Rollins Pass (??)

[7idl]

I'm getting mixed signals about Rollins Pass..

is it open or closed?


Last time I was up there you could drive up to within about 1/4 mile from the Needles Eye tunnel.

I want to go up there again, but don't want to waste my time by finding out it's closed when I get there!

[KarlPMann]

I don't know where Rollins Pass is, but are you aware of the state website about roads?

http://www.cotrip.org/rWeather/All_Regions_100207_095502.html

I don't know if that will help any, but it's the best I can offer. Good luck on your little outing. Karl.[Flower]

[7idl]

well, I took the initiative and called Boulder County who referred me to the USFS.

As it has been for several years, the pass is still blocked at the Gilpin/Boulder County line. They also mentioned something about a rock slide, but didn't know which side of the man made barrier it was on.

vehicle traffic is still allowed on the road.

trails are restricted to bicycles and foot traffic only. No motorcycles/atv's!

There may now already be snow and or icy conditions!!!!



I think I'll take a chance, weather permitting, and take my MC up there this saturday.. anyone is free to join me in this suici.... errr.... fun fall photo op trip :D

[SigsRule]

Bad memories about Rollins Pass. I was up there running/walking my dog in August of last year and passed out. I came to with a concussion and my dog licking my face. Lots of tests later, it was diagnosed as a side effect of the blood pressure medication they had me on. Needless to say I'm not on that medication any more.

Speaking of passes, have you ever been over Argentine Pass? I got my truck up there so far I had to back up over a half mile to turn around when it got too narrow. I've been wanting to take my bike up it one of these days.

[7idl]

can't say as I have... willing to go anywhere really as long as it's w/in a reasonable distance from home.

[PsyKo]

i was up there about a month ago and saw the signs that said rollins pass closed 19 miles or something like that, i made it all the way to jenny lake with no problems. that is right below the tunnel.

[7idl]

yeah, the blocked part of the road is not too far up from Jenny Lake.

I'm planing on being up there tomorrow morning/noon... wx permitting, I'll be taking pictures too!

[7idl]

well, I went, took pictures:

http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6942





I'm also wanting to do this pass again, but from the Winter park side

[SigsRule]

Nice pics. I just broke out my GPS, it's the Etrex Legend (blue). I'll have to whip up a mount like you had after hunting season.

There are a number of passes and trails that I've been wanting to get up that are out of the Lake Dillon area. There's also a number that start at Idaho Springs and go south. Unfortunately I'll be traveling or out of the state every weekend (either coming or going) for the next seven weekends in a row. [Rant2]

[DanaT]

I saw that you answered your question.

I tried to find the road that lead from Jenny Lake to teh top of Rollins Pass. I didn't find it (well I did find it but it is also completely blocked) but got on Jenny Creek Road trying to find it. Nice little trail that I was afraid I would be splainin to the wife when I got home why I had body damage. Luckily no damage.

I just wish the road was still open. I remember in about 1990 driving mom's jeep over Rollins pass.

-Dana

[7idl]

I've been over the whole thing, back in the day.

Jenny Lake is about 100yds off of Rollins Pass road.

Just stay on Rollins Pass road to get to the roadblock.

next year, I'll do the back side.

[Mule]

FYI,
I use to do land use for Mile Hi Jeep Club, and am still on the Boulder Ranger Dist. list for the meetings. I get updates every month and was present at a presentation by the guy that got this whole thing rolling.

Rawlins pass road is in the process of being re opened. It is taking an agreement between two counties, the forest service and I believe the Highway dept. There is a grant proposal that I think has been OKd (I need to go find the last email about this) for fixing the tunnel and the road that uses old rail bed bridges - which bye the way have gas pipelines running under them.
The trail/tunnel was originally closed because of a lawsuit brought by a fireman that suffered a broken foot because of a rock fall. Problem is, he was on the closed side of the tunnel with a group of fire fighters (that were from a conference and had no business being on that side of the blocked off area) AND he was standing on the rocks from a previous collapse......

It's a big stinking mess that took a lot of money and hard work just to get this far. If I had the link I would post it, but do a search for Rawlins Pass Restoration or something like that..... I can't remember what the real name was, it has been about 4 years since I saw the presentation.