Huerfano/Lily Lake Trailhead

Location

RangeSangre de Cristo

Elevation10,700'

Lat/Lon37.62361, -105.47278

14ersMt. Lindsey

Road Difficulty

3 Easy 4WD/AWD, good clearance

Do not attempt to get anywhere near the trailhead if you have a low clearance 2WD. The road is usually rough 2WD to the west side of the landslide area, 20 miles in and 2 miles from the trailhead. From there, 4WD/AWD/Good Clearance is required to reach the Lily Lake trailhead at 10,700'. 4WD may be required in spring when large puddles and mud are present.

Driving Directions

From the town of Gardner, located northwest of Walsenburg, take Colorado 69 west for approximately half a mile, then turn west onto County Road 550. The trailhead is 22+ miles from this point. Start measuring mileage here:

At 7.0 miles, the road turns to dirt.
At 11.8 miles, stay left on Forest Road 580.
At 15.7 miles, stay left at the entrance to the Singing River ranch. The road becomes narrow, but usually still 2WD with good clearance.
At 16.7 miles, pass the entrance to the Aspen River ranch.
At approx. 20 miles, reach the the west side of large, landslide area where the road was re-routed in 2016. After this point, there's a steep section that requires 4WD.
Continue 2 miles on the rough, narrow road to reach the Lily Lake TH. There are dispersed camping spots along this section.

On-Site Info

ParkingRoom for ~10 vehicles at the trailhead but other places to pull off the road.

CampingDispersed camping at the pull-offs on the road.

Restrooms?No

Fees?No

Photos

Winter Access

Usually closed near the Singing River Ranch, far below the trailhead.

Trailhead added by BillMiddlebrook

Status Updates
Map


6/1/2009 Posted On: 6/1/2009 By: elchivoloco Info: No snow all the way to the uppermost parking. Last 1/2 mile is a little steep and loose for the Subaru though.
5/23/2009 Posted On: 5/23/2009 By: tmathews Info: The downed tree mentioned in the previous update has been removed. Vehicles can access the trailhead, now. There‘s a little bit of snow toward the end, but not much of an issue.
5/23/2009 Posted On: 5/23/2009 By: thunderinacircle Info: There is one snow drift that will keep a low-clearance vehicle from getting all the way to the TH, but it is a very short walk away from it. Totally 2wd accessible otherwise.
5/17/2009 Posted On: 5/17/2009 By: GeorgeB Info: Driveable to about 100 yards shy of the Lower Huerfano trailhead (Zapata Trail), at which point a large tree blocks the road. If you bring a chainsaw and get through this tree, you will be able to get signicantly farther up the road without encountering major snow drifts.
3/9/2009 Posted On: 3/9/2009 By: SarahT Info: With 4WD the road is passable to 3.5 miles before the summer TH (2.5 miles past the Singing River Ranch). A shovel is a good idea though as there is still some snow to deal with. Further passage blocked by deep snow and a downed tree.
2/8/2009 Posted On: 2/8/2009 By: benners Info: As of 2/7 the road is impassable for passenger cars past the Singing River Ranch, 4WD can continue for an additional .5 miles before monster snow drifts will stop anything short of a snowmobile.
11/16/2008 Posted On: 11/16/2008 By: piper14er Info: Drove my 4wd to the upper trailhead. 2-4 inches of snow and some icy patches above the second large meadow. Icy stretch by second ranch not for cars.
9/15/2008 Posted On: 9/15/2008 By: ossie322 Info: If you are a great driver then a 2WD would probably suffice, but I would definitely still recommend a 4WD, as accessing the TH with one is pretty much a breeze.
9/11/2008 Posted On: 9/11/2008 By: summitseeker Info: Made it to the trailhead in my AWD Suby WRX on 8/31. Rocks weren‘t too bad, road just steepens a bit toward the last mile. Just gotta keep the momentum going up. Saw another Subaru Outback at the TH- looks like AWD vehicles with decent clearance should make it. Was at night too!
8/31/2008 Posted On: 8/31/2008 By: Beagle Info: No wonder the road was so good. Thanks Huerfano County! Drove this Saturday morning 8/30 and it is in great shape. Some standing water here and there but no problem at all, especially if you have some clearance. Road is so good you might even be able to make it in a 2WD car.
8/28/2008 Posted On: 8/28/2008 By: huunqs6nq Info: Huerfano County roadgrader was working on the upper part of the ranch section of the 580 road on the 26th. He has really smoothed it out nicely, and filled in all of the erosion, potholes, etc. There are still few muddy pieces just below the forest boundary, but it is good mud, not the kind of mud that will get you stuck.
8/25/2008 Posted On: 8/25/2008 By: mtncatmoore Info: I went up to the Lily Lake trailhead on 8.23.08 and road work has been done on the pond. It was very easy to cross they filled in the road with dirt and we crossed it will no problems. Forgot to take a picture, but it‘s now dirt filled.
8/9/2008 Posted On: 8/9/2008 By: mtnklutz Info: Pond/puddle still there 8-9-08. Stay left if approaching trailhead, right if leaving TH. Drainage tube is shallower on right side of photo. (See picture below). Crossed with no problem in an Xterra, many other trucks and SUV‘s crossed fine, including a Geo Tracker.
8/9/2008 Posted On: 8/9/2008 By: mtnklutz Info: Pond/puddle still there 8-9-08. Stay left if approaching trailhead, right if leaving TH. Drainage tube is shallower on right side of photo. (See picture below). Crossed with no problem in an Xterra, many other trucks and SUV‘s crossed fine, including a Geo Tracker.
8/4/2008 Posted On: 8/4/2008 By: MUni Rider Info: Fifteen minutes with a shovel and removal of a couple fallen logs, and that puddle could be drained. Until then, 2wd cars still need to stop at the puddle/pond as of 3 August 2008.

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