Trail Ridge Road

Total Miles
10.9

Technical Rating

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Type

Full-Width Road

Accessible By

Trail Overview

Trail Ridge Road is an easy, windy, single-width Forest Service gravel and dirt road that takes you up and around the Baker Lake area. It is a mostly well-maintained dirt road with minimal potholes, a few small water run-offs, and gorgeous views. You do need to cross the dam to get to this section of the trail. In the summertime, this can be a popular trail as it is easily accessible. There are multiple pull-offs available for dispersed camping including but not limited to a few with absolutely amazing views of Mount Baker that are so close you could almost reach out and grab it.

Photos of Trail Ridge Road

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Difficulty

This trail has a 2 rating because while 90% of it is very easily traversed, there are a few tricky spots (small but intense inclines) to get to some of the camping areas. This trail is also unmaintained in the winter, giving it a harder rating due to the sheer amount of snow it accumulates.

Technical Rating

Status Reports

trail was pretty easy till about 1/2 mile from the top. Farley deep snow at that point. you will need a high clearance 4x4 till the snow melts.

Beautiful but halfway up there was a lot of snow that was getting very wet and slick. I can normally handle a foot or so of snow with my vehicle but this stuff just instantly became extra slick slush. Bring recovery gear and be careful. I turned back about 50 yards into the snow covered road.

The road is well maintained until about 60% up where you'll run into some ruts, potholes, washboard, etc. Overall not an issue for any stock 4x4, didn't even need to air down. The only obstacle is the one to the primo campsite/overlook but unfortunately the clouds rolled in and covered Mt. Baker. There are some fall colors starting and I'd imagine it will be colorful in about a week or so.

Some rough sections. But I gave a Lexus sedan a wave by and didn't see him again until the top.

Trail Ridge Road Map

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