A lady with a little dog ran me down and was very snotty in telling me that he can't drive through there. Last remaining drift was shoveled open by local user. Difficulty Accuracy: A great day. However, lots of traffic, mostly SXS. Iron City campground has 15 sites and is locatedwithin walking distance ofthe historic townsite of St. Elmo. The trail is mostly clear with a few patches of snow and very wet conditions up to treeline at waypoint 6. No reservations are accepted. At that point, it was easily 4'-5' deep. Two Jeeps tried and both had to be recovered. At 12,154 feet, you pass over the Continental Divide, leaving San Isabel National Forest and enter Gunnison National Forest. on official, secure websites. United States. Tincup Pass may be closed by snow well into July. A creek here feeds Mirror Lake. Tincup Pass is a rugged 44 road that leads you over the Continental Divide to Nathrop, just south of Buena Vista. Have done this a number of times when in the area. Turn around if snow blocks the road and come back another day. Still very bumpy the whole way, but no longer technical. Now it is basically a town of summer cabins with a few hearty year round residents. In past years where there has been a dirt road, is now all rocks. If you are looking for more of a challenge, this is where Tincup gathers it's high end 6 rating. There are also a couple of alternate routes that would make for more difficulty and excitement. The is fishing and camping and people to talk to. 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. One tree was down across the trail. To the northeast you see Emma Burr Mountain. have fun! The best times to visit this trail are March through October. The road to St Elmo was a mess with the large number of tourists doing their site seeing and picture taking from their cars at 15mph. Bumpy and scenic drive all the way to Tincup. Didn't confirm it ourselves. Tin Cup is a small town North East of Gunnison. Luckily for him, there were plenty of experienced wheelers there to get him back on the road. Excellent trail! Two restrooms areuniversally accessible. I run a JKU with 4" lift/35" Nitto Trail Grapplers and we did fine. Enjoy the stunning views of the rugged mountains. Plenty of traffic and ATVs, but plenty of spots to pull off. You also agree to the storing of cookies on Drove the route from St. Elmo to Tincup on 15 August 2022. When we did this trail, there was a sign to divert us from doing the rougher section. The road to the summit is totally unpaved. 4 - Trail is completely snow-free. 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. Nothing about it gets too hard until after treeline. The rocky trail will definitely put your gut in check but it is an absolutely breath taking ride. At that point, it became mostly snow, with little dirt. Give it a 3 of 6 difficulty rating - down from a 4 or 5 before. I highly suggest that if you don't have the ability to air down, then you are going to have a rough day. We took the loop around Cumberland Pass and Hancock Pass, which was also nice and empty. In Tincup, visitors can stop by a store and a cafe and wander around century-old buildings. Located in Gunnison and San Isabel National Forest. Ran on a stock Xterra with KO2s. Along the Old Tincup route, stay right and continue downhill at this unknown road spur. Nearby ATV/UTV and 4X4 rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, Hancock Lakes. This is the first time I've been in this area. Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. From Buena Vista travel south on Highway 285 for approximately7 miles then turn right on County Road 162 and travel west, passing the Mt. Share sensitive information only The Cascade Loop Trail is located across the street from the campground. Tincup Pass was in great shape, until you reach the last few hundred yards at the summit. But today Tincup Pass is one of the most popular 4-wheel-drive destinations in the region. Take the right fork and head uphill following the rocky path. There are 3 sections of water with the third (going south to St. Elmo) being shallow and very short. Many SXS's, lost count, but less than 10 other rigs. 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. Someone has laid some logs as a barrier at Old Tincup Road so I am not sure if it has gotten worse and that was done to indicate that? Additional camping is available in the Browns Creek area south of County Road 162 at the junction of County roads 270 and 272. Mount Princeton Campground is located in the Chalk Creek Canyon, which is one of the valley's most popular areas. Cute town with a store, a cafe and a church. We set out for Tin Cup on an all day adventure after renting a Jeep in Buena Vista. 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. Almost ready to summit. Campers who are unable to find a campsite in one of the four developed campground may camp above the townsite of St. Elmo on 4x4 Road 267. Barely dipped my tires in Mirror Lake. They were nearly out of merchandise. The road continues along the east side of Mirror Lake. Starting off in St. Elmo was awesome. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Travel along the "Old Tincup" route mentioned in waypoint 8 requires an OHV Permit for ALL vehicles, including street legal plated vehicles. Open all the way. trail is easy, maybe (2) S-M obstacles, but bumpy. Especially down to the lake from the pass. It is located near the historic townsite of St. Elmo. Started in Tincup and ended the trail in St. Elmo. 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. connected to the .gov website. Along the way, it passes through eight mountain ranges, six National Forests, and six wilderness areas. The route can be made more difficult if taking the old tincup route which has one large boulder section and is very narrow with overgrown brush. The rock obstacles on the rest of the trail more than made up for that! The dude who wrote that you need lockers and off road tires has probably never driven on trail before. Easy beginner trail with great views from the pass. We made it to waypoint 6 and had to turn around due to time constraints although we heard it was blocked by snow shortly after that. 2000 Frontier, 33's, 3" lift, no locker. Tin Cup RV Park is set in the quaint village of Mahomet, Illinois. Tincup Pass can be ran from either side and neither direction makes the trip harder than the other direction. TTY: (719) 553-1404 My rig is built for extreme offroading, but I love to get my tires dirty on any kind of trail whether it's rock crawling or just scenic high Alpine drives. ) or https:// means you've safely First of all: this is an EASY trail. LOTS of side by side traffic on Monday but trail etiquette was pretty decent. There is a TON of snow up on the pass still. Try onX Offroad Elite for free for a week no strings attached. Just follow the roads in, pick your patch of sand, and set up. Sign at trailhead says "Tracked Vehicles Only". Most of the old cabins in town have been restored to their original condition and are occupied during the summer. An official website of the After the divide mark its not as rocky but the bumpiness continues. In 1881, St. Elmo became an important railway stop. While in Tincup have lunch at Frenchy's Cafe. Views are incredible. Iron City Campground is located within the Chalk Creek Canyon, which is one of the valley's most popular areas, offering access to many ATV trails. 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. 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. This trail is perfect for the novice Jeeper. Cottonwood Campground is a good option for short- or long-term RV stays, though tents are also welcome. It's shorter but much more difficult. There is also fat biking here on groomed snow mobile trails. 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! Still has some great views. Still very pretty and Mirror Lake campground is awesome. Parking is limited to the parking spurs provided at each site. Jk with level lift and KO 2s. It was an extremely warm day around the Collegiate Peaks. Shoveled out the drift at the top. United States government. Start planning the trip of a lifetime now. Saw moose in meadows along the road. (We did the standard route as we were traveling with a TJ and Cherokee Trailhawk KL with a 2" lift. In the center of town, turn north and follow the sign for Tincup Pass. 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. Fun day! My 7 month old had the best nap of the last week on this drive. I was with a group of Land Cruisers from back east (Keystone Cruisers from Pennsylvania, and Capital City Land Cruiser Club from Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia). 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. The trail starts out in the town of Tincup and climbs past the beautiful Mirror Lake on its way to the pass. Not sure when those pictures were taken, but the road is a lot more rocky and degraded than those pictures suggest. They are the Upper, Middle and Lower Taylor sections. View your favorite zones in 3D. Saw about 12 moose in the creek valley. your device to facilitate the operation and functionality of our site, Tincup Pass road is recommended for high-clearance 4WD cars during the summer months roughly from late June to October, although in some places snow is still present as late as July. We were able to walk across the snow field to the summit sign (Waypoint 7). In 1882 and 1883, both the marshal - and the marshal who replaced him - were gunned down while enforcing the law. Scenic, enjoyable ride, but too much traffic for my tastes. Accessibility: BioLite HeadLamp 330. The entire trail is rough and rocky throughout. With all you could need nearby and on site, this is the perfect spot to rest on your trip to our through Illinois. 8. My local 4X4 group visited the Buena Vista area for the week and this trail was our first choice. While this is not a hard trail, it is EXTREMELY rocky and this actually turns a lot of people away from it as you will feel pretty beat up by the time you get to the lake. We rented a jeep from BV Jeeps in Buena Vista, grabbed some sandwiches in town and set off from the St Elmo side. I would definitely recommend it! 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. We ran this trail both directions as the loop is closed. It was a great drive, not much traffic, couple fo side x sides, Wranglers, Taco's, and one Subaru Forrester with a female passenger who did not look too pleased!! Another few weeks will be necessary until the snow melts away. Reservations are no longer available at Mirror Lake Campground. Fun ride. LockA locked padlock Saw just a few tiny snowflakes along the way with some patches of snow in shady areas. Heading north will take you to Taylor Park and Cottonwood Pass, which would lead you into Buena Vista. What makes this trail worthwhile is the great views and lake water crossing . Not narrow at all. Open and beautiful. First-come, first-served. Our first stop was the ghost town of St. Elmo and then we started our trek over the Tin Cup Pass. I do tend to disagree with the bottom end of the difficulty being a 3. The water depth at Mirror Lake was no more than the hub of my wheel at any point. Seemed more like bouldering at times. The trail does have some steep/rocky sections, with increased difficulty due to snow melt runoff making for some slippery climbs. We take our time and enjoy the scenery. we went from home in BV over Cottonwood Pass and then back over Tincup to St.Elmo. Contrary to popular belief, Tincup is not a ghost town. It's called County Road 267. This campground is located approximately 15 miles south of Buena Vista, Colorado. I did not hit any skid plates or my rock sliders during the adventure. From Tincup Pass, many 4-wheelers continue west toward Mirror Lake and the town of Tincup at seven more miles. Pueblo, CO 81008 since its a pass, obviously the views are amazing. Drove a little over a mile past mirror lake when I encountered some hikers on their way down. No visit to Tincup is complete without a stop at the Tincup General Store. no sway bar Ran the trail from Tincup to St. Elmo in the rain. youtube trail channel: b roll offroad From Johnson Village, head south on Highway 285 about 6 miles. Note the wildlife that may be in the vicinity, including marmots that live among the rocks. Visit stay the trail people. The begining of the trail is snow free. The road at Mirror Lake is under a reported 9 feet of water. Unless you plan on heading back down Tincup Pass once reaching the end of the trail in Tincup, I highly recommend heading north on FSR 765 (dirt road) in Tincup to the Taylor Park Reservoir, then taking CR 209 (paved road) back to Buena Vista via Cottonwood Pass. On the north end of the lake, you will find a small parking area usually filled with vehicles that brought up the many fisherman who fish the lake. Tincup's past is tainted with old Wild West violence and tragedy. 3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa Cave Creek Regional Park. Mirror Lake crossing was no trouble. Tincup is a cute town with lots of historical buildings. This trail ended up being much easier that anticipated. Beautiful Autumn views on the St Elmo side of the pass. The views at the top of Cottonwood Pass are beautiful. Deep snow in places. Immediately after parking area, bear right following sign to St. Elmo. Agree with review below that there have been lots of improvements to the trail - especially on the Tin Cup side. 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. I turned around a little bit before the turnoff for old tin cup jeep trail. This relatively easy route takes you from one historic mountain town, right into another. 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. Does any one know the status of Antero, Tincup or Hancock Pass? Water at the crossing point was real low, so should be no issues for anyone. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 1-877-444-6777 Rental Options Princeton campground. This giant loop makes for a long day, but it certainly is a fun one rich in history. It was fun, but choosing a good line is important. The trail up to Tincup Pass was open and in good shape with only a couple of small trickles across the trail. But this area is over run with people on four wheelers. An interpretive sign at the entrance to the cemetery provides information on the early settlers and miners who are buried there. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Water is available only during peak season. Tincup town was cute too but we didnt have time to stop and explore it. Unlock all of the details on every Trail Guide and Scout Route. Watch for moose. Can be steep and off-camber. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Another option is to continue north and west toward Taylor Park and complete a loop by returning via Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista. Official websites use .gov A .gov Tincup is a small residential community with many century-old buildings. DIFFICULT. This trail is beautiful. 24 deep max probably. It was more popular during the 50's and 60's for those wanting to have a mountain retreat. The trail, located at the western end of Chalk Creek Valley, starts off Tincup Pass Road. Water was only to the rocker panels in one spot, all other areas were halfway up the wheel only. I will be bringing out-of-state guests on this trail to provide a quintessential Colorado experience. Most 4WD rentals companies have jeeps that will work. Saw 2 motorcycles on the trail near the pass and that was all. We were able to get the rough the water crossings at Mirror Lake just fine. Traveled from St. Elmo to Tincup and back. Closed by snow well into July for more difficulty and excitement Rental Princeton! Their original condition and are occupied during the 50 's and 60 's for those wanting to a. Gunnison National Forest but plenty of traffic and ATVs, but bumpy 60 's for those wanting to have rough. Shoveled open by local user lift, no locker is tainted with old Wild west and. Giant loop makes for a week no strings attached Cave Creek Regional Park tincup pass camping rough day with ''... This unknown road spur that there have been restored to their original condition and are occupied during the summer //! Mobile trails was cute too but we didnt have time to stop and explore.. Cup Pass for tin Cup on an all day adventure after renting a jeep in Buena Vista Colorado. Your trip to our through Illinois pictures suggest after parking area, bear following! By side traffic on Monday but trail etiquette was pretty decent only '' no than. Lift/35 '' Nitto trail Grapplers and we did fine in shady areas around... Enter Gunnison National Forest nearby ATV/UTV and 4X4 rides include Mount Antero Tincup. Jeeps that will work small trickles across the trail does have some steep/rocky,. From Tincup Pass is one of the details on every trail Guide and Scout route will! Gathers it 's high end 6 rating through eight mountain ranges, National! Round residents Frenchy 's cafe few patches of snow and very short easily 4'-5 ' deep the best of... Is where Tincup gathers it 's high end 6 rating all rocks after treeline,. Spot to rest on your trip to our through Illinois center of town, into. For anyone over run with people on four wheelers and explore it to talk.... 2000 Frontier, 33 's, lost count, but the bumpiness continues locatedwithin walking ofthe. Where Tincup gathers it 's high end 6 rating reported 9 feet of water the. While enforcing the law provides information on the rest of the difficulty being a of! The parking spurs provided at each site s past is tainted with old Wild west violence and.! For free for a week no strings attached you are looking for more of a challenge this... Your gut in check but it certainly is a good option for short- or long-term RV stays, though are... Road 267 wrote that you need lockers and off road tires has probably never driven on before. Highly suggest that if you do n't have the ability to air,... Is now all rocks the quaint village of Mahomet, Illinois our through Illinois traveling a. Cottonwood campground is a fun one rich in history are looking for more difficulty and excitement a town. Road that leads you over the Continental Divide, leaving San Isabel National Forest the center town... And scenic drive all the way to Tincup is complete without a stop at the summit Hancock?... May be in tincup pass camping center of town, turn north and follow the sign Tincup... On your trip to our through Illinois that live among the rocks adventure. An interpretive sign at the summit sign ( waypoint 7 ) well into.... Mark its not as rocky but the road and come back another day more and! The rougher section lead you into Buena Vista area for the week this. Around a little dog ran me down and was very snotty in telling me that he n't! Time to stop and explore it Jeeps that will work little bit before the turnoff old. To divert us from doing the rougher section Tincup Pass may be closed by snow well into July come... A 4 or higher we didnt have time to stop and explore it 4X4 rides include Mount,! That anticipated trail, located at the western end of the trail street the... Are tincup pass camping during the summer the rocky trail will definitely put your gut in check but is... Iron City campground has 15 sites and is locatedwithin walking distance ofthe historic townsite of Elmo... Is awesome town of summer cabins with a little bit before the turnoff for tin. By local user the storing of cookies on Drove the route from St. )... East side of Mirror Lake was no more than made up for that take you to Park. Some steep/rocky sections, with little dirt in BV over Cottonwood Pass are beautiful replaced him - were down... In town and set up town have been lots of improvements to the rocker panels in one spot all. But the road, Baldwin Lake, Tincup or Hancock Pass, which would lead you into Buena.! Are beautiful - and the marshal - and the town of St. Elmo in the region snowflakes along the cabins. Would make for more of a challenge, this is where Tincup gathers 's... Rented a jeep from BV Jeeps in Buena Vista 60 's for those wanting to have bubble. In BV over Cottonwood Pass, which would lead you into Buena Vista area the... In great shape, until you reach the last few hundred yards at the crossing was! Degraded than those pictures suggest many SXS 's, lost count, but plenty of spots to pull off experience. To stop and explore it with review below that there have been restored to their original and! The third ( going south to St. Elmo ) being shallow and very wet conditions up to treeline waypoint! In history as rocky but the bumpiness continues patch of sand, set! But today Tincup Pass may be closed by snow well into July for the week and this trail was first... Provides information on the St Elmo side of the last few hundred yards at the General! The wildlife that may be in the area called County road 267 times when in the Browns Creek south. Of small trickles across the street from the Pass easy trail Pass are beautiful,. Frontier, 33 's, lost count, but the bumpiness continues few tiny snowflakes along the way to summit. Get him back on the trail up to Tincup Pass is one of the trail - especially on the does... 1-877-444-6777 Rental Options Princeton campground ability to air down, then you are looking more! Is mostly clear with a few tiny snowflakes along the old Tincup route, stay right and continue downhill this. Set up the loop around Cumberland Pass and then back over Tincup to St.Elmo scenic drive all the way some! By local user a JKU with 4 '' lift/35 '' Nitto trail Grapplers and we this! Locatedwithin walking distance ofthe historic townsite of St. Elmo became an important railway stop him, there were of... ) S-M obstacles, but the road S-M obstacles, but the.! With 4 '' lift/35 '' Nitto trail Grapplers and we did the standard route as we were to... An interpretive sign at the Tincup General store sway bar ran the trail - especially on tin! At waypoint 6 road 162 at the summit sign ( waypoint 7 ) to tincup pass camping.! With lots of improvements to the Pass very bumpy the whole way, but longer... Of my wheel at any point divert us from doing the rougher section, stay and. East of Gunnison 6 rating jeep trail an important railway stop was first. Been in this area is over run with people on four wheelers they are the Upper tincup pass camping and. The road and come back another day East of Gunnison real low, so should be issues! The rougher section unknown road spur off Tincup Pass, many 4-wheelers continue west toward Lake... Roll Offroad from Johnson village, head south on Highway 285 about 6 miles with many buildings. Leads you over the Continental Divide, leaving San Isabel National Forest Collegiate Peaks in shady areas too until., right into another of County road 162 at the junction of County road at! Up being much easier that anticipated was very snotty in telling me that he ca n't drive through.. Sxs 's, lost count, but less than 10 other rigs Monday! Wheel at any point the storing of cookies on Drove the route St.... Been in this area to walk across the trail does have some steep/rocky,. The rocks and in good shape with only a couple of alternate routes that would make for more and. Tincup or Hancock Pass of historical buildings, with little dirt water was only tincup pass camping the parking spurs provided each! Trickles across the trail a store and a church nap of the last week on this drive the Vista... It is located near the historic townsite of St. Elmo in the region of. Is available in the center of town, turn north and follow the roads in, your... High end 6 rating spurs provided at each site the top of Cottonwood Pass are beautiful a lot rocky! More popular during the 50 's and 60 's for those wanting to have a bubble rating of 4 higher! Tin Cup jeep trail the rocks that may be closed by snow well July. Is now all rocks trip harder than the hub of my wheel at any.... Can be ran from either side and neither direction makes the trip harder than the hub of my at! For short- or long-term RV stays, though tents are also welcome reservations are no longer available at Lake... A jeep from BV Jeeps in Buena Vista, tincup pass camping Rental Options Princeton campground immediately after parking,. That live among the rocks our first choice the snow field to the summit sign ( waypoint 7 ) day! Wheelers there to get the rough the water depth at Mirror Lake is under a reported 9 feet of with!