Nathrop to St. Elmo — Chalk Creek Canyon and Tincup Pass Road
Ghost town to 12,154 ft in one run.
St. Elmo is one of Colorado’s most intact ghost towns — a genuine 1880s silver camp that still has standing buildings, original storefronts, and an atmosphere that makes it easy to forget you’re in the 21st century. Getting there from Nathrop on US-285 means following Chalk Creek up a narrowing canyon on County Road 162, a good gravel road accessible to most vehicles. But the real business starts when you push beyond St. Elmo toward Tincup Pass at 12,154 feet. The upper switchbacks are loose, rocky, and unforgiving on the outside edges, with sustained grades that load your brakes hard on the descent into Taylor Park Reservoir country on the other side.
Below St. Elmo the route is suitable for high-clearance two-wheel-drive rigs. Above it, you want a real 4WD with low range for the upper switchbacks and decent ground clearance — nothing scraping the rock garden sections. The pass is typically open mid-June through early October depending on snowpack. Taylor Park is a massive dispersed camping area on the Gunnison side. No permit is needed for the route itself, though some developed campgrounds on the Gunnison National Forest side charge a fee. Fuel up in Buena Vista or Gunnison — there’s nothing between. This one earns its reputation every single time.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 12154 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with low range |
| Nearest town | Buena Vista, CO |
| Land manager | San Isabel National Forest / Gunnison National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Jeep Wrangler handle this without modifications?
Yes, a stock high-clearance 4WD with low range and decent all-terrain tires can run this. The upper switchbacks to Tincup Pass are rocky and narrow, so a lifted rig makes it more comfortable, but stock rigs do it regularly.
When does Tincup Pass Road actually open each year?
Typically late June, but heavy snow years push that into early July. The pass can get hit with snow any month — September storms are common. Check with Gunnison National Forest before heading up late in the season.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to drive this route?
No permit required and no fee to drive the road. Dispersed camping on San Isabel and Gunnison National Forest land is free; follow the standard 14-day stay limit and camp 100 feet from the road and water sources.
How technical does it get on the push up to Tincup Pass?
The final mile to the pass is the crux — loose rock, shelf road, and tight switchbacks that punish long wheelbases. Nothing extreme, but it demands full attention and low range. A 270-inch wheelbase or longer is going to feel it on the upper turns.
Is there any place to get water or fuel along this 24-mile route?
No fuel on route — top off in Buena Vista before you leave. Chalk Creek runs alongside the canyon and can be filtered for water, but plan to cross it; it's a real crossing, not a trickle, especially in early summer runoff. There's zero cell service from Nathrop to the Taylor Park side.
Trail track
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