Lead King Basin

Total Miles
7.9

Technical Rating

4

Difficult

Best Time

Spring, Fall

Trail Type

Full-Width Road

Accessible By

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Lead King Basin
5

Trail Overview

This is a classic off-road trail that offers great scenery and beautiful seasonal colors. For a loop, take this trail with Devil's Punchbowl. Unlicensed vehicles are permitted and can stage just south of the fire station.

Photos of Lead King Basin

Lead King Basin
Lead King Basin

Difficulty

Difficult. Rating based on a few rocky spots and stretches of narrow shelf road where it is difficult to pass. An experienced driver can get a stock, high-clearance, 4x4 SUV through when the trail is dry. West end is steep and very slippery when wet.

Technical Rating

4

Status Reports

Doug Simpson
Jul 24, 2024
2020 Nissan Frontier
Open
Normal
Dusty
Brian Lewis
Jun 20, 2024
SxS
Open
Normal
Muddy/Wet
Easy peasy. Great ride.
Pablo Castro
Jun 14, 2024
4x4
Obstructed
Deep Snow
Made it all the way up the switchbacks, then hit deep snow and got off camber and had to winch through. At Silver Creek, the snow on the far bank looked too deep and steep, so I had to turn around and go back the way I came.
Adam Wibby
May 26, 2024
2023 Toyota 4Runner
Obstructed
Deep Snow
just passed the town of Crystal the road is heavily obstructed with snow. probably another three weeks before it's completely out of there

Access Description

From Glenwood Springs: Take Highways 82 and 133 south past Redstone. Follow signs east to Marble on F.S. 314 before McClure Pass. Zigzag through Marble and climb rough road east beyond Beaver Lake to sign for Lead King Basin, F.S. 315, on left. From Crested Butte: First drive Paradise Divide, Trail #28, to Schofied Pass. Then follow reverse directions for difficult Devil's Punchbowl, Trail #27.

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