Baldwin Lake
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	St. Elmo
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: 4 FR277 5.20 8,400 to 12,580 ft. Rocky 3-4 hours
County:	Chaffee
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Pike San Isabel, Salida Ranger District	325 West Rainbow Blvd. Salida, CO 81201	719-539-3591
Summary:	Baldwin Lake 4WD road climbs up to a mine above Baldwin Lake in a cirque between Grizzly Mountain and Mount Mamma following Baldwin Creek.
Attractions:	Scenery, Mine
Seasonal Closure:	Natural - Closed by snow fall
Best Time:	June - Probably still snowed in higher up July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Early snows possible
Trail Heads	Baldwin Lake Trail - Hike
Camping:	There are a few dispersed camp sites along the road half way up.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp. There are a lot of 4WD roads around St. Elmo.
Fall Colors:	Poor - mostly pine forest.
Navigation:	From Buena Vista, head west on West Main Street toward West Lake Street and go 0.8 miles. Turn left onto County Road 321/Rodeo Road and continue to follow County Road 321 for 8.1 miles. Turn right onto County Road 162 and go 7.8 miles. Turn left onto FR277. From Poncha Springs head north on US Hwy 285 N toward Poncha Avenue for 0.6 miles. Turn right to stay on US Hwy 285 N and go 15.5 miles. Turn left onto County Road 162/Chalk Creek Drive. Continue to follow County Road 162 for 12.3 miles. Turn left onto FR277.
History:
Description:
Baldwin Lake 4WD road starts climbing right off the bat. You will make a turn and cross the creek coming down Deer Canyon. The road will be about a lane and a half wide. It will climb through the forest on Boulder Mountain toward Baldwin Creek. The road will cut across small gullies on the side of Boulder Mountain for just over a mile before turning south and entering the gulch Baldwing Creek cuts. Just past this turn south you will pass a road on the right that heads back and uphill. This is Boulder Mountain, FR279. Continue south following Baldwin Creek in the valley below on your left. The road will not be as steep as you follow Baldwin Creek. View of Cyclone Mountain photo by: Adam M After another mile from the curve south the road will run close to Baldwin Creek. You will pass a rock outcrop and climb a few rocky sections before coming to a large intersection. The road to the left, that crosses Baldwin Creek is the Mount Antero, FR278, 4WD road. Stay to the right to stay on FR277. Just past the intersection you will pass a spur road to the left that goes down to a campsite by the creek. Past this intersection you will head back into the forest and climb a rocky hill. Rocky Hill photo by: Adam M The road will continue in the trees for a while as you drive over rock outcrops. There will be one larger rock outcrop to get up before you come back out into the open and cross a long talus slope. Talus slope photo by: Adam M Going down talus slope photo by: Adam M Past the long talus slope you will head into the trees again for a short distance before coming out onto another short talus slope. There will be a spur to the right that goes up to a mine tailing on the side of Boulder Mountain. Stay left and head into the trees again. The road will continue through small patches of trees, passing a small pond on Baldwin Creek. Heading toward Grizzly Mountain photo by: Adam M The road will come out of the trees giving you a view of Grizzly Mountain and the cirque to the right of the mountain. You will come to a wide area in the road that is used for parking for those hiking down to Baldwin Lake. This is where the Forest Service MVUM shows the road ending. Baldwin Lake photo by: Adam M The road turns north here and heads across the rocky low hills of the cirque. You will do a bunch of short switchbacks as you gain ground climbing higher into the cirque. The road will be a two track through the shcrub crossing large and small rock outcrops and steps. Finally the road will end at a mine at the head of the cirque between Grizzly Mountain and Mount Mamma. Mine at the end of the road photo by: Adam M Mine in August 1998 photo by: Adam M Ice inside mine photo by: Adam M Looking out from mine photo by: Adam M From the mine you head back down the way you came. View of Mount Antero on the way down photo by: Adam M
Data updated - April 12, 2022       4WD Road driven - July 23, 2021       Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2022