Length: 63 miles.
Driving time: 4-6 hours.
Features:
7 ghost towns
2 high alpine passes
The Alpine Loop leaves pavement and people behind, crossing the remote, rugged, spectacular heart of the San Juan Mountains. It's demanding - the two 12,000-foot passes (Cinnamon and Engineer) require a high-clearance 4-wheel-drive vehicle - but the well-prepared motorist reaps unparalleled rewards: pristine mountain views, hiking and biking trails, great camping opportunities, and ample solitude. These rocky roads were first used by 19th-century miners, who carted their ore off to Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City in mule-drawn wagons. Spend an afternoon exploring abandoned townsites, structures, and other former mining haunts - if you want to commune with ghosts of Colorado's rich past.
The Alpine Loop information brochure is available on-line here for free. It traverses land managed predominantly by the BLM between the gateway communities of Lake City, Silverton and Ouray. (Click on image to enlarge). Here is a interactive link to the area and a link to the Alpine Loop Interim Byway Management Plan
What to See & Do:
In addition to the outstanding scenery, visitors can enjoy a wide array of other outdoor recreation activities. The rivers, streams, and lakes attract fishermen in search of rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. Hikers will enjoy the many trails that can be accessed from the Alpine Loop including routes up five peaks over 14,000 feet.
History buffs will want to explore the many structures, mines, and ghost towns left over from the late 1800s. Photographers will especially appreciate the abundance of colorful alpine wildflowers in late July/early August and the explosion of fall colors during September. Vehicle recreationists can spend weeks exploring the many designated roads that lead off the main route.
More and more mountain bikers are enjoying the Alpine Loop for challenging single and multi-day rides. Winter sports enthusiasts can find ample area to snowmobile or ski on the 80 miles of groomed trails near Lake City. Whether you have a day, a week, or a month, you won’t run out of things to doing this area.
Virtual Tours:
Here's a video fly-through along the Alpine Loop - courtesy of Spike Productions and Computer Terrain Mapping. Significant development on patented mining claims could substantially change the visitor experience along the Alpine Loop.
From Silverton, proceed up Cement Creek past Gladstone, then up and over Corkscrew Pass.
