Trailhead Status | Nellie Creek

Trailhead:	Nellie Creek San Juan Mountains
Posted By:	reymannadam
Date of Info:	08/08/2019
Date Posted:	08/08/2019

Status Update
Drove this road weds/thurs in a newer Ram 1500 w/ 3" lift and off-road tires providing 17.5" clearance to the rocker panels. There were two crux maneuvers and one other notable obstacle. The first crux is at the lower creek crossing. The crossing itself is fine, with water at least up to the rocker panel, but the ramp to get out of the creek is a steep wet trough with largish rocks into an immediate steep sharp left turn that is muddy and rutted. This was the roughest part of the road. The next obstacle comes in between the creek crossings where there is a short but deep, steep, muddy washout across the road. Longer wheel-base vehicles and vehicles with low clearance or bad tires could have an issue. I bottomed out and felt tire-slip climbing out of it on the way up. The other crux maneuver is right after the upper creek crossing where there are a number of tight steep switchbacks. On the way up I had to make 3-point turns in a couple of them. The last two are back-to-back and the 2nd (last) of them has a large rock on the inside and a left-hand slant to the outside. I put the left wheel on the rock and crawled up it. It would be a challenge with low clearance or bad tires. Driving back down the road was much easier, no need to make 3-point turns or whatever. The only other obstacles were vehicles traveling the opposite direction. Lots of razor and atv tours up there, and the road is narrow with few pull-outs.

Status Update

Drove this road weds/thurs in a newer Ram 1500 w/ 3" lift and off-road tires providing 17.5" clearance to the rocker panels. There were two crux maneuvers and one other notable obstacle. The first crux is at the lower creek crossing. The crossing itself is fine, with water at least up to the rocker panel, but the ramp to get out of the creek is a steep wet trough with largish rocks into an immediate steep sharp left turn that is muddy and rutted. This was the roughest part of the road. The next obstacle comes in between the creek crossings where there is a short but deep, steep, muddy washout across the road. Longer wheel-base vehicles and vehicles with low clearance or bad tires could have an issue. I bottomed out and felt tire-slip climbing out of it on the way up. The other crux maneuver is right after the upper creek crossing where there are a number of tight steep switchbacks. On the way up I had to make 3-point turns in a couple of them. The last two are back-to-back and the 2nd (last) of them has a large rock on the inside and a left-hand slant to the outside. I put the left wheel on the rock and crawled up it. It would be a challenge with low clearance or bad tires. Driving back down the road was much easier, no need to make 3-point turns or whatever. The only other obstacles were vehicles traveling the opposite direction. Lots of razor and atv tours up there, and the road is narrow with few pull-outs.

Comments or Questions

LoneStar	Thanks 08/08/2019 20:45 Helpful info for my trip next week. Driving 4x4 Tundra. Given your comments, considering renting a jeep.
RogerHiker	NellieCreek TH 08/10/2019 18:43 Just drove it in a Jeep rented from Rocky Mountain Jeep Rentals. I'm a 4wd novice - other than our Subarus - and the Jeep Rubicon did the trick. No bottoming out. Took it all very slowly.
RogerHiker	Nellie Creek TH 08/10/2019 18:40 Just drove it in a Jeep rented from Rocky Mountain Jeep Rentals. I'm a 4wd novice - other than our Subarus - and the Jeep Rubicon did the trick. No bottoming out. Took it all very slowly.