Indian Trail Ridge

I'll be in the San Juans for some wildflower shooting in July. I've been studying the TI Durango/Cortez map. I'd like to try and make it up to Indian Trail Ridge. Is the road up to it 4wd? About how long would it take to reach the TH from 160? Is there an actual trail to follow? I've never been to this area so any info would be great. Pictures are very welcome!

Laurie, the road definitely requires high-clearance 4WD, for the last half anyways. Count on 45 minutes, although this estimate is from hazy memories. I've been up there many times. Once you get to the TH, it's good trail all the way up to ITR. But as you can tell by the accompanying photo, there's really nothing worth going up there for.

Laurie,

Here's a segment from the San Juan Adventure Guide which describes access to the trail head:
http://books.google.com/books?id=FpfJDbcIS1YC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=indian+trail+ridge&source=web&ots=FTnjBySGqJ&sig=KmqXlPXjm3kT4ufA-M6UyaCNO20&hl=en
If you don't have 4WD, hiking the extra 2 miles is worth the effort.

As Todd demonstrated, the wildflower photography in this area requires great skill.

Please give us a wildflower report from your trip.

Thanks for the info Todd and Bill. Just what I was looking for. Todd or anyone do you recall if there's room to pass another vehicle on the 4wd section of the road? If not, can you clearly see if someone's coming the opposite direction? I only ask because I would like to avoid having to back up along a shelf road.

Thanks!

Laurie, there's one nasty section that's a little narrow, but most of the road is wide enough for two vehicles. There's not any really scary shelf sections, like Porphyry Basin's Pucker Point, and there's not all that much traffic up there that you'd have to worry about it. Aside from one or two sections where you need to pick the better line, it's not a difficult 4WD road at all. Pretty standard 4WD fare.

nope Todd I guess your right. Nothing worth while up there at all judging by your photos

I thought it might be useful to use this topic as a list of good wildflower locations in the San Juans as well as other areas in Colorado. Yankee Boy Basin and Last Dollar Road were two locations I previously visted for wildflower photography.

Best
Sal Cangialosi