Davis Face drive from front range

Does anyone know how advisable it is to drive this western route from antero junction in a subaru? It's quicker according to google maps, but not sure if that's akin to Google maps sending people up Engineer pass 

Sadly nothing of value to offer, but I have always wondered how that route would be. I’ve only approached from BV and that one is not terrible, but takes a while. Davis face is worth it though 

I’ve driven those roads in a forester and been fine, but conditions can change year to year… the other way in from BV has some squirrely bits fyi but if you’re generally confident driving FS roads you’ll probably be fine.

You'll be fine. Some deep ruts and sandy areas to be mindful when going through. 

Early season though….  Snow, mud, deep puddle free??

It’s totally dry.  Drove it in my Tacoma a few weeks ago.   I think some people would not be stoked in a Subaru but really the biggest challenge is keeping momentum up some STEEP hills. 

Currently the road between Davis Face and Antero Junction is blocked by an at least knee-deep, sandy-bottomed pond. This pond is formed by a flowing creek dammed by some branches, so it'll probably stick around for a while. Luckily I had driven in from BV and figured this out while trying to exit via Antero Junction, so only had to double back 20mins to Davis Face.

Other than that the roads are in good shape, I think I did drive the steep hills that John mentioned and it was fine in my Crosstrek (the weakest of the Subarus) so I figure any SUV can handle it. Wouldn't take a sedan tho.

Was out there over memorial day, and like you found, the creek crossing at 38.900679, -106.083977 is not passable by low cars, crossed it in a Razor and water was half way up the wheels.

Has anyone been out there recently and know if the water level has receded? My friends and I are driving out from Antero and are wondering if we can make it in our Rav4 or should we just come up from BV.

Can't speak to the Antero route, but I was up there a week ago. Drove in from BV in my RAV4, bonked by hitch receiver on a few water bars/no real issues though. Great day out, the face was in there shade till ~11a.

I think there may be some confusion here, possibly on my part, but the only pool I know of is right before Davis Face coming from BV, you don’t cross the creek if you are coming in from Antero Junction.    It’s a little deep, but never a problem in outback’s and trucks.   It was no worries in an outback with a mostly flat spare tire.  Could be a slight seasonal swell but water are way back down now in general in the Ark

Valley.   Send it.  

Oh yeah, there was no water crossing en route as of ~1 week ago. Most def, send it! 

Has anyone actually taken the Antero route recently? Pretty sure there's always creek crossing at the lat/lon posted upthread...

As of August 10th, the Antero route is totally dry, including the creek crossing at 38.900679, -106.08397

Finally took a 2nd trip out and decided that Davis Face should be way more popular as a fall destination than a late spring/summer destination - the face gets sun in the fall nearly all day (perfect for cooler fall temps), the creek crossing(s) are completely dry, and the UTV crowds are pretty much all gone.

As for the driving, my verdict is that the Antero route is more Subaru-friendly, but definitely involves more offroad time (~20 mins more). Still worth it later in the season once the odds of getting skunked at the creek crossing (2+ miles away) are gone.