Mount Princeton Road climbs the east side of Mount Princeton out of Chalk Creek Canyon, topping out above 12,000 feet on a narrow shelf road overlooking the Arkansas Valley. The lower half follows County Road 322 through timber to the radio tower parking area, and the upper half continues on a rougher, one lane road with a rocky patch known locally as the egg carton before reaching its high point near treeline.
Trail Summary
- Location: San Isabel National Forest, near Nathrop, Colorado
- Distance: 10.6 miles
- Difficulty: Level 4
- Minimum Elevation: 8,907 ft
- Maximum Elevation: 12,141 ft
- Elevation Gain: 3,110 ft
- Travel Time: 2 hours 10 minutes recorded (out and back)
Difficulty
Typically challenges the limits of a high clearance 4x4
Low range gearing is needed and undercarriage damage is a real possibility on this route. The road surface is rocky and rutted with sections of embedded rock, water bars, and washouts, and obstacles under 18 inches, including ledges and short climbs, require careful tire placement. The final mile above the radio towers narrows to a one lane shelf road with almost nowhere to pass, and a stretch of deep, closely spaced holes partway up demands careful line choice.
Elevation
The route starts at the Mount Princeton trailhead near 8,907 feet on County Road 322 and climbs to 12,141 feet at the road's upper end, well above the radio tower parking area. Total climbing comes to 3,110 feet, with 3,075 feet of descent on the return trip, since this is an out and back drive that finishes almost exactly where it started. The high point sits above treeline in open alpine terrain, a few thousand feet below Mount Princeton's 14,197 foot summit.
Terrain
This is high alpine terrain in the upper half of the drive. The lower miles on County Road 322 climb through mixed conifer forest on a maintained dirt road before reaching the radio towers at 10,800 feet. Beyond the towers the road narrows and the trees thin out, giving way to open talus and tundra as the route switchbacks toward its high point near 12,141 feet.
4WD Experience
The lower section to the radio towers is dirt with occasional water bars and small rock steps, manageable in most stock high clearance 4x4s. Past the towers the road tightens into a one lane shelf with few turnouts, so plan for oncoming traffic on busy weekends. About halfway up this upper stretch is a rough patch of large, closely spaced holes that locals call the egg carton, where careful tire placement keeps the undercarriage out of trouble. Snow can linger on the upper switchbacks into July, so check current conditions before planning a summer trip.
Travel Time
A realistic estimate for a high clearance 4WD vehicle covering this out and back route runs 2 to 2.5 hours round trip. The recorded track shows a total time of 2 hours 10 minutes, with almost all of it spent moving, since there is little room to stop and turnouts are limited on the upper shelf road.
Highlights
The upper switchbacks open up wide views across the Arkansas Valley toward the Mosquito Range, along with a close look at Mount Princeton's east face. Mount Princeton Hot Springs sits near the base of the drive along Chalk Creek and makes a good stop before or after the trail. Hikers headed for the summit use the top of this road as a trailhead, so expect some foot traffic near the high point on weekends.
Trail GPS File
Map