July 30-August 2, 1998

Photos and article by: Bob Norton, NM 4-Wheelers

Please visit our Sponsor, CLICK on the Banner above

MT. ANTERO / BALDWIN LAKES

Mt. Antero is 14,269 feet in altitude. The road may driven all the way up to 14,100 feet. The route is considered moderate in difficulty....if you don’t like steep drop-offs thousands of feet down the mountainside, the difficulty rating is extreme! From the intersection of U.S. 285 and Chaffee County Rd. 162, travel west towards St. Elmo. In about 9 miles, turn left on the Mt. Antero Road.

The first couple miles is very bumpy as it climbs steadily. The road begins to parallel Baldwin Creek, not large, but the cascades are appealing. In 2 3/4 miles the route splits. A left on FS 278 crosses Baldwin Creek and continues up Mt. Antero. Straight ahead on FS 277, the road continues to Baldwin Lakes. I took this route after the Iron Chest run was finished.

The first part of this trail continues through an extensive meadow area near Baldwin Creek. There are numerous branch routes to camp sites. Surprisingly, I saw no campers this day. The road starts a climb up a rocky section, then through the trees. Upon the approach to a long talus slope, a ranger vehicle approached quickly. I pulled over and it sailed on by. The young lady driving the pick-up than blasted across the rocky slope, the vehicle bouncing madly about, the rear end wagging this way and that. On a mission.... with 2-WD? I continued my slow assent. Back into the trees, a few mud holes to slog through.

Past Baldwin Lakes, the road ends at an old mine at a high basin

After a mile and a half from the Mt. Antero turn-off, another fork is encountered. The right fork climbs to an old mine, the road deteriorating near the end. I take the left. Soon, the ranger lady is heading back my way. We stop and chat. She says she "found what she was looking for" but had a headache from all the bouncing about. Indeed! I suggest that she ask for a more capable vehicle! The route continues past 2 of the lakes, accessible by hiking. The road continues to climb. An old road that went to the third Baldwin Lake is now closed even though the route is clear. Some switchbacks are now encountered. Pretty new vistas with each change of direction.

The road becomes rockier and a couple of steps will get the attention of inexperienced 4-wheelers. The rock here is strangely yellowish in color, quite a contrast to the common Colorado Rockies gray. The road ends at the remnants of a mine overlooking the highest bowl at 12,500 feet in altitude. The ore cars came out of the mountain tunnel and through a long pair of rock walls onto the tailings. Perhaps the walls supported a roof to protect from rocks falling down the steep slope.

Now another day, just beyond the crossing of Baldwin Creek, the SWFWDA trail run starts up a rocky hill. The route makes a right at the edge of the trees and begins a steep climb up loose rocks. Here, a Cherokee in the group has problems. The vehicle bogs down with each attempt. Apparently, the vacuum actuated front axle is not working and there is no 4WD. Inspection of the readily observed air lines reveal no cracks or breaks. As weather is moving in rapidly, it is decided that the group will continue up the mountain. The Cherokee driver heads back to see St. Elmo and Tincup Pass.

A number of switchbacks midway up Mt. Antero provide quick changes in altitude

Numerous switchbacks take the road higher in altitude quickly. The last switchback here is very long, there are no places to pass other vehicles. Around a bend is a large flat area on the south side of Mt. Antero. Several other roads travel from here into an adjacent basin and to other nearby ridges. Staying to the left, the route climbs steeply up the last switchbacks to the end of the road. Several in the group have been experiencing carburetor problems due to the altitude. They opted to park at this 13,100 foot level.

Fresh on everyone’s mind: The day before in this last steep section, a participant in the Summer Meeting had stalled and rolled backwards, getting tippy on the bank. His wife jumped out. He tried the climb again, stalled, rolled back up the bank and then tipped over on his side! Lucky, this was one of the few wide spots along this section of road. Rolling off the mountainside here would last a very long time before stopping!

The corners of the switchbacks were narrow and dug-out. As the tailgunner, I got to watch some others struggle on the most difficult stretch. It consisted of large wet rocks that must be climbed while heading uphill. The option was to bypass them on the uphill bank. Pretty tippy. Run leader Mark Wolf, his Commando locker equipped, starts up the big rocks and pulls to the right. The right front tire is at the edge. Back up and try another line!

Those that tried the high line looked awfully off-camber from my vantage point. But, everyone gets through safely. My turn, gonna show off and drive right up the big wet rocks! Compressor on, stab the ARB switches and into the fray. Immediately, I am in a struggle. Hard to climb the rocks, the front end slides about. Next, I am sideways on the road. Finally, I claw uphill out of the rocks and onto the tippy sidehill. Progress restored, I look over to see the ARB switches not set right. I attempted the biggest, wettest rocks fully open. Duh!

The road ends at the top of Mt. Antero at 14,100 feet

This view centers on Chalk Creek which is in the distance where the trail began

Branch trails are near others in our group parked 1000 feet below

We reach the top. A strenuous hiking trail continues the last 169 feet to the mountain top. In fact, quite a few hikers were on the mountain. A thunderstorm was approaching quickly so it was time to head back down. We rounded a bend and could look down at our group parked on the lower level. A lightning bolt suddenly struck close to them! Was not hard for trail leader Mark to decide that lunch would just have to wait awhile longer!

SWFWDA 1998 Summer Meeting Home Page
Iron Chest | Mt. Antero / Baldwin Lakes | Mine Sweeper

Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association - Four Wheeling Responsibly!

Who/What are we? | SWFWDAland Trails | Events | History | Officers | Clubs | 4WDrive Lines | Membership App

Colorado Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos

4X4NOW Feature Page
4X4NOW Trail Reports | Moab 4WD Trails
4X4NOW "How-To"  | 4X4NOW Buildups
4X4BOOKS | MAPNOW

get Garmin at GPSNOW - Order by 5pm and have it Tomorrow!
Choosing | for Laptop/Pocket PC | Basic | Handheld Mapping | 2-way Radio | Automotive | Motorcycle | RV/Truck/Bus | Land & Water
Accessories
eTrex H | Legend | Vista | Venture HC | Summit HC | Legend HCx | Vista HCx
GPS 18 DLX | 60
Mobile 10 | Mobile 10 for smartphones
GPSMAP 60 | 60Cx | 60CSx | 76S | 76Cx | 76CSx | 276C | 376C | 378 | 478
MapSource City Navigator North America | US Topo | BlueChart
nüvi 200 | 270 | 350 | 360 | 370 | 650 | 660 | 670 | 680
Quest | Quest 2
Rino 110 | 120 | 130 | 520 | 530 | 520HCx | 530HCx
StreetPilot 2820 | 7200/7500 | c330 | c340 | c530 | c550 | c580
Astro GPS dog tracking system
zūmo 450 / 550
© 4X4NOW