White water driving in Eldo

Ok, I know I will probably get flamed for this...

But why is the road through Eldorado Springs so awful? I drove in today and with the melting snow, I swear it was white water driving. There are HUGE potholes and I don't want to think about what I am doing to my car... (yes, this isn't anything new, but after years of driving that road, I figured I would ask.)

I know as a good Boulder resident, I should just buy a 4 wheel drive Subaru and shut up, but I am perplexed by why the road is the way it is.

OK, I understand that some people want to keep the road unpaved to maintain the quaint and historic nature of the town. I also understand that people like to wander about town, and they don't want people driving 50 mph running over their pets and kids. But there has got to be a better solution than the current road.

I have no problem with the road being unpaved, but what is it built out of?? The road in the state park is also unpaved but it is in fine condition. I climb at Eldo frequently and have not seen them grading it, so I assume a decent dirt road does not have to be graded too frequently. This past summer the entire road in Eldorado Springs was dug up... how is it already in such horrible condition?? Are there no drainage ditches??

So, I have two questions:
1. Why is the road the way it is? Is it a monetary issue? If funds were available, could the road be paved or at least have a layer of gravel under the dirt to maintain the road integrity while preserving the historic "unpaved" nature of the town?? If it is a monetary issue, could funds be raised by some organization (Eldo climbers, etc.) I would be happy to donate to improve this problem if others were interested.
2. If there isn't a way to improve the road in the long run, what are the legal issues with filling in the potholes? If a bunch of climbers showed up with shovels and just fixed the worst of the potholes, would they be arrested for modifying the town's public road? Is there a way to get permission to do such a thing, and if so, would other climbers be interested in spending an afternoon volunteering and filling in the potholes?

It's a private road that is maintained by the town of Eldorado. They repair it as their whimsey and funding allow. Personally, I'd much rather negotiate leisurely potholes in a dirt road than bone-jarring speed bumps on a paved road.
Mal

I guess you never had the opportunity to experience South Colony Lakes road before it was closed. I could, however, recommend a similar road for you to attempt...it'll make Eldo Road look like the Autobahn.

I'm with Mal - leave it alone. You could always walk in or take a MTB....or do what I'm doing - live without a car for a while. That'll take the snort outta ya.

I drove it last week...it is about as bad as it gets.

Some sections of the road have springs running across which really adds to the 2mph speed control potholes.

They do grade it every year, but I think it's their way of keeping people from speeding through there :-p

Martha Perantoni wrote:I guess you never had the opportunity to experience South Colony Lakes road before it was closed. I could, however, recommend a similar road for you to attempt...it'll make Eldo Road look like the Autobahn. I'm with Mal - leave it alone. You could always walk in or take a MTB....or do what I'm doing - live without a car for a while. That'll take the snort outta ya.

I'd be fine with walking in. But that option is less practical. Since I have an annual pass for Eldo (Colorado State Parks) and it is on my car, there is a large incentive to drive in to the park. There also isn't really adequate parking in the town of Eldo to support all park users leaving their cars there and walking in.

I'm not saying the road should be paved and people should fly through town at 50 mph. All I am saying is that when the pot holes get to be larger than the tires on my car, maybe some climbers with shovels could get together and fill them in. I would be happy to help. And to avoid problems, the road should be graded in such a way as to have water run off flow down the side of the road in a drainage ditch.

I fully accept and understand that I cannot take my car on roads such as the approach to Grays and Torreys. But when you have a long paved road from the highway taking you to Eldorado Springs, followed by a well maintained dirt road in the park, it would be nice if the 1/4 mile stretch of dirt road connecting them wouldn't cause such wear and tear on cars for people that decide not to drive huge trucks. The road through town is flat and there doesn't seem to be any reason for it to be quite as bad as it is... that is all I am saying.

Or make a parking lot on the other side of town, check state park passes there, and let everyone walk in. But I'm sure most people would object to that too...

I'm with Julius on this one. The road is crazy to navigate. I think that a bunch of climbers filling in the holes would be a great idea! It doesn't have to be perfect, but as it sits now it is terrible. I am not going to hold my breath though, the road has been that way for decades.

I was there last week and thought the exact same thing, white water driving (I swear one section felt like a wave train). Route finding doesn't only pertain to your route anymore, when climbing in eldo it also pertains to how you drive. I'm even in an suv, and I was all over the place trying to avoid the carnage.

I know it's always been bad...
It just never seemed quite that bad.

I'm with you Julius.

While I believe you can walk/bike in with your car receipt (back of the sticker,) it's not practical because the closest public parking lot is Doudy Draw or up at the top of the ashram road. I wouldn't presume to park anywhere between there and the park, it's all private property and the townsfolk surely don't want cars alongside the road going in or in front of their houses. I've never thought walking the road was very safe anyway. There's also something to be said for pulling up in the Eldo lot and sorta car camping for a moment while you gear up for the day, something I admittedly cherish about the place.

I've always just accepted the conditions of the road as something we deal with to appease the local residents. Even in the best conditions, I won't exceed 10 mph through Eldo. I always turn the stereo down and keep a sharp eye out for dogs and kiddos. It is a shame that the road to the state park leads through the town, my car doesn't have good clearance for the current conditions...and they are bad right now and only going to get worse with more Spring runoff. I've been there 4 times in the last week, my shocks are hating me.

I'm not sure how the residents truly feel, or if they're collectively opposed to paving or volunteer maintenance. If it was simply a monetary issue, I'd gladly donate to the cause. If they were cool with volunteers I'd be there with my own shovel.

I would love to know a local's perspective and also what influence the water bottling company has on the issue.

Hank?

Malcolm Daly wrote:It's a private road that is maintained by the town of Eldorado. They repair it as their whimsey and funding allow. Personally, I'd much rather negotiate leisurely potholes in a dirt road than bone-jarring speed bumps on a paved road. Mal

I agree completely. The "private" owners of the roads that lead to the State Park will do what they want, and when they want. Sorry folks.

Unless you drive a truck or big-ass SUV these aren't "leisurely potholes." And private owners can certainly do whatever they want but it would still be enlightening to the discussion to know why (knowing the answer is probably approximate to "why not" or just "because.") Can't there be a middle ground, so to speak, between craters/canals and pavement?

It's a warm-up route. "Hueco Boulevard." Don't let it psych you out, just send it.

If the locals like to destroy their cars driving to and from home so be it. I won't be joining them in the act again just to pay to climb. I can do that for free in the south platte thank you very much.

It will be funny when someone gets stuck and jams the road for all the locals who don't want a reasonable road to drive on.

The road is owned by Eldorado Artesian Springs-Kevin, Doug and Jeremy. Even if you own a house, you generally don't own your parking spaces; only the right to use them. These aren't bad guys- they're kind of old hippies; I believe a big reason for not improving the road is to prevent the town from becoming another high dollar freak show. Recall that before Joe Palumbo bought up whatever he could, the Eldorado Art Center was Dales' garage and dead Volvo graveyard. I remember always getting pissed off when a certain well known local, in his salad days, would blow past our house doing about sixty in a VW Rabbit. (You know who you are.) Anyway, count your blessings, be patient and don't drive too fast. We wouldn't want Eldo to become Niwot.

Jason Kaplan wrote:If the locals like to destroy their cars driving to and from home so be it. I won't be joining them in the act again just to pay to climb. I can do that for free in the south platte thank you very much. It will be funny when someone gets stuck and jams the road for all the locals who don't want a reasonable road to drive on.

Keep in mind that the town has been there far longer than the Park-where you pay to park now was an outdoor ghetto as recently as 1983. Not everyone who lives there is a climber-they don't care about your driving convenience or your latest project. By all means, stay in the Platte.

Its simple physics folks. The faster you drive, the worse the washboard gets, even though you feel it less. If everybody and their brother didn't barrel down that road to begin with, it wouldn't get so bad.

Mind you, it is bad enough that only those with the biggest tires can go fast through there right now, but still. Washboard leads to potholes, but we all know why washboard forms.

Sorry if I seemed crabby before, I kinda was since my whole weekend was a waste.

It just seemed like in a few posts people were saying that the people of eldo control what happens to the road and when, and if they don't want to do anything about it your screwed untill they do.

Sorry if I'm somewhat jaded by being upset that I have to pay to climb somewhere, but yet I have to risk the integrity of my transportation just to get there. Forgive me for wishing bad karma on those who like to keep the road the way it is.

I probably will stick to the platte just like I mostly have done for about the last year. I have no projects in eldo, nor do I wish to destroy my car to pay to climb there, I've already climbed most of the routes I want to at my ability anyway. It's not a huge loss to me, I just think it's stupid.

Funny to see this on here, since it has been the topic of discussion every time i've driven into eldo this spring. it is frustrating to need a high clearance vehicle for that short stretch. i normally drive a civic and even at a snail pace it is getting beat to shit on that stretch. so much that my next annual pass is going in my old truck just for that bit. just sucks to have to waste all that gas just for 1/4 mile of unmaintained road. seems irresponsible on the part of those who are supposed to be maintaining it.

What amazes me most about the whiney posts on this topic is the sense of entitlement y'all seem to have regarding the road. "I climb at Eldo x times per week, therefore I should have easy access."

This is not your land and you don't have a say in how it's maintained. It's a quarter of a mile! That's 1320 feet! 440 yards, or a little over 4 football fields! Is it so impossible to just deal with it, or are your personal needs and time schedules so much more important?

All I can say, boys, is get some cojones and grow some hair on 'em. It's a silly issue to even bother to post. Maybe spend some time in a third world country where they don't even have roads and come back with a different appreciation for what you already have.

Folks are right about the condition of the road. I've lived in town a long time and this is about as bad as I've seen it. The reason is that it has been dug up for the sewer pipe installation and the road base has not been replaced. So, right now it is really just a "dirt" road.
Why has this not been fixed?
First, the residents have no say really. The road is owned by the guys described by Joe. And they (I believe rightly) think that the sewer project should restore the road to it's previous condition. And pay for it. Not sure when that issue will be settled.

Not that it is ever maintained quite as often as I'd like, but right now it truly is deplorable. (And I drive an Outback)
I would support climbers with buckets of gravel as a temporary fix, but you'd probably be best off getting the owners permission.
And don't drive too fast or I will be one of the a-hole locals in your face about it:) Thanks.

On a separate note: JLP, basically all of your "facts" and assumptions about the sewer issue are wrong. I don't have the time or inclination to pontificate about it right now however.
If you are truly interested in the topic PM me.
Cheers,
Mark

It gives me the opportunity to pass brand new 4WD loaded SUV's going pokey pokey through the potholes in my aging sports coupe.