Jones Mountain/Ptarmigan Lake

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/30/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Open with deep snow to just past waypoint 3.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/30/2022

Still open for a bit longer if you can navigate the snow.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/16/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Still open on a beautiful Sunday. No other people around.

Tynan Olonan

2500

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/05/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Trail is dry. Some tight switchbacks for long-wheel based vehicles. The 2 stock 4Runners and the Chevy Trail Boss scraped a little bit at the switchback that has a 1ft ledge on the inner turn coming up. Only the Chevy Trail Boss scraped at the same part coming down. Very minimum scraping - no damage. Very amazing trail for beginners who are new to off roading. Half the team I took on this trail was new to off roading and owned the 2 stock 4Runners and 1 stock Tacoma (all with 265-70R17 ATs). Fantastic view of the valley and Mineral Basin once you reach the peak. Ran this trail with a modded 4Runner (3" lift with 285 ATs), 2 stock 4Runners with 265-70R17 ATs, a stock Tacoma with 265-70R17 ATs, Chevy Trail Boss Long Bed, Stock Jeep Wrangler 4 Door with 285 ATs.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/22/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

More new snow is keeping the trail closed at waypoint 4.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/15/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Open to almost waypoint 4 if you can handle deep snow.

Ryan Boudreau

Official Crew

102000

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/25/2021

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

One word... EPIC!! This trail has totally epic views. The road up is a super steep, super rough, slow slog, but it is totally worth it. I can't really describe it, you just have to see it yourself.

William Raufmann

1400

Open

Visited: 09/21/2021

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Mineral Basin is nice but Jones is awesome! I did it with my stock 2019 TRD Off Road and had no problems. I went on a Monday hoping for minimal traffic and it worked. I was the only truck on the route, saw a few ATV's once on the way up and once on the way down. I was concerned on seeing someone on the incline one way but had no problems. Highly recommend! Had to take the obligatory photo! Fall colors are starting!

Christopher Leal

800

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 08/15/2021

Absolutely amazing, stunning trail. Loaded with a myriad of wildflowers and all the beautiful smells that follow. Went all the way up in a stock lifted 17 4Runner TRD Off-Road. Scratched my skids and rock sliders, but very minimally; more of a light grazing. Lots of fun to stretch out the suspension and gain efficiency at best tire placement.

Obtuse Angler

950

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 08/11/2021

Have done this several times but only to Waypoint 5, lured by fishing the lake. Even if you don't fish, take the short hike to the saddle overlooking the lake for the outstanding 360 views. The valley below the lake is dotted with smaller ponds, some also loaded with jumping cutthroat.

Kevin

3100

Open

Visited: 06/27/2021

Completely open. It was foggy and raining with some sleet mixed in. Did have to use 4lo due to the slick rocks but trail was extremely easy

Max

850

Open

Visited: 06/20/2021

Trail is open to the top.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 06/01/2021

Open for 1 mile with heavy snow.

Josh Spring

13350

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/12/2020

Trail is still open after the light snow last night. The top however was freezing cold and extremely windy so it wasn’t worth hanging out for long!

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/19/2020

Awesome fall day. Picked up hikers at the lake.

Orion

200

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 09/14/2020

Made it up and down in a stock 4th gen 4runner (no scrapes) and 2wd stock silverado. This as about all we felt our vehicles would clear but was well worth it. The one switchback was a 3 point turn for both of us with a pretty steep drop off but felt manageable and safe.

B Roll Offroad

3100

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 08/23/2020

This is a really cool trail. Only one small obstacle and the rest is just bumpy but the views are fantastic from the very start. This was a little further than I anticipated making for a long day and then it started raining so unfortunately we didn't make the hike to the lake. Next time!

Patrick McKay

Official Crew

5050

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 06/28/2020

Fully open to the end as of June 28. Beautiful trail with some spectacular views at the top, and a nice posing rock as well.

Keith

200

Partially Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 06/08/2020

Trail is blocked by a snow drift between waypoints 4 and 5. Hiked up to Ptarmagin Lake. Definitely worth it.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Partially Open

Visited: 05/21/2020

The trail is currently open to almost Waypoint 4 with deep snow on the road.

Chris

800

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/28/2019

Trail is open to waypoint 5, past that there is a snowdrift blocking the trail a ways up the hill. I wouldn't go up to the snowdrift because there is nowhere to turn around. Saw a RZR make it all the way up but no full-sized vehicle could. Camped there all weekend at about 12,000 ft and it was very quiet besides day traffic going up to the lake. Great views from the campsites as well. Hike to Ptarmigan Lake was definitely worth it, very pretty. I wouldn't necessarily do this trail if you are looking for a challenging trail, it's quite short and not technical, but the views, camping, and hiking access are worth it. Also it's proximity to Cottonwood Lake is definitely a plus!

Brandon

300

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/27/2019

Wonderful trail, done with stock `08 4runner easily. There are only a few places where you need to really focus on your lines. The very last section of road is still closed due to snow, but it's easily hikeable to the end (another 500 ft at most). I won't say this is the most exciting trail ever, but the view at the top is certainly one of the best in Colorado. There's no way to come down from it and be in anything but a great mood.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/07/2019

Trail is open to just above timberline. Should be fully passable in the next week or two.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Impassable

Visited: 11/01/2018

Snow has fallen closing this trail for the winter.

Marcus Trusty

Official Crew

32850

Permanently Closed

Visited: 11/14/2017

Snow has fallen making this trail impassable until next season

Ashton Ray Hansen

200

Open

Visited: 09/28/2017

I did this trail along with Mineral Basin back in the fall. At the time it was open but snow and ice were present above tree line making for a few slick spots. It was very windy and cold at the time but I will definitely be back next season to make the hike to Ptarmigan Lake.

R W

1900

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 08/20/2016

Did this trail in a stock CJ-5. This trail provides outstanding views of the nearby mountains, and the top is cool for a picnic too, if its not too windy. Most of the trail is smooth, but there are some rocky sections, which is probably why its rated as moderate.

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Jones Mountain/Ptarmigan Lake

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