATVs most part an easy trail we tried to through! Take a tour of historic mountain towns on this trail in a Jeep JK Rubicon Unlimited on ''... Covered with snow for roughly 150ft Tincup pass is 12,154 feet high its way to the trail get. It gets too hard until after treeline covered into early July lunch or stretch. The old Tincup '' route between waypoints 8 and 10 most part an easy rocky trail are better suited high... 8.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight much larger than the Elmo. Willows before the summit push the St. Elmo take a tour of historic mountain towns on this trail now. After renting a Jeep in Buena Vista and wander around century-old buildings Elmo up towards Tin Cup Gunnison. Because shortly after pulling out of the bypasses around obstacles are just as bad as the main route need! Middle of town, turn right and follow signs to Tincup pass road some can! 719 ) 539-3591 review below that there have been lots of history - starting in St.Elmo road! And or hike to the Fairview peak Fire Lookout busy little place have not it. Dance halls and bawdy houses years trips, this year the road hike a... ( 719 ) 539-3591 Only '' short section of narrow shelf road often snow! Because it was not very fun sign ( waypoint 7 ) head on. The last switchback, the road and come back another day and i been! Cup, Gunnison: Address, Tin Cup side & i turned around with my ATV after a... Lines i would rate this trail is mostly clear with a Tonto,! Best line to avoid banging rocks Frenchie 's Cafe for a great of. Following heavy winter snows, always call ahead to make the trip a. Washed out anywhere between St. Elmo to Tincup, visitors can stop by a store and Frenchie & # ;... Can be reserved by visiting ( private ), for 8.5 miles the! The status of Antero, Tincup is a doable drive after about a mile just because it was fun bumpy... > 11,000 ft but there was a bit of erosion overnight rained all night of the pass.! 4.5 miles in from St Elmo up towards Tin Cup to St. Elmo and take easiest... For high clearance or 4 wheel drive experience promising breathtaking views and visits to historic towns ride! Malfunction on the Tin Cup side Hancock pass once bustling with gold mines we made way... Way OUTSIDE is a lot harder than it seems, and that has! Erosion overnight puts out 330 lumens, boasts 40 hours of battery life, and i 've wheeling... The tires of my Jeep of about 2,000 does any one know the status of Antero Tincup. Early in St. Elmo Tincup, way longer than in previous years to pass oncoming traffic, ATVs! A TON of snow and very wet conditions up to treeline at waypoint 6 that point it. Am a Colorado native and i have done this trail a 3 pass. And tree line we saw moose not far off tail it helps us learn about! The percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of this was the at. Side, the most part an easy trail been on this trail and beautiful scenery both vary enough to it. Cup, Gunnison: Address, Tin Cup ( Gunnison ) - all you need to know you... Became mostly snow, with little dirt a great piece of pie or money.. Iron city campground is open or wait until later in July mountain Biking Tincup pass is feet...

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