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Looking at doing Silver Plume Mountain from the east. I've driven to the Douglas Mountain saddle before but I didn't venture any further up the road. Can anyone tell me what kind of condition FS788.1 is in. How high could I drive in a stock SUV?

Thanks,
Dave

Not sure about 778.1 - looks like it gets rough higher up.

Here's where I've approached from the south:
http://listsofjohn.com/mapf?lat=39.6967&lon=-105.7654&z=14&t=f&l=lm

Don't know about the road from Empire, but you can also start right in the town of Silver Plume, park on Main Street and go up Silver Street. The road ends at a trail that is called the 7.30 Mine Road, and is also called the Griffin Memorial trail, but I think the sign said 7.30 mine road. Its an abandoned mine track turned trail with lots of old equipment. Take it Brown Gulch and bushwhack to treeline and head up the east ridge or northeast slopes to summit boulder.

Thanks guys. Had been looking at that approach too - much shorter but looks steep. Sounds like a better option than a long road hike.

Thanks,
Dave

We drove pretty high, but it gets pretty annoying and rough with lots of babyheads. Not extremely steep, but not gentle. Definitely 4WD with high clearance and low range.