Conquer the heights of Mount Princeton in Colorado's Rocky Mountains
Mount Princeton is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.699m (12,137ft) above the sea level, located in Chaffee County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It’s one of the highest roads of Colorado.
Can I drive my passenger vehicle to Mount Princeton?
Set high in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, the road to the summit is totally unpaved and pretty narrow. It’s called Forest Service Road 322A (Mount Princeton Road). Most of the trail at the lower elevations is extremely smooth and easy enough for a passenger car. It is only the last half mile or so that is really challenging and a 4x4 vehicle is required. Most stock, high-clearance 4x4 SUVs can do it. Passengers vehicles should park down at the Young Life Camp and hike the road.
How long is the road to Mount Princeton?
Tucked away in San Isabel National Forest, the road to the summit is 9.97km (6.2 miles) long starting at the paved County Road 321. Over this distance the elevation gain is 1073 meters. The average gradient is 10.76%. It hits a 14% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The mountain was named in honor of Princeton University.
Is Mount Princeton open?
Winter comes early and stays late on this trail, so you may only be able to safely run it in the middle of the summer. This road is closed by snow from November through June and snow may block trail at top as late as June or July. The top has plenty of room for parking, and the views are amazing. The road ends on an old weather station and the Bristlecone Park Chalet, a little cabin.
Pic: Riley Cobb