Is South Mineral Road open?
US 550 ↔ South Mineral Campground · 9,800′ · Easy gravel. Typically open May 20 to November 15.
An easy graded gravel road up the South Mineral Creek valley to the campground and the wildly popular Ice Lakes trailhead. Fine for passenger cars in summer; arrive early — the trailhead fills before dawn on weekends.
Highlights
- Ice Lakes / Island Lake trailhead
- South Mineral Campground (reservations recommended)
- Access to Clear Lake and Bandora Mine roads
History & lore
- The Ice Lakes Basin above the road became internet-famous for its startlingly turquoise water.
Live status, recent trail reports, the interactive map, and elevation profile load below.