Mineral Creek

Located just south of the mountain town of Ouray, Mineral Creek is the go-to for those wanting to start the famous Alpine Loop from west to east. Mineral Creek provides access to both Poughkeepsie Gulch and Engineer Pass, but it comes at a price with multiple rock obstacles that will have you pausing to pick a line and narrow sections where caution should be taken in case of oncoming traffic.

The payoff of Mineral Creek begins quickly as you climb 1,500 feet in just the first 2.5 miles with a picturesque shelf road section, historical point-of-interest at the Michael Breen Mine remnants, stream crossing, and multiple camping opportunities. History buffs will enjoy continuing down Mineral Creek as you're presented with two more historic mining areas. Be sure to have your camera ready!

Mineral Creek will leave even experienced offroaders with a sense of accomplishment while giving the whole family plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs and explore.