Billings Lake

Snow and icy conditions may exist. Travel on 4x4 roads this time of year is not recommended. Expect winter weather at high elevations.

Great views. Easy fun drive. I aired down to 15psi and it smoothed it out right quick. 2000 Frontier, 33's, 3" lift, 2019 Tacoma, 31's, no lift. The Tacoma handled it fine. No clearance issues. RESERVOIR IS CLOSED to vehicles and camping, although foot traffic is allowed - USFS closed it for all the dead-standing trees being a fall-hazard. We moved a couple fallen trees off the trail ourselves. Keep your eyes open for falling trees if it's windy while you're up there! The Pride of the West Tunnel smells like sulfur - we didn't venture down it because it could be a suffocation hazard without proper air supply. Keep that in mind that gasses in the tunnel could possibly displace enough air to make you pass out.

Ran this for my first time and I really didn't enjoy the drive itself. It's rocky and bumpy the entire time, and not rocky like it's a fun challenge. Rocky like it's almost a dirt road in which you think you can go faster, but you actually cant because of how many small rocks are jammed in the dirt that you're constantly driving over. Definitely want to air down for this one. One way drive time was just over an hour for me. Aside from the drive, the views at the end were very nice and I enjoyed hanging out at the lake. It's a real trade off in my opinion between crappy drive but great views at the end. Views along the drive are mostly in trees with nothing to see.

Went up to check the trail on my motorcycle. Although the route was rocky in spots its pretty consistent with how the route had been in the past. Camped out in a nice little spot on Friday night. North Fork campground was still closed, however Angels of Shavano campground was open. The avalanche debris was impressive!

Open all the way to the top, although North Fork campground is currently closed due to needing tree-removal work done. The road is not in great shape, I'd say this could probably use an upgrade from a 2 to a 3.

According to the US Forest Service Website Covid 19 restrictions expire in the area May 31st. That does not necessarily mean that all restrictions are lifted there however, there just isn't any more information posted at this time. I will update as information becomes available. The trail is open to North Fork Reservoir, but I am unsure of the conditions up higher.

Snow has begun to fall in the Colorado high country making this trail impassable until next year. If travelers find gates open in this are please travel at your own risk.

The road just opened last week and we spent the day between North Fork Reservoir and Billings Lake yesterday. Wildflowers are just reaching their peak up at Billings Lake - spectacular!

Road closed sign between waypoints 1 and 2 at 240A campground turn off. We went back over to run something else. Jeep went around sign and was heading up trail. Maybe they were official... maybe just not obeying signs. There was a sign stating that the road was closed until danger from avy debris was not a threat to the public.

Per the Us Forest Service: North Fork Reservoir and higher on the trail is currently inaccessible by vehicle due to avalanche debris on Road 240. Opening may be further delayed pending removal of potentially hazardous beetle-killed Spruce trees.

I drove this with my father in a 1956 Oldmobile 63 years ago and in a 68 VW with my wife 50 years ago. From the pictures and descriptions it hasn't changed much. Both times in automobiles we routinely bottomed out and walked the last section of narrow road. Will drive this year in a Subaru Crosstrek with Primitive Racing skid plated.

Easy trail but very bumpy and rough. One could do the trail with a stock vehicle as I saw many stock trucks, SUVs (BMW X-3), and a couple cars, however I would not recommend this. As stated in the trail description the first couple of miles is paved road but that ends and it is dirt and rock the rest of the way. The last section, once you reach Billings Lake and head around it, is only wide enough for one vehicle and there is very little room to move to the side to let other vehicles pass. Once you reach the end of the trail you can walk a short distance to an old tunnel that goes into the mountain. The tunnel was built in the late 1800's. There is a sign warning you not to go into the tunnel. Many places to camp along the trail, the scenery once you reach Billings Lake, is outstanding.