Clear Lake Trail, Silverton, Colorado, Offroad

[EllyBeeSuperGreen]

I love this trail. It is so fun. Especially during July for the fourth.

It gives me the chills. Haven't been there in three years ;'(

[starbeamreflection]

Excellent video tour of the road to Clear Lake. I wonder how Clear Lake appeared before there was a parking lot on its shore with pickup trucks and SUVs parked there. Travel should be restricted to hiking over the last half mile or so to protect the experience of visiting this area which was once pristine. That jeep road will continue to get wider as vehicles drive off the road to accommodate others traveling in the opposite direction. This kills tundra which causes erosion.

[cgspeeddemon1]

@starbeamreflection poor poor tree hugger, you just dont seem to understand home of the FREE do you?

[fatony26]

I sure do miss the mountains and I do hate Ohio. Hopefully next year ill be where I belong

[jlmotox]

wow just watched your video looking for places to go in colorado and came across your video and thought it looked familar. but once you got to the lake I knew for sure. I camped right there 20yrs ago when I was a kid. Cool!! that is a awsome place for sure!

[fastpony71]

Hi Jeepster Gal! Just wondering what month of the year this was filmed? Looks like late July by the amount of green grass and flowers. We have some time in August as well as September that we will be making our way to the San Juans. Love to see new places and new landscapes. Thanks for sharing!

[nmxterra]

Love your videos! Colorado!

[richardekirby]

Nice video. I love that area and I can't wait to go back. Keep up the good work.

[KandBscott]

I now know where I am spending my next vacation... Thanks a million!

[Anettesplass]

i want to go there.

[yougoobr]

can you camp out a night up at the lake?

[Icum4u]

Thank you very much for sharing these awesome videos.

[JeepsterGal]

@Icum4u Thanks for watching them!

[NeighborhoodMyths]

@JeepsterGal You should come down and film something here in Golden we have a couple nice views ;)

[JeepsterGal]

@NeighborhoodMyths i've done a couple of trails outside Idaho Springs and Georgetown. What do you recommend?

[handclamp]

That has got to be one of the most spectacular, and impressive places that I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing.

[jimw5jimw5]

So glad to have found this video. Thanks! I've been there. One of the most beautiful places I'll ever find. It's beyond description. I could go on and on... I like to say, everything is better above 10,000 ft. South Mineral is a great campground too.

[albuquerqueguyin505]

Do you live in CO? If so, where?

[JeepsterGal]

@albuquerqueguyin505 Colorado Springs!

[albuquerqueguyin505]

I love your videos. Because of your videos, I want to move to Colorado. I have 4x4 Nissan Xterra. I think I could make it up there. Right?

[JeepsterGal]

@albuquerqueguyin505 Yep, with no problem. I see Xterras on the trails...

[brad11344]

god i just want to go there and offroad colorado is such a beautiful place

[mycatwilatackyou]

Well I'm here in Durango , I did drive up to Silverton my first day here but the trails I think are still closed theres still some snow lol :( cant wait to make this drive :)))

[ineedtoeatnow]

Looks beautiful! I have a pretty tough, fairly high clearance passenger car, do you think it could make it up there? I has seen a lot of rough dirt roads in it's life lol, and I was hoping to go the second week of june, there would still be snow there then right? Thanks, and thanks for posting! :P

[JeepsterGal]

@ineedtoeatnow It will most likely still be closed on the second week of June. Most the roads that reach an elevation like this don't open until after July 4th, sometimes later. Not sure your car will have a low enough gear to climb. You really need 4x4. You'll see lots of water running that time of year though; it will be beautiful!

[ineedtoeatnow]

@JeepsterGal , Thanks, I really appreciate you help because it's so hard to know these things when you've never been there lol Yes, I figured there would be a lot of water/waterfalls, and not too many bugs or people out quite yet, I'm really looking forward to seeing that area!

[kingmike40]

@ineedtoeatnow I have seen sedans on those trails and usually laugh at the driver. You have to understand the trails are very rough and their is absolutely NOBODY to help you if you break down. This could turn into a life threatening situation real fast in a two wheel drive car.

[ineedtoeatnow]

@kingmike40 ok lol thank you for the advice :P. My trip actually got postponed until probably mid September, so I'l be sure and steer clear of this road.

[mycatwilatackyou]

are there any places to camp at lower elevation ? camp for free ??

[JeepsterGal]

@mycatwilatackyou there's a campground, South Mineral Campground, right at the base of the road, but it's not free. Otherwise, there's tons of places in the mountains around Silverton you can wilderness camp for free!

[mycatwilatackyou]

@JeepsterGal cool I will be looking for the free wilderness camping , I wonder how much snow is left there right now because I am going in a week lol

[JeepsterGal]

@mycatwilatackyou LOTS of Snow :) There's some great spots to camp as you head out of Silverton toward Animas Forks, like along the road to Stony Pass...cross the Animas River on any number of bridges to the right as you head to Animas Forks and there's great places to camp (it's only wilderness in the sense there's no bathrooms, it's really close to town, so not TRUE wilderness camping, but there's plenty of that farther out too).

[jcherokee]

... another great video,,, thank you for posting this one. I always look forward to your videos... now if I can figure out how to make time this summer to get from Texas up to the San Juan's this year... BTW, I can't believe that Rio is already two years old! Seems like just yesterday that you were introducing him to all of us...

[JeepsterGal]

@jcherokee Thanks for watching, this is certainly one of my favorite trails now, what an amazing little gem that lake is. Yeah, Rio is a mess and I think he's got Colorado cabin fever and is hoping to get to the mountains soon too! I remember what it was like living in Texas and dreaming of coming to Colorado!

[mycatwilatackyou]

I'm selling all my belongings I will be here in a month !!! hahaha I'm totally serious . Everything but my truck , tent and clothes ...

[4doctorjohn]

Another great video of the 4wd trails in southwest Colorado. Your video posts have helped me plan and enjoy several recent trips to the Silverton area in recent years.

[Vampyre1871]

can you camp at clear lake?

[JeepsterGal]

I'm not sure! I think you can't. My friend seems to remember a "No Camping Beyond This Point" sign, but I honestly don't remember it. I would guess no, though...it's about at "alpine tundra" line and I would guess the environment is too fragile and they won't allow it.

[DRUMMR69]

Hey there lady. We are in the process of planning another trip up there from Fort Worth. We were up there in Sept last year and loved it. Just wondering if there is a better time of year to be there and still get on the trails. Would love to see snow and still have the trails open.

[JeepsterGal]

Well, my fave time to go is late September to see the aspens turn. There is often snowfall at that time, but too much snow and they close the trails. I go the third week of September for the autumn colors. If you really want to see snow, you could try early October, but you might run the rish of not getting any offroading in if they close the trails...

[spankybrandonf]

question, was it caused by volcano or was it just glacier??????????, i definatly want to visit, when we make it out there.

[JeepsterGal]

Hey there! The Rocky Mountains were caused by plate movement, which forced the earth's crust UP. Clear Lake is just snow melt.

[really2ugly]

Excellent video and music! Let's see... how do I do 10 stars? Vote twice? I don't think that works......

[mycatwilatackyou]

I had to post it on my dad's facebook wall :))

[JeepsterGal]

YAY! Nice way to start a Sunday then! :)

[mycatwilatackyou]

Just fantastic this gave me tears !!!!!

[JeepsterGal]

Wow, that's great the video jogged your memory! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I have not done the Jeep Jam but think the flares at night and descending down into town would be a blast! So glad you found the video! Stay tuned, more videos coming!!

[mycatwilatackyou]

OMG !!!! clear lake I cannot believe this !!!! you gave made my day with this video , of all the places I have ever been in San Juans Clear Lake , I could never find it if I had too I was only 10 , but I still have the 35 mm photograph and I remember this place as one of the most beautiful on earth !!! OH THANK YOU !!! We also did the Jeep Jamboree in Ouray with the flares on our jeep at night lol memories . 5stars favorited , subscribed and add you as a friend !!!

[JeepsterGal]

Thanks everyone, glad you're enjoying the vids!

[jrgeorge4]

Great video as they all are

[TookieWookie]

Very nicely done JG.

[sheriff923]

I really love your videos. They make me so homesick though. Wish I was riding shotgun with ya!

[JeepsterGal]

Ha! Maybe we can all meet up down there some day and do some trails!