Region

Alpine Loop

Colorado

Offroad Trails in Alpine Loop

A Region within Colorado

The Alpine Loop, also referred to as The Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, is a true gem of stunning, unparalleled natural beauty. Located within the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, this world-renowned area traverses rugged mountain passes that will have you gasping for air at near 13,000 feet of elevation.

The Alpine Loop is a journey through time and nature. It passes through historic mining towns and ghostly remnants of the region's past such as the historic settlement of Animas Forks. Those who dare to enter this remote environment will be rewarded with a spectacular scenery of towering peaks, verdant forests, meandering streams, and vast swaths of wildflowers that devour entire hillsides.

The loop connects the towns of Ouray, Silverton, and Lake City; each offering their own unique charm and amenities for visitors. It is a network of rocky, four-wheel-drive trails first utilized by 19th century miners who used the roads to cart off ore in mule-drawn wagons. The primary trails making up the loop include Engineer Pass, a narrow and steep trail offering panoramic vistas of several 14,000-foot peaks; Cinnamon Pass, known for its breathtaking views, high altitude scenery, and vibrant wildflowers; California Pass, which winds through alpine meadows and past abandoned mining structures; and Corkscrew Pass, famous for its steep, multi-point switchbacks and dramatic elevation changes.

The offroad trails here are generally accessible mid-June through early October, depending on snow levels. The majority of trails are not technical and can be traversed by stock, high-clearance vehicles. However, the mental challenge of navigating single-lane roads with steep drop offs while attempting to squeeze past oncoming traffic can sometimes prove difficult. Additionally, the area is devoid of cell service, so it is important to go in prepared.

With a little cognitive fortitude, these unforgettable roads will give you access to some of the most remote and picturesque areas of Southwest Colorado. The Alpine Loop also provides a glimpse into the area's rich mining history and rugged frontier spirit.

Top Reasons to Explore Here

Altitude

Camping

Forest

Ghost Town

Iconic

Mine

Overland

Rock

Scenic

Water

Alpine Loop includes trail difficulties ranging from

EASY

DIFFICULT

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4.8/5 (136 reviews)

Updated: 07/20/2024

Engineer Pass Road

Open

Lake City, Colorado/

21.02 miles/

About 4 hours

Engineer Pass is well known as part of the iconic Alpine Loop trail network in the high San Juan Mountains. Many roads criss-crossing over the peaks were established during the late 1800s to support mining operations seeking gold, silver, lead, and other ore deposits. These trails provided lifelines to transport ore, people, and supplies between the mines and the nearby towns of Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City.

Those looking to have a quintessential Colorado weekend adventure can complete the Alpine Loop, leaving Lake City via Cinnamon Pass and connecting to Engineer Pass Road in the area of the Animas Forks ghost town. Easily extend the adventure by connecting to iconic trails like California Pass, Picayne, Placer Gulch, and more. Regardless of where you start Engineer Pass, opportunities are plentiful to test your skills, explore the backcountry of Colorado, and even touch the skies at mountain summits along the way.

The San Juan Mountain Range is full of mining history and ruins. Some are marked clearly, while others are not. The BLM has worked with local historical societies to restore structures and make them safe to enter. These are typically well-marked with informational signage and placards. Many mining sites have been left to the elements and should be appreciated from afar as they are no longer structurally sound.

If you are looking for epic scenery, you'll find spots all along the trail worth stopping for. Odem Point and the official summit have breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including the Uncompahgre, Coxcomb, Wetterhorn, and Wildhorse mountain peaks. The view is so expansive at Oh (Odem) Point that on a very clear day, you might see all the way to Utah if you turn your eyes to the west. Whitmore Falls Scenic Overlook at Waypoint 14 offers a beautiful waterfall after a short hike down a well-marked footpath.

This trail is easily traversable by a stock 4WD and can be enjoyed by all drivers, from the beginner to the experienced, with something for the whole family. While this trail isn't rough, it is a proper offroad trail and will test your fortitude with high-altitude shelf roads subject to quick weather changes.

Jeep® Owners: Engineer Pass Road is a Badge of Honor trail. Visit the Jeep® Badge of Honor mobile app to check in on the trail and earn your official badge.

4.6/5 (93 reviews)

Updated: 07/05/2024

Cinnamon Pass

Open

Lake City, Colorado/

25.03 miles/

About 4 hours

Winding through the spectacular scenery of the San Juan Mountains, Cinnamon Pass is the southern half of the world-renowned Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. This trail, just outside of Lake City, Colorado, showcases ghost towns and mines from the 1880s while providing epic scenic overlooks and stunningly beautiful wildflowers along the drive. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned offroad veteran, this trail will easily have a hypnotizing effect on you, and you will find yourself stopping often to take pictures.

4.9/5 (57 reviews)

Updated: 07/16/2024

Poughkeepsie Gulch

Open

Ouray, Colorado/

3.77 miles/

About 3 hours

Traveled primarily for its technicality rather than its mining history, this 4WD trail has long been considered the hardest in the Ouray, Silverton, and Lake City areas. Although challenging, this jeep trail offers spectacular views along the way as it parallels the Uncompahgre River to its source at the jaw-dropping blue water of Lake Como. Poughkeepsie Gulch is often run for its access to "The Wall," a challenging but optional offshoot to a group of embedded rocks with numerous lines to challenge even built rigs. Camping is also a popular attraction to this trail, as there are several dispersed sites lining the trail in the first few miles. Whether you are here for the thrill or the scenery, this trail will not disappoint.

4.8/5 (79 reviews)

Updated: 07/04/2024

Corkscrew Pass

Corkscrew Pass, located between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado, is one of the more significant four-wheel-drive roads that people from all over the world want to drive, and for good reasons. Most notable is the contrast of colors viewed while driving the trail and the "up-close-to-it" experience in the area. The vibrant rust and reddish mountains contrasted by the dark greens, blues, and bright whites make you want to stop and take it in. There is ample opportunity to find dispersed camping as a basecamp or just a one-night stop while you overland across the San Juan Mountains. All this while giving you a dose of shelf road and switchbacks leading to icy cold glacial ponds filled with Old Man Winter's snow melt. It is perfect for those looking to try shelf roads for the first time and, indeed, anyone who is looking for a stimulating burst of color experience.

4.7/5 (55 reviews)

Updated: 07/04/2024

Hurricane Pass

Hurricane Pass is a unique trail in the San Juan Mountains above the timberline. High alpine animals are frequently spotted, bringing another feature to attract users to this beautiful area. Climbing steeply up the mountain between Hurricane Peak and Brown Mountain, this mildly technical yet intriguing trail is a common addition to form one of the many takes on the Alpine Loop. Combine this trail with County Road 2, California Pass, and either Corkscrew Pass or County Road 10 to create an epic day-long adventure.

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4/5 (1 reviews)

County Road 26

Colorado

County Road 26 is a short out-and-back spur off of County Road 2. The trailhead is relatively hidden in plain sight due to stream rubble, but the road is easily managed by any high-clearance vehicle. It provides four designated camping sites, each able to hold two vehicles, with the largest one at the end able to handle up to four vehicles. The campsites only have a fire ring and no other amenities.

4/5 (1 reviews)

Kendall Mountain

Colorado

South of Silverton lies Kendall Mountain, a 13,000-plus peak casting a shadow over the valley. Kendall Mountain trail winds up the western slope, stopping shy of the jagged, barren peak. Titusville and Kendall Group Mines are found along this narrow shelf road before reaching the radio tower. Once at the tower, park and walk the remainder of the trail, as there is virtually no room to turn a vehicle around at the end. Views of Silverton are quite impressive, especially on a clear day when you can see all of the colorful hills that surround this mountain town. Camping was available in dispersed sites along the first mile or two of the trail. If heights or narrow shelf roads aren't your thing, this may not be the trail for you.

4/5 (1 reviews)

Arrastra Gulch

Colorado

Climbing up its namesake gulch, the Arrastra Gulch offroad trail is a narrow shelf adventure with plenty to see. No significant obstacles block this trail, but its steep grade on a loose talus shelf warrants a confident driver and a vehicle with a low-range transfer case. Cable towers and carts sit above your head, giving a glimpse into the past of how they once transferred the minerals from clear up top in the gulch down into the valley.

4.5/5 (2 reviews)

The Wall - Poughkeepsie Gulch

Colorado

This optional obstacle off of Poughkeepsie Gulch is an absolute backbreaker. Ill-equipped vehicles are often forced to winch or stack rocks to conquer this brutal rock wall. The multiple lines across the face require good suspension articulation. This obstacle can be impossible in wet conditions. Several winch anchors are scattered along the top for those requiring a little help. With a large parking area at the base, this is an excellent opportunity to snag lunch and watch vehicles take on different lines.

4.5/5 (2 reviews)

Mineral Point Townsite

Colorado

Mineral Point Townsite, a short loop just off Mineral Creek, is filled with history. The trail climbs up to remnants of the San Juan Chief and British Queen Mines. The entire area was once a mining hotbed with as many as ten operating mines. At least one spacious campsite is available on this trail and can be accessed by stock 4WD vehicles.