It is gated on both ends. The base station road is plowed and its about 1 mile in to Edmunds versus 2.4 miles in from the Crawford Path parking lot. Just be aware that parking along a narrow road during or just after a snowstorm is not a good thing as the car can get plowed in. I am not sure who plows the base station road but if the state does they could tow your vehicle. I have seen cars parking in this area in the past in the winter but it would be best to wait a day or so after a storm. Of course the assumption is you have good shovel in the back of the car.