Contact Media Room Marketing Board & Chamber of Commerce Site by Mary Carkin Media
© 2005-2010 Lake City/Hinsdale County Marketing Board. All rights reserved.
Heirloom Vacations & Cure for the Common Crowd are Service Marks of the Lake City Marketing Board.
© 2005-2010 Lake City/Hinsdale County Marketing Board. All rights reserved.
Heirloom Vacations & Cure for the Common Crowd are Service Marks of the Lake City Marketing Board.
Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway
These back roads in the San Juan Mountains were once used to haul mining equipment and supplies to high-elevation silver and gold mines. The extracted ores were then hauled out to the mills and train depots, helping to fuel the American expansion of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Now a National Back Country Byway, the Alpine Loop offers a look into that era, with relics of the mining boom scattered along the way. You'll see ghost towns, cabins, mills, and mine sites, with interpretive signs that explain the significance of this road to the development of the American West.
Starting and ending in Lake City, the Loop winds through canyons, up into high alpine valleys, and above tree line to engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, each more than 12,000 feet in elevation. From either pass, the roads drop into the ghost town of Animas Forks. From there, side trips to the historic towns of Silverton and Ouray
are possible.
The Alpine Loop is about 65 miles around, so plan on spending at least a day to explore it.
Points of Interest
>Ute-Ulay Mine & Mill: An extensive group of original mine and mill buildings remain at this site.
>Nellie Creek: A four-mile long 4-wheel-drive road leads you past Nellie Creek Falls and to the trail head of Uncompaghre Peak.
>Capitol City: This ghost town once had a population of 400; its founders wanted it to become the capitol of Colorado. The post office, some outbuildings, and brick kilns remain.
>Whitmore Falls: Take the short, steep trail to an overlook where you can view the falls.
>Rose Lime Kiln: Built in 1881, this 44 ft. tall kiln reduced local limestone into high quality lime for use in local construction. The kiln is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
>Engineer Pass: At 12,800 feet, you'll find amazing views of the San Juan Mountains, including nearby peaks Uncompaghre and Sneffels.
>Animas Forks: Situated between Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, this ghost town has many buildings, including the remains of houses, a jail, huge mills, and many other buildings.
>Cinnamon Pass: At 12,620 feet, the top of this pass has excellent views of nearby fourteeners (peaks taller than 14,000 feet in elevation).
>American Basin: This beautiful alpine cirque, a bowl-shaped valley carved by glaciers, is the backdrop for an amazing display of blooming wildflowers every July and August.
>Burrows Park: A few historic buildings remain at this location. You'll also find trailheads for fourteeners Handies, Sunshine, and Redcloud Peaks.
>Sherman: Once a mining town and site of the Black Wonder Mill, this is now the location of the trail head to Cataract Gulch and Cataract Lake.
>Carson: Take the four-wheel-drive road up Wager Gulch and you will find the well-preserved ghost town of Carson.
>Lake San Cristobal: Colorado's second-largest natural lake was formed about 700 years ago, when the Slumgullion Earthflow blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
These back roads in the San Juan Mountains were once used to haul mining equipment and supplies to high-elevation silver and gold mines. The extracted ores were then hauled out to the mills and train depots, helping to fuel the American expansion of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Now a National Back Country Byway, the Alpine Loop offers a look into that era, with relics of the mining boom scattered along the way. You'll see ghost towns, cabins, mills, and mine sites, with interpretive signs that explain the significance of this road to the development of the American West.
Starting and ending in Lake City, the Loop winds through canyons, up into high alpine valleys, and above tree line to engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, each more than 12,000 feet in elevation. From either pass, the roads drop into the ghost town of Animas Forks. From there, side trips to the historic towns of Silverton and Ouray
are possible.
The Alpine Loop is about 65 miles around, so plan on spending at least a day to explore it.
Points of Interest
>Ute-Ulay Mine & Mill: An extensive group of original mine and mill buildings remain at this site.
>Nellie Creek: A four-mile long 4-wheel-drive road leads you past Nellie Creek Falls and to the trail head of Uncompaghre Peak.
>Capitol City: This ghost town once had a population of 400; its founders wanted it to become the capitol of Colorado. The post office, some outbuildings, and brick kilns remain.
>Whitmore Falls: Take the short, steep trail to an overlook where you can view the falls.
>Rose Lime Kiln: Built in 1881, this 44 ft. tall kiln reduced local limestone into high quality lime for use in local construction. The kiln is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
>Engineer Pass: At 12,800 feet, you'll find amazing views of the San Juan Mountains, including nearby peaks Uncompaghre and Sneffels.
>Animas Forks: Situated between Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, this ghost town has many buildings, including the remains of houses, a jail, huge mills, and many other buildings.
>Cinnamon Pass: At 12,620 feet, the top of this pass has excellent views of nearby fourteeners (peaks taller than 14,000 feet in elevation).
>American Basin: This beautiful alpine cirque, a bowl-shaped valley carved by glaciers, is the backdrop for an amazing display of blooming wildflowers every July and August.
>Burrows Park: A few historic buildings remain at this location. You'll also find trailheads for fourteeners Handies, Sunshine, and Redcloud Peaks.
>Sherman: Once a mining town and site of the Black Wonder Mill, this is now the location of the trail head to Cataract Gulch and Cataract Lake.
>Carson: Take the four-wheel-drive road up Wager Gulch and you will find the well-preserved ghost town of Carson.
>Lake San Cristobal: Colorado's second-largest natural lake was formed about 700 years ago, when the Slumgullion Earthflow blocked the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
Scenic Drives
Alpine Loop
National Back Country Byway
Silver Thread
National Scenic Byway
Cathedral Valley
Rio Grande Reservoir Road
Alpine Loop
for 2-WD Vehicles
Alpine Loop
National Back Country Byway
Silver Thread
National Scenic Byway
Cathedral Valley
Rio Grande Reservoir Road
Alpine Loop
for 2-WD Vehicles
Driving the Alpine Loop
The Alpine Loop is unpaved, and you will need a four-wheel drive vehicle to traverse Cinnamon Pass, Engineer Pass, and the side spurs. Keep in mind that the Alpine Loop is narrow and twisty; drive slowly. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, food, solid footwear, raincoats and jackets with you.
ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles are available for rent from local businesses.
ATV and dirt bike riders on the Alpine Loop must be licensed drivers and carry insurance for the vehicle which they are riding.
Check with the Hinsdale County Sheriff at 970-944-2291 if you have further questions about local regulations.
Related Links
Jeep Rentals and ATV Rentals
Guided Four-wheel Drive Tours
& Hiking Tours
Horseback Riding Outfitters
Recreation Equipment Rentals, including fishing equipment, bicycles, camping equipment, backpacks, bicycles, and more.
Bicycle Repairs, Supplies, & Sales
Museums & Historic Tours, including the Hinsdale County Museum and the
Hard Tack Mine Tour & Museum.
Public Campgrounds
Private Campgrounds
Jeep Rentals and ATV Rentals
Guided Four-wheel Drive Tours
& Hiking Tours
Horseback Riding Outfitters
Recreation Equipment Rentals, including fishing equipment, bicycles, camping equipment, backpacks, bicycles, and more.
Bicycle Repairs, Supplies, & Sales
Museums & Historic Tours, including the Hinsdale County Museum and the
Hard Tack Mine Tour & Museum.
Public Campgrounds
Private Campgrounds