Jeep Patriot Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Getting to crystal mill

1 reading
Jump to Latest
1 - 16 of 16 Posts

ColoradoMan

· Registered
Joined
·
1,843 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Image

Image


Now the question is how to get here. There are 2 options both look pretty rough. Lead king is one way. Crystal city is the other. Anybody have any experience trying to get there and if the patriot will be able to do it? Here is a link with more info.
Marble Tourism Association | Four Wheeling & ATV
 
#2 · (Edited)
We did Crystal mill (it's actually a power plant) a while back in the Patriot. We had the Duratracs but not the lift. You come in from Marble, which was dry at the time and fairly easy. You come to the mill before you get to the town of Crystal.

Both Lead King and Schofield pass are South of Crystal, you don't have to go over them to get to the mill. We did Lead King and posted pics and a trip report here some where. It was doable when dry, but there are some steep switchbacks and shelf roads that I wouldn't attempt if wet.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Crystal City is. If you just want to go to the mill, then turn right at the fork in the first picture in the trail report. That's the Crystal City trail, and it takes you right to the mill. You can see the intersection here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...4m5!3m4!1s0x8740574f6fdef8b1:0xe0a95ebc2f8a6389!8m2!3d39.0722106!4d-107.1889377

You can follow road three down the canyon to the mill. Unless ithe trails been damaged, it shouldn't be too hard.

If you turn left at the intersection, you'll be doing Lead King loop from North to South; we did it the other way, going past the mill and through Crystal first.

Does that make sense?
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Sandstone said:
Crystal City is. If you just want to go to the mill, then turn right at the fork in the first picture in the trail report. That's the Crystal City trail, and it takes you right to the mill. You can see the intersection here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...4m5!3m4!1s0x8740574f6fdef8b1:0xe0a95ebc2f8a6389!8m2!3d39.0722106!4d-107.1889377

You can follow road three down the canyon to the mill. Unless ithe trails been damaged, it shouldn't be too hard.

If you turn left at the intersection, you'll be doing Lead King loop from North to South; we did it the other way, going past the mill and through Crystal first.

Does that make sense?
Click to expand...
Do you think lead king loop from crystal to marble is easier than marble to crystal? I am planning on hiking off of lead king as well.
 
#7 ·
ColoradoMan said:
Do you think lead king loop from crystal to marble is easier than marble to crystal? I am planning on hiking off of lead king as well.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's the way I'd do it. You still have a narrow shelf road on the South side of Lead King loop, but you don't have to deal with the switchbacks (traffic, wet slick conditions, etc.) on the North side just to get to the basin.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Made it to the mill in about 45 minutes from the beaver lake. Road was rough but really only needed ground clearance and not 4wd.
Image

Image


Made it to devil's punch bowl too. Its very pretty back there.
 
#12 ·
ColoradoMan said:
Made it to the mill in about 45 minutes from the beaver lake. Road was rough but really only needed ground clearance and not 4wd.
Image

Image


Made it to devil's punch bowl too. Its very pretty back there.
Click to expand...
Two things. First I am jealous of this scenery and terrain. Absolutely stunning. Second, at one point I had 5 Ford Bronco's. two of those were the old square "classic" one's. Seeing the yellow one in your pictures makes me want another one.....
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Sandstone said:
Yep, really nice all through there.

We didn't make it up to the punch bowl, was it hard at all? Was the pass still filled with snow?
Click to expand...
The road was extremely rough and I wouldn't recommend any patriot go on it including yours :p

More pictures from the trip
Image

Snow bridge (don't actually walk or drive accross)

Image


Image


Image
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
DangerAaron said:
Two things. First I am jealous of this scenery and terrain. Absolutely stunning. Second, at one point I had 5 Ford Bronco's. two of those were the old square "classic" one's. Seeing the yellow one in your pictures makes me want another one.....
Click to expand...
Those things are a beast. I have never seen anyone off road like this guy. It was incredible and makes me realize that the patriot could never do some things this vehicle does.

He has locking diffs 35 inch tires and a great suspension on it. But the way he drives is like no other. I should post a youtube video of us driving. So I drive like 5-7 mph on the road. He drives at least 20. He flies over obstacles and rocks like its nothing and frequently gets air. Here we are driving on a shelf road and he is passing atvs, dirt bikes and other wranglers like they are standing still. He knows the trails back there like that back of his hand and has only rolled once :p It actually was a bit terrifying driving with him. I was holding on the roll rail the whole time.
 
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
About this Discussion
15 Replies
3 Participants
Last post:
Sandstone
Jeep Patriot Forums
posts
678K
members
55K
Since
2006
Join our community to discuss the Jeep Patriot & Jeep Compass. Find answers to all your Jeep Patriot technical questions.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Jeep Patriot General Discussion Engine and Drivetrain Newbie Check-In Suspension and Tires Electrical and Audio