Welcome to Hinsdale County and its historic town of Lake City. That’s what Alan and I did. Drivers will follow a network of rough, ungraded roads though narrow valleys, up past old mining sites, and out onto the tundra of Colorado’s high country with views of the American Peaks. There is fishing, mountain climbing, hiking, camping and much more. The Byway combines crossings of Engineer and Cinnamon Passes with high country scenery that features river meadows, alpine tundra, and ghost towns. Best nearby. The Alpine Loop is a combination of two great 4×4 roads, Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass. Colorado’s Alpine Loop: A Rugged Road to Scenic Mountain Towns. 0 Restaurants within 5 miles. A visitor to Colorado’s Alpine Triangle will travel 150 miles of paved roads to visit the the towns of Ouray, Lake City and Silverton. If Winter is not mentioned, the road may be closed during the winter. The Alpine Loop (which can be found in our riding destination listings in Colorado) winds through the area between Silverton, Lake City, and Ouray, Colorado. Alpine Loop: On the alpine loop, you can camp in American Basin east of Cinnamon Pass summit. The Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, a network of four-wheel drive roads that connect Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton, traverses passes up to 12,800 feet while showcasing old mines, ghost towns, natural wonders, beautiful wildflowers, and abundant wildlife. By Idoia Gkikas. ATV The Alpine Loop . Just go to the end of the road. Encompassing more than 1,000 square miles of untamed beauty, “ah factors” are a constant in this northeastern corner of Colorado’s mystical San Juan Mountains. Along the way, there are 14,000 ft. mountains, the historic towns of Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton, stunning alpine scenery, ghost towns, high alpine lakes, and streams. But you can drive the Alpine Loop in one day. The Alpine Loop is a 63-mile scenic byway that winds its way through the southern Rockies via two mountain passes; Engineer Pass to the north and Cinnamon Pass to the south. In July 2018 we traveled part of the alpine loop in SW Colorado We left Ouray headed up to Engineer Pass and and came back through Animas Forks (old gold or silver mining town) The trip requires a 4 w... Read all 78 reviews. For the Red Mountain Trailhead: 6) Continue south past the Alpine Loop Trailhead on US-550 9.5 miles 7) Turn left (east) onto dirt road, continue about .25 … There are also two BLM campgrounds lower on Cinnamon Pass road and frequently there is dispersed camping around the Grizzly Gulch trailhead area. In Lake City we have stayed in the cabins at the Texan Resort A TEXAN RESORT-Lake City- southwest Colorado Mountains with Cabins,Lodge,Vacation Homes and Lots of Fun Things to Do great For the Alpine Loop Trailhead: 4) Take US-550 south about 40 miles 5) Alpine Loop Trailhead is on the left (east). 18801 Hinsdale County Rd #30, Lake City, CO 81235. Adventurous travelers looking for an off-the-grid road trip in Colorado can find it on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. Alpine Loop is a circular route that navigates through the high elevation Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass in the San Juan Mountains. Alpine Loop - Lake City CO Real Estate. Homes for You Price (High to Low) Price (Low to High) Newest Bedrooms Bathrooms Square Feet Lot Size. Alpine Loop drive takes about 6 hours to cover the distance between … Trip Information. The opportunity to sit back and enjoy the many scenic drives this country has to offer — including The road climbs up two 12,000-foot passes (Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass) and is recommended for high clearance four wheel drive with short wheel base.Passenger cars, RV’s, camper vehicles and vans are not recommended. Sep 9, 2020 - Located in Southwest Colorado near Silverton and Ouray, this four-wheel drive road circles some of the most magnificent and dramatic scenery in the American West. $699,000. The American Basin area of the Alpine Loop is a gorgeous high alpine basin at an elevation of 12,365 feet. One-Day Alpine Loop Itinerary. ouray ounty u.s. department of the interior bureau of land management Delve into Colorado’s mining history. Alpine Loop is a spectacular drive with a length of 63 miles located in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado, USA. Alpine Loop. Alpine Loop road near Cinnamon Pass Drive down Alpine Loop from Cinnamon Pass toward American Basin American Basin American Basin and Cinnamon Basin sign. The scenery along any route in the area is spectacular, but one of the country’s first backcountry byways, the Alpine Scenic Loop, connects the three with 65 miles of maintained dirt road that slices through some of the most dramatic vistas in the state. Alpine Loop - Colorado Scenic Byway & Jeep Tour The Alpine Loop is designated as one of Colorado’s official Scenic Byways, and for good reason. The largely 4WD trail boasts two 12,000+ foot passes, Cinnamon Pass (12,613ft) and Engineer Pass (12,800ft) and is an epic high country mountain bike adventure with 7,000ft + of climbing. Southwest Colorado Alpine Loop; San Juan Skyway; Tracks Across Borders; Trail of the Ancients; Unaweep/Tabeguache; West Elk Loop; South Central Colorado Collegiate Peaks; Frontier Pathways; Gold Belt Tour; Los Caminos Antiguos; Silver Thread; Top of the Rockies; Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways Guide; News & Press Releases; Training Materials; Visitor & Technical Resources; Scenic … The road goes up to two high mountain passes such as Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass. Tucked away in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado is the Alpine Loop National Backcountry Byway. These old mining roads wind up through the … 1 bd; 1 ba; 1,530 sqft; 35 days on Zillow. At 65 miles total, the Alpine Loop includes Engineer Pass, Hurricane Pass, Cinnamon Pass and Stony Pass (which is located along the Continental Divide at 12,800 ft). House for sale. 49 minutes: Seasons The seasons listed are the best seasons for this scenic drive. TexaxCoyote, Alpine Loop has some beautiful scenary. Listed as one of Colorado’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways, the Alpine Loop winds a serpentine route through some of the most majestic mountains in the country. Route distance: 0; Suggested Time: 4 days; Favorite. Crossing the heart of the San Juan Mountains, this Jeep tour ascends over two renowned high-altitude passes (Cinnamon and Engineer Pass), and crosses some of the most pristine wilderness offered throughout the Southwest. Share. The road itself is predominantly well maintained, but with rugged sections near the two high passes which are most frequented by high-clearance four wheel drive vehicles. Alpine Loop in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains introduces off-roaders to high-country scenery and Colorado mining history. The Alpine Loop National Backcountry Scenic Byway winds through the alpine terrain of the San Juan Mountains. $239,000. The route is circular, running from the ghost town of Animas Forks to Lake City and return. We rode out of both Lake City and Silverton this past summer in August, 3rd time for Lake City. Sort by: Newest. It provides the adventurous off-roader an opportunity to see old mines, ghost towns, wildflowers, and scenic beauty that is truly epic. These trails are roughly centered in the spectacular San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado between Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray. House for sale. Date Posted: 3/5/2008 3:10:59 AM. The Alpine Loop might not open until the end of June this year. Location. A high clearance 4WD vehicle with short wheelbase is recommended for this trip. 2 Other Attractions within 5 miles. The flat stretch between Eureka and Animas Forks is about 100' deep and as its flat, it can't be plowed over the side. Hall Realty, Inc. 15001 County Road 20 Rd, Lake City, CO 81235. Connecting Ouray, Silverton, and Lake City, Colorado, this rugged, four-wheel drive route travels over steep mountain passes, some topping 12,000 feet. Alpine Loop, Colorado: See 78 reviews, articles, and 84 photos of Alpine Loop, ranked No.453 on Tripadvisor among 2,766 attractions in Colorado. Animas Forks has not yet been reached by the plows due to excessive depth on the roads from avalanches. Contact. Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway is a 73.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Silverton, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The extinct Lake City volcanic caldera, which the Alpine Loop encircles, lies to the east. Located northeast of Silverton, Colorado in San Juan and Hinsdale Counties, the circular route makes its way from Lake City south along CO-149, to County Road 30, which turns west over Cinnamon Pass to Animas Forks, and then returns east over Engineer Pass back to Lake City … Waymark Code: WM3AEH. Mileage: 12 miles (19 km) Duration The duration is an estimate of a one-way drive and does not include any stops or side-trips. It’s best explored on a 2 or 3-day Alpine Loop itinerary with overnight stops in Lake City, Silverton or Ouray. The elevation changes are also substantial. Full view. The Alpine Loop Back Country Byway in the northern San Juan Mountains of Colorado is a spectacular tour of some of North America's most magnificent scenery. Dec 12, 2020 - Located in Southwest Colorado near Silverton and Ouray, this four-wheel drive road circles some of the most magnificent and dramatic scenery in the American West. Within this off-road area there are hundreds of miles of trails one can travel. Animas Forks (229) 3.1 mi. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. These roads were originally paths used by Native Americans crossing the region. Published By: KingJR. Length: 65 mile loop Difficulty: Moderate (rock outcroppings, drop offs) Access: Easy ATV Friendly Towns: Lake City, Silverton Ideal Riding Season: Mid Summer – September Notes: This is a loop that ATVs and other unlicensed vehicles can ride even though sections of it are “on road”. Alpine Loop Tour. Alpine Loop Scenic and Historic Byway is a spectacular 101-km (63-mi) drive through the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. 29 results. The trail is primarily used for scenic driving and ohv/off road driving and is best used from July until October. Website +1 800-228-1876. Views: 105 Download this waymark:.GPX File.LOC File.KML File (Google Earth) Long Description: Just outside Ouray, Colorado, just a short, yet windy trek south on 550, is the entrance to the Alpine Loop series of trails. It connects the towns of Silverton and Ouray with Lake City, where it is generally considered to begin (and end). 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