Poughkeepsie Gulch

by: Bob Norton, NM4Wheelers

Photos by Bob Norton, Terry & Tina Morris

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Driving up Poughkeepsie Gulch is a favorite of mine. The CA4WDCI trail rating of 5 may be appropriate if you are driving downhill and it’s dry. Head upwards towards Hurricane Gulch, take all the hard optional obstacles and this trail merits a higher rating. Add some wetness, and driving up Poughkeepsie Gulch becomes very difficult indeed! About 4 miles south of Ouray, Colorado on Highway 550 turn east on the Engineer Pass road. In about 2 ½ miles the Poughkeepsie Gulch road branches to the south and proceeds up the valley.

A big puddle at the start of the trail reminds Kris of home.

Mike and Crissa (Jeep CJ-5) from western Michigan would join our group which had driven Black Bear Road the previous day: Terry, Tina and their son in the Wrangler and Kris in the CJ-5, his wife Liana off for a day of horse-back riding. We got an early start in an attempt to beat the afternoon showers. In the lower portion of the Poughkeepsie Gulch trail, during the winter before last, thousands of trees had been downed by the concussion from a major avalanche. The trees covered a section of the road for a time. Such an awesome demonstration of Nature’s power! Wood cutters have since removed many of the downed trees.

Optional climbs in Poughkeepsie Gulch can be very difficult. This one impossible today!

As we motored along, I spotted a challenge that I had missed on previous trips. A branch road led into the trees at some rocky steps. A trail of rubber marks suggested that this was a rough spot. In spite of ARB’s engaged front and rear, several attempts to climb the steps proved futile. With damp tires and dirt on the rocks, I continually would slide towards the big trees to my right! Oh well, will just have to give this obstacle a try again another day.

A portion of the trail drives up a stream bed with flowing snow melt in early summer

The upper portion of Poughkeepsie Gulch where the trees begin to thin is where the real fun begins. A long, steep climb on sharp loose rocks awaits. While this section was dry this day, in early summer a stream from snow melt flows over these rocks. Such fun when they are all wet! Everyone proceeded up without much trouble. After this climb, the road levels off somewhat and you approach an intersection. Continuing straight ultimately leads to a dead-end. Take the turn to the right.

A choice must be made at 3 difficult routes up the ridge

Having eased through a couple large mud holes, we soon approached the ridge where one of three difficult routes must be conquered to continue on this trail. We inspect the 3 routes and I show the proper line that stock 4-wheel drives ultimately take up the center rocky obstacle. Those with more daring or enhanced vehicles attempt the rocky, eroded climb to the right. The steep dirt route on the left looks easy. But it is deceptive! A couple of rock steps and deep holes conspire to stop forward momentum.

It took more than one try for me to scramble up the right side today. Terry is a very skilled driver. We had observed him execute some difficult climbs with his grey stock Wrangler. He tried the dirt hill to the left. Part way up, a couple of tires would fall into holes. One tire would spin wildly and that was it! After a few failed attempts, Terry tried the center rock climb and following the ideal line, drove right up.

Engine stalls, wet brakes fail....Mike gets into trouble!

Mike’s beautiful red CJ-5 has a rear limited-slip and 32" Mud-Terrains, so he wanted to give the left hill a try first. Carbureted, steep climbs at Moab and in the higher elevations in Colorado had been a real annoyance for Mike. The CJ went much of the way up the hill when the dreaded carburetor jinx hit. The engine stalled. While attempting to restart, the front and rear brake shoes wet from the mud puddles failed completely. Mike’s Jeep rolled backwards down the hill picking up speed quickly. Mike spied some rocks that might slow his descent and backed into them. His speed was too great and a frightening 1 1/4 turn roll resulted.

Thankfully, Mike was uninjured and there was no fire. The full roll cage had taken the brunt of the roll. There was surprisingly little body damage, the windshield frame was dented but the glass unbroken! The top and frame were damaged, two tires were flat and the battery dangling. And now heavy rains came to dampen an already miserable situation!

Everyone pitched in to get the CJ-5 rolling. A tow strap tied to the roll cage and a tug while backing uphill pulls the Jeep level. A tow strap tied off to the XJ and 2 Hi-Lift jacks were employed to safely remove each flat tire. The beads had broken only on one side of each tire. Kris cleaned the rim thoroughly with water, attached a ratchet tie-down strap around the tire and hooked up my puny 12 volt air pump. Doggone if this did not work to successfully re-inflate the tire! The same for the second tire. On the first try, the Jeep engine fired up. Of course, there was considerable oil to burn. The Jeep was running rough, but with the steady rain, it was decided to get on back to Ouray. Keeping the brakes dried out and rumbling along, Mike was back to Ouray safely. Mike expresses the great value in 4-wheelin with a group and being prepared with a variety of tools and equipment.

There was still time left in the day, Kris and Terry were interested in completing the Poughkeepsie Gulch trail , so off we went. Back to the dreaded ridge, Kris now had his chance. His beautiful gun-metal gray CJ-5 was a frame-up project completed the same day he left Ontario for the West. 35 inch Mud-Terrains, a Chevy V-8 and granny gear transmission makes a good combination. Lockers would have to wait for a later date. No matter, the Jeep with adept driving would work very well!

Muddy rocks on the difficult steps to the right foil Kris

The rains had made the trail considerably slipperier. I drove up the dirt hill on the left fully locked yet barely made it up! Kris gave several tries on the right climb, with Terry spotting, but he would not conquer it. These steps give short wheelbase vehicles a challenge even when dry. Kris then drove up the center section without much trouble. Terry made a number of attempts in the center where earlier in the day he had gone right up. The muddy tires and slick surface were unforgiving. Even adding some rocks in a hole did not help. The strap came out, we had already spent far too much time at this ridge today!

With steep dirt hills nearby, I try this eroded rock climb. The left side slips into a crack but I manage somehow

Further along the trail is a number of intersecting loops which provide several choices of dirt climbs and descents, plus a climb up an eroded rock outcropping. This rock is fun when dry. With muddy tires, both Kris and I spun to the top. Terry opted to pass on this one.

One last steep climb must be made. An optional route off to the right is badly eroded. When dry and with full lockers, the steepest steps might be climbed. I chose a line up the center with lower steps to overcome. The XJ bucked and bounced up the slippery loose rocks and holes. Just when forward momentum was coming to a halt, the front end suddenly slid over 3 feet to the left, the tires caught and I was up!. Terry and Kris wisely took the main route.

A relaxing moment at Lake Como at the upper end of the Poughkeepsie Gulch trail

Soon, a view looking down at beautiful Lake Como appears. We drive down to the lake and take time for photos. The Poughkeepsie Gulch trail ends here. We drove up Hurricane Pass and on down to Silverton to complete the 4-wheeling. From there we parted ways. Kris, Terry and Tina head back to Ouray and I to New Mexico, arriving home at 2 A.M.!

Hurricane Pass leads to many other San Juan trails to explore

Colorado Trail Guidebooks, Trail Maps, and Trail Videos

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