- First Name
- Logan
- Joined
- May 2, 2026
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 35
- Location
- Saint Louis
- Vehicle(s)
- Bronco OBX
- Your Bronco Model
- Outer Banks
- Thread starter
- #1
Arrived in Marble at 10:30, just 30 minutes too early to try Slow Groovin’ BBQ. Stopped in a civic center shop where we were advised that it is not recommended to take Schofield Pass all the way to Crested Butte, echoing what the Forest Service had already advised us.
Anxious to test our valor, we headed to the trail head and aired down our tires to 18psi. Once on the trail we immediately noticed a difference in trail riding with tires aired down. Utilizing the Colorado Backroads 4-Wheel-Drive book we navigated the first fork in the trail to get onto Schofield Pass.
The first turn onto the pass was narrow and tight, Richard reminded that we should take the trail slow! Trail was beautiful with mountains on either side, winding around a creek and some beautiful waterfalls. Passed cyclists, motorcycles, a jeep tour, and some hikers on our way to the most scenic part of the route - Crystal Mill.
Most folks turn around at Crystal Mill and head back to Marble, but we pushed on to the town of Crystal, which had roughly 10 cabins maintained in the back woods of the Schofield Trail. Passed some old timers riding motorcycles that were equally old on our way south towards the Devils Punch Bowl. We also encountered a mule deer in velvet.
Just passed Crystal we encountered our first real test, a steep, narrow, rocky climb, that required some on foot scouting to make sure we took the proper line. The Bronco handled it like a champ, but the fun was just getting started.
At the top of the hill we learned the definition of a shelf road. Pushing on we conquered several obstacles that required Richard to get out and guide the vehicle to make sure we kept the passenger tires from falling off the cliff while overcoming large rocks, loose rocky terrain, and the side of the mountain that was a rock wall - at some points, inches from the driver side of the vehicle.
With each obstacle we overcame, we thought we were through the worst. We would celebrate, then quickly realized the mountain had more challenges ahead.
At one point, there was a washed out left turn onto a switchback. It required an off camber turn with the Bronco leaning toward the cliff’s edge. As the vehicle made the turn, we lost traction, and slid down 3 feet toward the edge. It was a heart pounding moment.
We were lucky to have beautiful weather, and no other vehicles in sight. Allowing us to take proper breaks and recalibrate after some of these tougher sections.
Most of the trails from this point to the Devils Punchbowl was tight with the rocky face on the drivers side and cliff’s edge on the passenger side, leaving us very exposed to danger.
Some hikers, who were amazed that we were driving this road, suggested we were safe once we got to the bridge.
At some points, neither of us could open our doors, mine due to the wall, and Richard’s due simply to the fact that stepping out of the bronco would have meant falling down the hill. “About enough room for your tires and a potato chip” - Uncle Donny.
Can’t go under it, can’t go over it, you have to go through it. Channeling Teddy Rosevelt. There was no turning back!
Despite the tight switchbacks and narrow road, the views continued to improve with stunning mountains all around, waterfalls, the Crystal River, and an abundance of wild flowers. Notably one of the most beautiful drives in Colorado, a reward for touring the most dangerous road in North America.
Upon reaching the bridge, we celebrated like it was all over! We could see the Devil’s Punchbowl, which at this point we had renamed the Devil’s Butthole, which sounded meaner and more consistent with the torture of the drive itself. It was in fact, not over.
We started climbing the hill on the right of the Devils Punch Bowl, and I finally experienced what it was like having the cliff’s edge on my side, slow deep breaths were required to keep composure. Richard was great and supportive the whole way instilling confidence needed to push on.
On the hill we encountered a side by side with two locals coming towards us as we were about the climb the most technical rock shelves of the entire route. We chatted briefly, and decided it was best for us to back down and give them room. Once they passed, Kelly, one of the locals, was kind enough to guide us through the technical section where the Bronco was off camber leaning toward jagged rocks and maybe 8 inches of room to the cliff’s edge. The old timer left us with some critical information, “when in doubt, gas it!”
We made it to the top and knew that we had now in fact, been through the hardest parts of the trail. It was not a cake walk out, but nothing we had not already surpassed.
Entering a beautiful wooded section we encountered a couple small creek crossings. The last of which had a beautiful waterfall on the left. Decided to show off and gas it through the creek to send water shooting up. Unfortunately, the exit of the creek contained a jagged rock that punctured the front right tire.
Cannot think of a more beautiful place to change a tire. Thank god we did not have to do this on the narrow shelf road! Special mention to the two young men who walked buy us to swim in the waterfall and offered no help.
With 4 good tires on, we pushed on, and ended up picking up a hitch hiker. “Mary” was a special education teacher in Crested Butte, and had a side job shuttling cars to Aspen where she would run/hike back to Crested Butte. She was exausted and hopped in.
The ride from the waterfall back to Crested Butte was beautiful, passing Emerald Lake, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, and some beautiful scenery. A highlight was learning about the Century Plant, which had tall stalks blooming yellow flowers.
Arriving in Crested Butte we felt like conquerors. Popped open Corona NAs and Coors while we aired up the tires. At this point, physically and mentally exhausted, we headed into town for food.
Our first time in Crested Butte, we grabbed burgers at the Public House around 4pm. Told our waiter we had come from Marble, he was shocked. Asked if we came via side by side or full side truck, he was in awe of the answer and said, “you must have some serious hair on your balls to do that.”
Anxious to test our valor, we headed to the trail head and aired down our tires to 18psi. Once on the trail we immediately noticed a difference in trail riding with tires aired down. Utilizing the Colorado Backroads 4-Wheel-Drive book we navigated the first fork in the trail to get onto Schofield Pass.
The first turn onto the pass was narrow and tight, Richard reminded that we should take the trail slow! Trail was beautiful with mountains on either side, winding around a creek and some beautiful waterfalls. Passed cyclists, motorcycles, a jeep tour, and some hikers on our way to the most scenic part of the route - Crystal Mill.
Most folks turn around at Crystal Mill and head back to Marble, but we pushed on to the town of Crystal, which had roughly 10 cabins maintained in the back woods of the Schofield Trail. Passed some old timers riding motorcycles that were equally old on our way south towards the Devils Punch Bowl. We also encountered a mule deer in velvet.
Just passed Crystal we encountered our first real test, a steep, narrow, rocky climb, that required some on foot scouting to make sure we took the proper line. The Bronco handled it like a champ, but the fun was just getting started.
At the top of the hill we learned the definition of a shelf road. Pushing on we conquered several obstacles that required Richard to get out and guide the vehicle to make sure we kept the passenger tires from falling off the cliff while overcoming large rocks, loose rocky terrain, and the side of the mountain that was a rock wall - at some points, inches from the driver side of the vehicle.
With each obstacle we overcame, we thought we were through the worst. We would celebrate, then quickly realized the mountain had more challenges ahead.
At one point, there was a washed out left turn onto a switchback. It required an off camber turn with the Bronco leaning toward the cliff’s edge. As the vehicle made the turn, we lost traction, and slid down 3 feet toward the edge. It was a heart pounding moment.
We were lucky to have beautiful weather, and no other vehicles in sight. Allowing us to take proper breaks and recalibrate after some of these tougher sections.
Most of the trails from this point to the Devils Punchbowl was tight with the rocky face on the drivers side and cliff’s edge on the passenger side, leaving us very exposed to danger.
Some hikers, who were amazed that we were driving this road, suggested we were safe once we got to the bridge.
At some points, neither of us could open our doors, mine due to the wall, and Richard’s due simply to the fact that stepping out of the bronco would have meant falling down the hill. “About enough room for your tires and a potato chip” - Uncle Donny.
Can’t go under it, can’t go over it, you have to go through it. Channeling Teddy Rosevelt. There was no turning back!
Despite the tight switchbacks and narrow road, the views continued to improve with stunning mountains all around, waterfalls, the Crystal River, and an abundance of wild flowers. Notably one of the most beautiful drives in Colorado, a reward for touring the most dangerous road in North America.
Upon reaching the bridge, we celebrated like it was all over! We could see the Devil’s Punchbowl, which at this point we had renamed the Devil’s Butthole, which sounded meaner and more consistent with the torture of the drive itself. It was in fact, not over.
We started climbing the hill on the right of the Devils Punch Bowl, and I finally experienced what it was like having the cliff’s edge on my side, slow deep breaths were required to keep composure. Richard was great and supportive the whole way instilling confidence needed to push on.
On the hill we encountered a side by side with two locals coming towards us as we were about the climb the most technical rock shelves of the entire route. We chatted briefly, and decided it was best for us to back down and give them room. Once they passed, Kelly, one of the locals, was kind enough to guide us through the technical section where the Bronco was off camber leaning toward jagged rocks and maybe 8 inches of room to the cliff’s edge. The old timer left us with some critical information, “when in doubt, gas it!”
We made it to the top and knew that we had now in fact, been through the hardest parts of the trail. It was not a cake walk out, but nothing we had not already surpassed.
Entering a beautiful wooded section we encountered a couple small creek crossings. The last of which had a beautiful waterfall on the left. Decided to show off and gas it through the creek to send water shooting up. Unfortunately, the exit of the creek contained a jagged rock that punctured the front right tire.
Cannot think of a more beautiful place to change a tire. Thank god we did not have to do this on the narrow shelf road! Special mention to the two young men who walked buy us to swim in the waterfall and offered no help.
With 4 good tires on, we pushed on, and ended up picking up a hitch hiker. “Mary” was a special education teacher in Crested Butte, and had a side job shuttling cars to Aspen where she would run/hike back to Crested Butte. She was exausted and hopped in.
The ride from the waterfall back to Crested Butte was beautiful, passing Emerald Lake, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, and some beautiful scenery. A highlight was learning about the Century Plant, which had tall stalks blooming yellow flowers.
Arriving in Crested Butte we felt like conquerors. Popped open Corona NAs and Coors while we aired up the tires. At this point, physically and mentally exhausted, we headed into town for food.
Our first time in Crested Butte, we grabbed burgers at the Public House around 4pm. Told our waiter we had come from Marble, he was shocked. Asked if we came via side by side or full side truck, he was in awe of the answer and said, “you must have some serious hair on your balls to do that.”
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