11/4/2017 Posted On: 11/5/2017 By: pbergmaier Info: 4WD road is dry to the Rainbow TH. The drain pipe section looked dicey enough for me in my AWD Honda CRV that I decided to park just before it and walk the last few hundred feet to the TH. A high clearance 4WD vehicle should have no issues at all getting to the TH. | ||||
5/21/2017 Posted On: 5/22/2017 By: supranihilest Info: Clear to the 4WD trailhead. | 3 |
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7/5/2016 Posted On: 7/8/2016 By: TallGrass Info: Not sure why people use this instead of the South Colony Lakes TH. Rainbow Trail runs along the base of the Sangres and has junctions for at lease NINE roads at multiple designated "Trail Head" sites for lots of different peaks. I accessed Rainbow from the Horn Creek TH (note there is a non-motorized spur trail for hikers only from the first parking lot, upper one has outhouse) and rode 9 miles to the next road for SCL. Rainbow is used to access the "hiker only" North Colony Creek (and lakes), Macey, Marble and other trails. The trail from Horn to SCL is only class 2 with ATV-grade bridges across all major creek crossings. There are some rocky and steep stretches and some rocky switchbacks where motorcycle with knobbies and a low 1st will excel. | ||||
7/4/2016 Posted On: 7/5/2016 By: kayleenann8 Info: the road had a few puddles in the morning but was completely dry by mid-afternoon. We were able to drive in 2WD (albeit with high clearance) up to Rainbow trailhead. The road has some ruts and some boulders but in fairly good condition. | ||||
5/29/2016 Posted On: 5/30/2016 By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Clear the the Rainbow TH junction | ||||
4/4/2016 Posted On: 4/5/2016 By: WhatWasIThinking Info: Drove to the "private land for next 1/2 mile sign" 1 mile from trailhead. Snow melting very fast on road so it won't be long now till you could drive all the way to trailhead. SAR was way past the trailhead on their side by with tracks having a fun day. | ||||
3/25/2016 Posted On: 3/26/2016 By: CO Native Info: Made it to 9400 in a Jeep Compass with no issues. I would expect that even with the recent storms a decent 4wd vehicle will be able to make it to the Rainbow Trailhead in 2 or 3 weeks. | ||||
3/19/2016 Posted On: 3/19/2016 By: Unknown Info: On descent today (around 11am) I saw numerous vehicles parked in section that is private property. People who are doing this just to save a mile or less walk from the 2WD TH are simply lazy and not giving any thought to the consequences of their actions. Whoever owns this private property could just decide that the number of people not adhering to the signage is too much and shut down access. Be smart and courteous to others. As for the conditions, 2WD trailhead is accessible by all vehicles. Above that the road is muddy in spots and one or two icy spots that you could probably drive over with enough momentum. At least one skilled jeep driver has been up to the rainbow trail, but I certainly wouldn‘t try it as there are sections with substantial snow. Also, I picked up a razor blade sitting in the middle of the 4WD road... not sure how it got there but I didn‘t want someone‘s tire to get punctured or worse yet wildlife stepping on it. | ||||
12/24/2015 Posted On: 12/25/2015 By: Misi197 Info: Road clear up to the Lower 2WD trailhead. From there on up to the Rainbow Trailhead, snow varying from 1-3 feet. Not driveable. | 2 |
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5/25/2015 Posted On: 5/25/2015 By: Fr3ako Info: Still dry all the way | ||||
4/26/2015 Posted On: 4/27/2015 By: Eagle Eye Info: Reaching the Rainbow Trail fork didn‘t pose any more difficulty than in summer. The parking areas on the left are still drifted over so there is a little less parking space. | ||||
2/7/2015 Posted On: 2/9/2015 By: highplaces Info: Snow free to the Lower 2WD trailhead lot. You can drive a bit beyond there, but not far enough to be past the 1.5 mile private property/no parking section. | ||||
1/25/2015 Posted On: 1/26/2015 By: Shattuck311 Info: Snow free to the winter closure parking lot. From there, the route was well packed all of the way to the Rainbow Trail Trailhead. | ||||
1/3/2015 Posted On: 1/3/2015 By: mikemalick Info: Must have been more snow since the last post as it would be pretty tough to drive to the TH. I didn‘t even attempt the drive, but parked at the Winter closure lot. A Jeep and F-250 made the attempt, got about a mile up the road and then had to back out. There were no tire tracks beyond that point. Sorry for the lack of contrast in the last two pics as the morning light was not good. 1st pic is starting up the road after the closure and the final two are taken at the Rainbow TH looking in both directions. | 1 |
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12/24/2014 Posted On: 12/24/2014 By: goingup Info: With current snow conditions on the South Colony Lake Road a competent driver with 4WD could make it up to the Rainbow Trailhead to attempt Humboldt via the east ridge route. If any more snow comes through the week things could get trickier. |
