Capitol Creek Trailhead — Attraction in Basalt

There is a fairly large horse trailer parking lot maybe a couple of miles downhill from the end of the road, the trailhead area. Two-wheel drive (2WD) cars must park here, although I have seen 2-3 cars go further up the road until it becomes impassable due to deep/wide holes in the road near its end. Those cars parked on the side of the road in areas where 4WD vehicles could narrowly squeeze past them. I don't think there are more than maybe 2-4 such makeshift parking places. If you drive up that far and there are no spaces, good luck backing down and finding a way to turn around. I parked in the horse trailer parking lot and hiked (with full, heavy backpack) from there to the trailhead. Wow...I wish I could have avoided that given that I had Capitol Lake and then Capitol Peak ahead as destinations. Next time I may consider driving up as far as I can and stash my backpack in the brush, then driving back down to the horse trailer parking lot. Still have to hike up from there, but at least without 35 lbs on my back. I'm guessing it's about a 2-mile hike, at a fairly steep incline. If you have 4WD AND high ground clearance, you should be able to get past the few deep and wide holes in the road and make it to the upper parking area at the trailhead. There is significant parking space there. One more point, if you're attempting to start out on the "Ditch Trail", the trailhead sign for that is actually labeled "Upper Capitol Creek Trail". Be forewarned that, at least in my opinion, the Capitol Creek Trail is not well marked. There are forks in the trail with no sign at all to explain which branch of the fork goes where. In at least one case, there is a fork where one branch is labeled, "Trail". Depending on the paper or GPS map you're using, said forks/trails may not show up. Last word of advice, where you are required to cross Capitol Creek, this might be more of a challenge than you are expecting. In mid-June 2017, the water was deeper and more forceful than I expected. For a few steps it was thigh-deep and I almost got swept away. All items in my pockets and lower portions of my backpack got wet. Even items in zip-lock bags, I guess due to the force of the water. In spite of all those difficulties, portions of the hike were as beautiful and rewarding as any I've done. Just be informed...

This is the gateway to one of the most spectacular hikes in the state (particularly in fall when leaves are changing color) and a mega-classic Colorado 14er. But beware that the road has a few spots (one in particular) that is at the outer limit of what’s possible with a standard 4wd vehicle in dry conditions, and would be nearly impassible in wet conditions. There is a “winter” lot like 2 miles down the road (if my memory serves correctly) that you can park in to avoid the sketchier last two miles of the road, and walk up.

Photo attached that was taken a few miles in on the trail, which is mostly flat for the first 3-4 miles and would make a lovely out and back hike for beginners if your vehicle can get to the trailhead.

We used it as a launchpad to summit Capitol Peak which...

The trailhead is the main trailhead for capital mountain and capital lake.

Once you hit dirt road continue past the horse trailer parking on the right, past the cattle grate and sign saying you are entering a mixed use area. Then up a steep hill (need a car with some clearance to get up). It will be obvious parking on the left of the road by the trail signs. One trail that goes down into the valley is at the first set of parking spots and the one that stays high on the side of the valley is further by the second set. If your car has low clearance you can enter back at the cattle grate where a horse trail goes up and meets the trail heading down in to the valley. It will add about a mile one...