Schofield Pass Punchbowl is Open

13 Responses to “Schofield Pass Punchbowl is Open”

1. Toni Bullock

   August 5, 2011 at 11:57 pm

   Schofield is open, drove it yesterday going through Paradise from Crested Butte. Wildflowers are at their peak. No problem through the puchbowl and onto Marble.

   #44
2. Schofielder

   August 6, 2011 at 4:17 pm

   Thanks Toni! Always good to get the word out.

   #45
3. Linda Jagger

   August 12, 2011 at 1:33 am

   We want to hike Crested Butte to Aspen…Would like some info about driving from Crested Butte up to Schofield pass…I understand that there is still an avalanche pile of snow, etc that one cannot drive thru by emerald lake. Can one drive a Subaru or RAV 4 up to the lake/avalanche pile.

   #46
4. Schofielder

   August 12, 2011 at 9:37 am

   Linda, first, we do all such information as public comments so everyone can benefit. Second, don’t leave your email address in public, as that’ll allow spam harvesters to grab it and you’ll get flooded with unwanted emails! We deleted it for that reason, to help you out.

   As for getting up there for the hike, you can do the scenic drive to the avalanche blockage in a Subaru or Rav though the Rav would be better as the main thing on those roads is that you have some ground clearance as they do get rocky and rutted in places. You can also go over Paradise Divide if Emerald is still blocked. RAV would work fine for Paradise, Subaru might be a bit low to the ground. That road is a steep and narrrow 4×4 track, but not radical.

   #48
5. Linda Jagger

   August 14, 2011 at 12:55 am

   I just read about taking Slate River Rd to Washington Gulch rd to Paradise divide rd to Schofield pass–that is a “easy” way to go to Schofield pass. How long is that route? Can one drive from Schofield pass to W Maroon trailhead.

   On another weekend we will be going from Marble to Geneva Lake trhd to hike Hagerman. Any of you know, talk about Lead King Basin Rd & Crystal Ri Rd. I have a Nissan xterra sport w/6 speed stick shift. Im not greatly experienced about going thru the bad creek on LKB, or doing side hilling.

   Is there a website that people talk about these roads as you do Schofield

   #49
6. Dale Leach

   August 15, 2011 at 11:08 am

   Schofielder,

   First: thank you so much for your great website – it’s a real help for those of us who know and appreciate the fabulous road CR-317!  I am a photographer and will be traveling over Schofield Pass, at the end of September, to Crystal where I plan to spend the night and photograph the ‘Crystal Mill’ in its entire autumn splendor.  I made the same trip for same purpose on Sept. 8-9, 2009 in a rented Jeep Wrangler, form Gunnison Outdoors, except it was slightly early for the Aspens to have fully turned.   I was wondering if you could give me an update on any changes in the general condition of the road from Schofield Pass to Crystal since 2009.   Secondly, what would you predict for the weather and condition of the fall foliage around Sept. 28th? And what about the amount of rain and snow melt this season – is the Crystal Running high, low, or about normal at the ‘Mill’?  Finally, would you have any good recommendations for renting a reliable 4WD in the area – say somewhere closer like Crested Butte rather than Gunnison?  Thanks very much for all of your help!
    
   Dale Leach

   #50
7. Schofielder

   August 24, 2011 at 7:17 pm

   Hi Dale,
   I can’t answer all those questions, but could perhaps do so in a week or two. The road will be similar unless we’ve had any rock slides. In our experience, the road tends to get slightly easier every year, though the ATVs tend to make it somewhat crowded during the high season. I’d say Crystal is normal. As for rentals, Crested Butte is going to be your best bet.

   On another note, we hope to be working harder on this website, so thanks for being loyal to it. I know it’s been a bit static this summer.

   #51
8. Linda Jagger

   August 25, 2011 at 1:05 am

   Can one drive up scholfield pass rd beyond emerald lake to the West Maroon trailhead?? Or is it still blocked by Avalanche debree?

   #52
9. eric

   September 12, 2011 at 5:24 pm

   hey all! Im wondering whats the easiest way to get into the devils punchbowl besides jumping!!! HAHA I cliff jump and am wanting to get this spot. I know schofield pass is too crazy for my subaru so whats the fastest shortest way to hike in to the devils punch bowls? From the CB side up and over, or around the redstone side? Also wondering about Crystal mills, would love to see that spot too, same situation. I have a subaru outback, I’ve done some trails in it around the state, old lime creek road, rollins pass, and a couple random passes, how do those fair with 4×4 in the area?(BESIDES SCHOFIELD) (not until Im lifted) thanks for any help! excited to see this area in person!! I LOVECOLORADO!!!

   #54
10. Schofielder

    September 12, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Hi Eric, hike in from CB side. Not sure how much real cliff jumping you’ll find, but we do see folks jumping off small rock outcrops in the summer. Super cold water.

    #55
11. Dale Leach

    September 14, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Hi Schofielder,
    Well the plan has changed since I last wrote on Aug 15 you about driving a rented Jeep Wrangler over Schofield Pass to Crystal.  My son, the 4 WD expert in the family, is unable to come, so I and another photographer are renting ATV’s (which I feel safer in) to do the job the last of this month.  First: we plan to rent from CB Motorsports in Crested Butte and would you recommend them?  Second: he says that the Gothic Rd. (CR 317) is blocked by snow at Schofield Pass and that we should take CR 734 instead north out of Crested Butte and around Elco Lake to where it intersects CR 734 above Emerald Lake.  My question is is that in fact true about the Emerald Lake approach being blocked and is CR 734 a good route from CB?  I need to know soon and thanks very much for all your help!
    Dale

    #56
12. Schofielder

    September 20, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Hi Dale, sorry I couldn’t drop in here sooner, been busy. I’d take those CB guy’s word as to what’s blocked by snow. Not in the position to recommend or de-recommend individual businesses. Perhaps someone else could comment. Hope you have (or had) a good trip.

    #57
13. eric

    September 20, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    Dolly’s shuttle in CB confirms as of 9-19-11 that the road to the pass is still closed by snow at Emerald lake…

    #58