An epic road to Clohesy Lake in the Sawatch Range of CO

Clohesy Lake is an Alpine lake located in Chaffee County, in the U.S. state of Colorado.

Clohesy Lake

Can you drive to Clohesy Lake in Colorado?

Set high in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America, the road to the lake is totally unpaved. It’s called FS 381 (Clohesy Lake Road).

How long is the road to Clohesy Lake in Colorado?

Starting at Rockdale, the road is 5.3 km (3.29 miles) long. The last 0.75 miles are closed to motor vehicles. The road is totally impassable in winters.

Is the road to Clohesy Lake in Colorado challenging?

Tucked away in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, near Crested Butte, the road to the lake is pretty challenging, with water crossings and some rocky sections. A 4wd vehicle with high clearance is required. The road ends at 3.356m (11,010ft) above the sea level. The road to the lake is very steep, hitting a 14% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Rockdale, the elevation gain is 340 meters. The average gradient is 6.41%.The trail is generally surrounded by pines and aspens.
Pic&video: Tom Crosman

 

 

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