Mitchell Lakes Trail Report
BusaDave9
Always Off-Roading Jeeper
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- Durango, Crawlarado
- Vehicle(s)
- 1979 Jeep CJ5 with 304 V8, T18 Transmission, Dana 20 Transfer case with TeraLow 3:1 gears, 4.88 axle gears, Detroit Locker up front and Ox Locker in back with 1 piece axle shafts, 36" SuperSwamper SX Tires, Shackle reversal, MileMarker Hydraulic winch, MSD 6A ignition.
I decided to take my CJ5 up Mitchell Lakes trail. I haven't been on this trail since 2009. Then in 2018 there was a forest fire over this area. Then with little vegetation there was heavy rains that washed away many parts of the trail.
The trail was more difficult than I remembered it.
As you can see in this next picture there were some steep switchbacks and the trail was very narrow.
![01 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 01 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99880-2798179c9c75da61c5c3b886d9b6d2a1.jpg)
Higher up the mountain there were some flatter areas.
![05 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 05 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99881-92dbdd8e587817397ad6f9cc996df733.jpg)
![06 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 06 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99882-0b3d7e90dc0f4c217bb8c2af62ef555b.jpg)
![02 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 02 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99883-2b50f624d5f2695f8cd7f2b8f7f2e233.jpg)
There were some fallen trees blocking the trail. I cut the tree in the above picture and pulled it out of the way with my jeep.
The tree below was much too big for me to cut.
![04 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 04 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99884-bbebe6863d5fadd70a321bb8f80ca037.jpg)
But I was able to get around it.
![07 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 07 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99885-5a0d8193ed1324d4d0fad8f6e76ab2f3.jpg)
After all that I get to Mitchell Lakes. They can hardly be called lakes. They have long since filled in with sediment. For that reason I think the trail should be called Hermosa Mountain trail. If you are set on seeing mountain lakes you'll be disappointed.
![13 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 13 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99886-e24db923f77d64891050cc18a8ce8f43.jpg)
Storm clouds moved in but not much materialized except a little light rain.
![16 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 16 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99887-aad5e786438c1b28a327287433156e5b.jpg)
I did a little target practice with my .44-40 Single Action Revolver before heading back down.
![22 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 22 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99888-909516c3f11c92e581084dcf13ba5d9b.jpg)
![24 hwy 550 north.jpg 24 hwy 550 north.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99889-3aef6b5ae2d3ed058867801307da9658.jpg)
The trail was more difficult than I remembered it.
As you can see in this next picture there were some steep switchbacks and the trail was very narrow.
![01 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 01 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99880-2798179c9c75da61c5c3b886d9b6d2a1.jpg)
Higher up the mountain there were some flatter areas.
![05 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 05 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99881-92dbdd8e587817397ad6f9cc996df733.jpg)
![06 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 06 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99882-0b3d7e90dc0f4c217bb8c2af62ef555b.jpg)
![02 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 02 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99883-2b50f624d5f2695f8cd7f2b8f7f2e233.jpg)
There were some fallen trees blocking the trail. I cut the tree in the above picture and pulled it out of the way with my jeep.
The tree below was much too big for me to cut.
![04 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 04 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99884-bbebe6863d5fadd70a321bb8f80ca037.jpg)
But I was able to get around it.
![07 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 07 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99885-5a0d8193ed1324d4d0fad8f6e76ab2f3.jpg)
After all that I get to Mitchell Lakes. They can hardly be called lakes. They have long since filled in with sediment. For that reason I think the trail should be called Hermosa Mountain trail. If you are set on seeing mountain lakes you'll be disappointed.
![13 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 13 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99886-e24db923f77d64891050cc18a8ce8f43.jpg)
Storm clouds moved in but not much materialized except a little light rain.
![16 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 16 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99887-aad5e786438c1b28a327287433156e5b.jpg)
I did a little target practice with my .44-40 Single Action Revolver before heading back down.
![22 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg 22 Mitchell Lakes trail.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99888-909516c3f11c92e581084dcf13ba5d9b.jpg)
![24 hwy 550 north.jpg 24 hwy 550 north.jpg](https://jeep-cj.com/community/data/attachments/99/99889-3aef6b5ae2d3ed058867801307da9658.jpg)