Beartown

[desertdog]

Has anyone be up to Beartown recently and can give a conditions update? Specifically the Rio Grande crossing and any surprises on the road. Planning on driving from Silverton. Thanks in advance!

[bdwyer]

No idea. Also trying to find out. If you hear, and if you want a paying rider/hiker partner, let me know. Been in there twice on the route from Silverton, so know it. And have many to climb from there. Flexible.

[Kiefer]

Has anyone be up to Beartown recently and can give a conditions update? Specifically the Rio Grande crossing and any surprises on the road. Planning on driving from Silverton. Thanks in advance!

Actually planning on heading to Beartown next month for some 13ers. Just waiting to get the truck back (some mods being done).
I'll let ya know about the river crossing.

[desertdog]

Has anyone be up to Beartown recently and can give a conditions update? Specifically the Rio Grande crossing and any surprises on the road. Planning on driving from Silverton. Thanks in advance!

Actually planning on heading to Beartown next month for some 13ers. Just waiting to get the truck back (some mods being done).
I'll let ya know about the river crossing.

Thanks I appreciate it!

[mschmalz]

Crossing the Rio Grande is not a problem. Road appears similar compared to three years ago.

[desertdog]

Crossing the Rio Grande is not a problem. Road appears similar compared to three years ago.

Good news! I appreciate the reply! Richard

[IHikeLikeAGirl]

Think a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk could make it?

Have beefy (standard sized) tires, skid plates, ~8.8" clearance

[k_fergie]

Think a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk could make it?

Have beefy (standard sized) tires, skid plates, ~8.8" clearance

Not knowing current conditions, but having been there in Sept 2022, I would be fairly positive your car could make it to at least where the 2016 Forest Service maps list the Beartown Historic Site at ~11160ft along the road. Assuming you came in over Stony Pass from Silverton. Haven't been, but heard Timber Hill from Creede side is challenging. Obstacles past the historic town site got more challenging, but not out of the question, so you could try to get farther. Pullout and camping options were a bit limited, but were there.

[Skimo95]

Think a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk could make it?

Have beefy (standard sized) tires, skid plates, ~8.8" clearance

You could probably make it. If it were my car, I’d hesitate from beating it up and possibly bending a rod end or worse. That road made LKB and Nellie Creek seem “easy” in my experience. I’ll hitchhike onto this thread and state I’d love to pitch in for gas if my current partner cannot make Beartown this year.

[Kiefer]

Think a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk could make it?

Have beefy (standard sized) tires, skid plates, ~8.8" clearance

Haven't been, but heard Timber Hill from Creede side is challenging. Obstacles past the historic town site got more challenging, but not out of the question, so you could try to get farther.

Going in From Creede is NO JOKE. That is one rough road & I regret driving it in a stock Taco (since rectified). Hope that no one is driving the other direction bc there aren't too many places to pull over.

[14ercooper]

I drove up from the Creede side not that long ago as sorta a scouting mission one afternoon to determine if I wanted to use that particular drive in as an approach to Hunchback Pass, and while I made it, I'm never driving the Timber Hill section of that road again, thank you very much. I might scout out Stony Pass next time I'm over there, since I've heard it's easier from there and Hunchback Pass is a pretty solid access route for that area (though I could always hike in a dozen other ways since I'm not horribly bothered by milage, even with a backapck). 4runner TRD Off Road with KO2s.

[interloper]

For those that have gone over Timber Hill, would you be up for elaborating? Is it just really rough or are there major obstacles that make it nerve-wracking? I live in the San Luis Valley and have always wanted to take that route because it’s so close, but I’ve never been able to talk to anyone that’s ever actually done it to get solid beta.