Kendall Mountain

[BusaDave9]

A friend and I decided to check out the jeep trails near Silverton CO. We were hoping to go over BlackBear Pass but it's still closed due to snow. So instead we went up Kendall Mountain.
This first picture is looking across at highway 550 south of Silverton.

Kendall Mountain is right next to the town of Silverton.







In Kendall Gulch there is a fork to the left. This goes to the top of Kendall Mountain. Now the trail gets narrow.


This next picture is of Kendall Gulch. We were on the trail below. You can see the fork we took on the left side of this picture.



Near the top we were stopped by a snowfield. I parked my jeep at a ledge.


We took a short hike to the top of a minor summit on Kendall Mt.
From here you can see the snowfield that stopped us just before the end of the trail.

You can see the mountain peak in the upper right of the previous picture.
It's a gorgeous view from up here. THis next picture is looking back at Highway 550 going over Molas Pass just south of Silverton. The lake is Molas Lake.



From the top I took this panorama. It's interactive so you can use your mouse to pan and look around.
Kendall Mt Panorama
For anyone that is interested in taking this trail, go through downtown Silverton. Turn right at 14th Street. This will take you on a bridge over the Animas River. Turn right after crossing the bridge. Now just follow the trail up the mountain. There are only 2 forks on this trail to worry about. After a relatively steep section with switchbacks you will get to the first fork. Keep left here. If you were to turn right you would go into Deer Park. The next fork is after you are in Kendall Gulch. In Kendall Gulch it looks like a dead end. You won't see the fork going to the left until you are upon it. After you turn left here the trail gets narrow and climbs right to the top of Kendall Mountain.
As I said earlier, I didn't make it to the end of the trail due to snow. If I were to make it around that last bend I would have had a great view down on the town of Silverton. Here's a picture I took a couple years ago:

 

[gr8dain]

Absolutely beautiful. I ned to move out west. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BusaDave9]

Here's a GPS route of the trip.
The southern leg is to Deer Park.
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=1541a59625b002f44e&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes

 

[oldjeeplady]

Thanks for sharing, and keeping us up to date on the status of the trails we have planned for our upcoming trip.

We would love to go up Kendall Mountain sometime when we have a small group, since you have told us there is not much room for a larger group to turn around. Thanks again.

 

[Belizean]

Thanks for throwing in the GPS route map. That really help show where you went

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Thank you much for the time and effort to post this trip report!

LG

 

[Posi]

I see the South and North gates on Poughkeepies are still closed as of yesterday.

 

[007]

I'm guessing it will be a very photogenic trip. Wildflowers could still be in full swing during the trail ride.

 

[Belizean]

Re: Kendall Mountains

I'm guessing it will be a very photogenic trip. Wildflowers could still be in full swing during the trail ride.

The bears might have just come out of hibernation and famished

 

[BusaDave9]

I see the South and North gates on Poughkeepies are still closed as of yesterday.

They never plow or bulldoze Poughkeepsie Gulch. It usually melts by now but we've had far more snow in the mountains than usual. I think (hope) it will be clear before our trail ride.
It's Lower Engineer Pass trail (also called Mineral Creek trail) that I've been worried about. It has had a bad rock slide that has blocked the trail. I heard it may be cleared by now but I will verify. That is important because we are staying in Ouray.

 

[Posi]

It's Lower Engineer Pass trail (also called Mineral Creek trail) that I've been worried about. It has had a bad rock slide that has blocked the trail. I heard it may be cleared by now but I will verify. That is important because we are staying in Ouray.

The rock slide has been cleared as of last Sunday.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Rocks?? We just drive over those...

 

[BusaDave9]

I see the South and North gates on Poughkeepies are still closed as of yesterday.

The rock slide has been cleared as of last Sunday.

You have better spies than us locals.
What web site do you get your info from?

 

[007]

I don't know where he gets it, but you can get it from Switzerland of America's website


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[BusaDave9]

I don't know where he gets it, but you can get it from Switzerland of America's website

But that site doesn't have the details that Posi posted. I also use the following sites:

Bushducks - Jeep Trail and Backroads Trip Reports<br>Colorado Jeep Trails and Passes - Opening Dates

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/...0000000000000&ttype=detail&cid=fsbdev3_002300

http://www.sanmiguelcounty.org/406/Road-Conditions

Even the Forestry Service web site still says:

Engineer Pass - Lower end CLOSED by Rockslide between Hwy 550 and Mineral Point

 

[007]

It doesn't have the detail unless you check it every day and then you would know when they change it.

I have no idea where he checks it, but I know those guys are out there on tours seven days a week so I would hope that it had some level of accuracy.


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[Posi]

Late reply, I'm in Texas at moment.

First, I wouldn't trust the Forestry Service to be up to date. Plus, a ranger said the South Gate on Poughkeepsie was open and the trail was cleared to the wall, fact was it was closed.

Dave, I got my info from Bushducks. The info I mentioned is located on the trail list.

Also, according to the rules of the Southwest CO Trails Association I believe my previous posts qualifies me for my "locals card".

 

[007]

Late reply, I'm in Texas at moment.



First, I wouldn't trust the Forestry Service to be up to date. Plus, a ranger said the South Gate on Poughkeepsie was open and the trail was cleared to the wall, fact was it was closed.



Dave, I got my info from Bushducks. The info I mentioned is located on the trail list.



Also, according to the rules of the Southwest CO Trails Association I believe my previous posts qualifies me for my "locals card".

Thanks Posi!

Interesting info on Lower Engineer...says it's "getting rougher requiring a rear traction aid in places".


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[Posi]

That's a good thing!

 

[BusaDave9]

Dave, I got my info from Bushducks. The info I mentioned is located on the trail list.

I use Bushducks all the time but I didn't notice the posts about Engineer Pass and Poughkeepsie gulch. As a matter of fact the latest post on BushDucks about Kendall Mountain and the June 10th post about Stony_Pass are mine.