Mount Princeton (14,196') is the most majestic and popular of the Collegiate Peaks, and the Princeton Chalet road takes you well above timberline on the southern slope of the mountain. The trail is in such close proximity to Buena Vista that you can look up at the mountain from downtown and then two hours later you can be looking down on the valley below giving you views of nearly the entire county. The road will certainly test the nerves of even the most experienced drivers as it switchbacks its way up the mountains and then traverses to the south crossing a large avalanche chute before ending on a ridge below Tigger Peak (13,300'). A chalet built by Young Life in the 60s still stands at the end of the road and is used by hikers and mountaineers during their adventures.
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From the Highway 24/Main Street stoplight in Buena Vista, head west on West Main Street. In .75 miles turn left onto Rodeo Road. Continue on Rodeo Road for 6.75 miles and then turn right onto County Road 322 at a sign for Frontier Ranch. Continue on CR 322, at .9 miles turn right and pass through the entrance to the Mt. Princeton parking lot. You are now at the Mt. Princeton Trailhead.
This area is part of Pike-San Isabel National Forest, and as such is part of the 2011 Lawsuit where a coalition of conservation and recreation groups are suing the U.S. Forest Service over what they say is the illegal addition of 500 miles of motorized roads and trails. A settlement was reached in late 2015 requires the U.S. Forest Service to re-evaluate the roads and create a new travel management plan. Over the next year, 30 roads will be partially or completely closed while this evaluation takes place over the next 5 years.
It is imperative that the OHV community let's their voices be heard on this issue. If we do nothing, those 500 miles will be shutdown. Contact the local ranger districts and let them know why the area is important to you and the history you have there.
Salida Forest Service District OfficeLeadville Forest Service District Office
Fully open to the chalet. Didn’t run into too much traffic. A number of large vehicles had parked at the top where the hiking trail begins, which made it difficult to get around and up to the chalet
This was my first time to drive up Mt. Princeton, and it was totally worthwhile. The road is narrow, too narrow for passing traffic in most spots, but there are switchbacks and other spots where one can pull out. These spots seemed more numerous at lower elevations--fewer up high. The stone chalet is a gem--remarkably good condition (please help keep it that way!) Views from the top are spectacular, especially to the SW towards Mount Antero. Just an incredible view!
Ran the trail this morning to the top in my Tacoma TRD Offroad with stock suspension and 32” ST Maxx’s. Everything was going great until we encountered a boulder between waypoints 6 and 7 that put us at 20 degrees of roll towards the cliff. My wife opted to get out and walk the rest and film me driving solo. That one boulder was really the only tough part of the trail just because the consequences of tipping would’ve been fatal. Definitely wouldn’t want to navigate that in wet conditions. There was not enough room to dodge the boulder on the cliff side and I didn’t have the clearance to straddle it. So I had no choice but to take it directly under my tires. After reaching the top, we went back to waypoint 6, parked, and climbed Mt Princeton. Great morning on the trails!
This trail is interesting in that the first half is an easy dirt road, and then there is a complete switch to a rougher, rocky road for the remainder of it. Overall it's an easy road but I did this on a weekday and could not imagine doing it on a weekend with more traffic. This trail attracts inexperienced drivers with no off-roading knowledge, and cars that should be staying on paved roads.
I would say what makes this drive tough is that you can go for a long time before finding a spot to allow passing. Then you have the hikers with no off-road etiquette parking their stock crossovers and trucks in the passing spots, so your pullover spots are even more limited.
I definitely enjoyed the views and the drive, and it made for an easier hike to the Princeton summit. And although I say the drive is "easy", the trail has some considerable exposure at the top. It doesn't take much in that narrow section at the top to take a fatal plunge down the mountain, and the road is narrow up there.
**Road Maintenance Alert** The Mount Princeton Trail will be closed from Monday 6/22/20 - Friday 6/26/20 for road maintenance. The Forest Service will have a dozer working the lower section of the road and the public is asked to stay clear of the area.
Had a nice trip up and back as there were only a few parked vehicles along the way.
Completed this trail again in my stock full size Chevy leading a small Overland Bound group while in the area for 14erFest.
It never occurred to me how busy this road might be with hikers during peak season.
Avoid weekends if possible. Vehicles were parked in every open space nearly the full length of the trail. Some places were very tight getting a full size truck through.
Thankfully our timing was good and we got up and down without major incident. There were even 4 Pinzgauers there today.
Amazing views at the top! This trail is pretty easy right up until the very end. Once you get to the top the view takes your breath away.
A lot of the trail is narrow so oncoming vehicles create the biggest challenge.
Snow has fallen making this trail impassable until next season
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Marcus is a 4th generation Buena Vista, Colorado native who grew up bouncing around the central Colorado mountains in the back of his dad's CJ5. During his younger years, Marcus grew to appreciate public lands and the recreation opportunities backroads and 4-wheel drive trails offer. Marcus has been wheeling for 20 years now and has wheeled in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and California. Until a few years ago Marcus had just been a participant in the wheeling community, but he has become much more active in preserving trails and working to make sure the wheeling community has their access maintained for future generations. In 2017 Marcus helped to found Colorado Off Road Enterprise - CORE, based out of Buena Vista. CORE has worked with the Forest Service and BLM and has volunteer agreements in place with both organizations. CORE also has a Forest Service trail adoption agreement in place for Grizzly Lake, Pomeroy Lake, Hancock Lake, Hancock Pass, and Tincup Pass, Tomichi Pass, Williams Pass, Ptarmigan Lake, Mineral Basin, Clohesy Lake, Lost Canyon, Champion Mill, Iron Mike Mine, and Slide Lake. If Marcus is not working you can generally find him somewhere out on the trails around Buena Vista.
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