Colorado Trails

Cinnamon Pass

4.6/5 (60 reviews)

Lake City, Colorado (Hinsdale County)

Last Updated: 05/27/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude

Camping

Ghost Town

Iconic

Mine

Overland

Scenic

This trail, just outside of Lake City, CO, is an over 25.5 mile-long trail that when connected with Engineer Pass - Alpine Loop Connector and Engineer Pass makes up the famous Alpine Loop. The two connected is a nearly 60 mile long trail that can make for a sunup to sun down day on the trails in the area. If you are running the Alpine Loop, then you will get onto the Engineer Pass part via the Engineer Pass - Alpine Loop Connector. You can also just connect to Silverton by taking this trail straight through and past the ghost town of Animas Forks. Along the way, you’ll run into ghost towns, mines and scenic overlooks that can make for some spectacular memories and images. Some of these ruins are over 100 years old and in amazing shape for their age. Tread lightly around these treasures. The overlooks are plentiful and while we’ve noted some of them here, you may find yourself stopping often to take pictures. These trails are what is left over of the road system needed for mining in the 1800’s during the gold and silver boom in the San Juan Mountains. The Bureau of Land Management now manages this trail from start to finish and maintains the surface and historical markers that you will see along the way. This trail is relatively easy and for everyone from the beginner to the experienced off-roader. It offers something for everyone along this route. The road is not a very rough surface in most places but it is a true off-road trail and will test your fortitude with shelf roads and some of the inclines. For Jeep owners, there’s a special note here. Jeep has designated some trails as Badge of Honor trails and this is one of the few in Colorado. Its fame means that Jeep will recognize if you ran it and provide you with a badge to put on your rig showing you completed the trail.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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JD Marshall

Official Crew

Trail Navigation

This trail is a 25.5-mile straight connection from Lake City to the ghost town ofAnimas Forks. It’s also one of the starting points for the Alpine Loop. This trail is great for nearly as any high clearance vehicle can make this trail in good conditions. Other than some shelf areas, this trail is relatively easy throughout with no major obstacles to note. You’ll encounter a few rocks in the dirt and the occasional stream crossing as well. This trail travels well above the timberline and much if it is fragile alpine tundra. It’s extremely important that travelers follow the trail and do not deviate from it. The damage one vehicle can do can by going off-trail can take years for the area to recover. Typically, this trail opens in June, however there is no standard date to give out. This trail and area is completely governed by snow and unstable rock in the region. The San Juan Forest Service maintains a list of the trails in the area and what is open to the day. We will update this page as the trail is open or closed seasonally. In summer, it's a good idea to check this page directly for updates that can close the trail in summer for short periods, like rockslides and accidents. Click here for the most up to date information. To run the Alpine Loop in it’s traditional route, start in the town of Lake City. Go south and begin the loop at Cinnamon Pass. When you get to waypoint 20 on Cinnamon Pass, turn right (north) and head uphill towards Engineer Pass. After 2.1 Miles the Engineer Pass - Alpine Loop Connector ends, turn right (east) to pick up Engineer Pass at waypoint 11 back towards Lake City.

1. Trailhead (0 mi)

This is the entrance to the Alpine Loop and Cinnamon Pass if coming from the east and starts on pavement. There a lot of private drives and no part between here and the next waypoint is open. Stay straight all the way through.

2. Intersection with CR 33 (4.1 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 2: Intersection with CR 33

Stay straight (south) at this intersection. On the left (east) is CR 33 and on the right (west) is an unknown and likely private road.

3. ATV Staging Area and Parking Lot (5.2 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 3: ATV Staging Area and Parking Lot

Stay straight (southwest) here unless you’d like to use this chance to air down. This is an ATV staging area and some trails on both sides of the road nearby for them. Watch for ATV and foot traffic in the area.

4. Williams Creek Campground (7 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 4: Williams Creek Campground

Stay straight (southwest) here. On the right (west) is Williams Creek Campground and is a paid camping site. There are some campgrounds on the other side of the road that appear to be unauthorized locations.

5. Intersection with Private Property Roads (8.2 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 5: Intersection with Private Property Roads

Stay straight (south) here, there is private property on both sides of the trail for the next mile or so.

6. Intersection with CR 36 (9.3 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 6: Intersection with CR 36

Stay right (northwest) away from CR 36. CR36 will take you to the Ghost town of Carson, Colorado. One of the more well preserved and less traveled old mining towns in the area.

7. Bathroom and Rest Stop (10.5 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 7: Bathroom and Rest Stop

Stay straight (west) for the trail. On the left (south) is a maintained pit bathroom and if you need to go, you should stop here. The trail is long and bumpy and your bladder will thank you. There is some trail access for ATV’s, foot and horse traffic to the side.

8. Mill Creek Camground (11.1 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 8: Mill Creek Camground

Stay to the right (west) on the trail. On the left (south) is the Mill Creek Campground. This is a paid site.

9. Intersection with Sherman Road (CR 35) and Seasonal Gate (12.3 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 9: Intersection with Sherman Road (CR 35) and Seasonal Gate

Stay right (northwest) and uphill at this split in the road. You will see plenty of signs and you want to go up past the seasonal gate. The road on the left (southwest) is Sherman Road (CR 35).

10. Intersection To Historical Sherman Townsite & Interpretive Site (13.3 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 10: Intersection To Historical Sherman Townsite & Interpretive Site

Stay to the right (northwest) at the Historical Sherman Townsite and Interpretive Site.

11. Mining Ruins, Walking Trails, Bathrooms and Parking Lot (16.6 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 11: Mining Ruins, Walking Trails, Bathrooms and Parking Lot

Stay straight (northwest) through the town here. There are pit toilets available and a parking lot for ATV riders along with some trail entrances. The Silver Creek, Grizzly Gulch Hiking trailheads are here and marked well just beyond the bathrooms.

12. Campsite with a View (16.7 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 12: Campsite with a View

Stay to the left (west) and on the well-traveled trail. This place is noted because it looks like a trail from the main road, but is actually a campsite.

13. Scenic Stop With Informational Sign (17.3 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 13: Scenic Stop With Informational Sign

There is a scenic stop here that includes signs that give information about the area while looking down into the valley behind you. It’s well worth the stop. The Copper Creek walking trail is 0.1 miles ahead as well.

14. Scenic Stop With Informational Sign (18.7 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 14: Scenic Stop With Informational Sign

Stay straight (southwest) here. This is another scenic stop that is marked by a sign from the BLM.

15. Creek Crossing / Waterfall (19.1 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 15: Creek Crossing / Waterfall

While this creek crossing is not that deep it is large and the spring run off can make it deeper and faster. Do not get out in the water here as the rocks are slick and if the water is fast can take you down.

16. Unauthorized/Private Spur (19.4 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 16: Unauthorized/Private Spur

Stay straight (southwest). This appears to be an unauthorized spur or private property that is not well marked and does not appear on maps.

17. Intersection with Unknown Trail (19.9 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 17: Intersection with Unknown Trail

Stay straight (southwest). This is an unnamed spur that does appear on maps but does not appear to have a designation.

18. Intersection with CR 12 (20.4 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 18: Intersection with CR 12

Stay right (southwest) at this intersection with CR 12. You will start climbing here and there are a few switchbacks to negotiate but nothing very tight. About a half-mile after this waypoint there is a rock slab and some steps to be careful on. If you would like to head down CR 12 it will take you towards American Basin area.. It's wildflowers draw photographers from all over in July and August for this show of color above the timberline. You can get an idea of the visual beauty of this area here.

19. Cinnamon Pass Summit (22.7 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 19: Cinnamon Pass Summit

This is the summit of Cinnamon Pass. There is a sign here to indicate where you are and you can see well in both directions from this point. There is often a lot of vehicle traffic here in the morning and early afternoon. Watch for people, vehicles, and marmots! There are a lot of yellow-bellied marmots in the area and they don’t really know to stay away from vehicles and not run across the trail. Take it slow, do not feed the animals, and mind the wildlife in their fragile ecosystem.

20. Alpine Loop Connector & Animas Forks Split (24.7 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 20: Alpine Loop Connector & Animas Forks Split

Stay left (southeast) here to head down to Animas Forks and out towards Silverton. Turn right if you want to complete the Alpine Loop through via Engineer Pass - Alpine Loop Connector & Engineer Pass turn right (northwest).

21. Intersection with Unnamed Road (25 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 21: Intersection with Unnamed Road

Make a sharp right here (northwest). This is the intersection of CR 2 and an unnamed road down to Animas Forks.

22. Trail Ends in Animas Forks at CR 9 (25.5 mi)

Cinnamon Pass - Waypoint 22: Trail Ends in Animas Forks at CR 9

The trail ends in the middle of Animas Forks just over the creek. If you travel into the town there are lots of plaques to give you history on the area. Respect the ruins as they are well preserved and should be kept that way for years to come. There is a parking area where you can congregate and do things like air up if you'd like before taking CR 9 south towards Silverton.

Trail Reviews

4.6/5 (60)

Lisa Downey

900

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/28/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

What a different experience than the typical summertime months we go! Pass opened days before thanks to a lot of hard work plowing these insane drifts!!! Highly recommend but also not for the faint of heart, passing oncoming traffic was more difficult because there isn't much room and the shelf drop off is very close. Ran into few people but those who were out there were courteous and trail etiquette was strong! Started on the Silverton side, made a stop in Animas Forks, super cool seeing it with snow still.

Ryan Boudreau

Official Crew

103400

Open

Visited: 05/27/2023

Trail is now open. All the way through.

Ryan Boudreau

Official Crew

103400

Partially Open

Visited: 05/24/2023

Open to the top on the Silverton side. Lake City side still closed.

Alec

450

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/21/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Snow free and open until waypoint 11, about 16 miles in from hwy 149(lake city side, then there’s a closure gate until snow removal operations are complete.)

JD Marshall

Official Crew

117100

Impassable

Visited: 12/01/2022

This trail travels above the timberline and is considered impassable due to snow until spring. See you next season!

Cinnamon Pass

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

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Concerns:

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Community Consensus

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Trail Navigation

1. Trailhead (0 mi)

2. Intersection with CR 33 (4.1 mi)

3. ATV Staging Area and Parking Lot (5.2 mi)

4. Williams Creek Campground (7 mi)

5. Intersection with Private Property Roads (8.2 mi)

6. Intersection with CR 36 (9.3 mi)

7. Bathroom and Rest Stop (10.5 mi)

8. Mill Creek Camground (11.1 mi)

9. Intersection with Sherman Road (CR 35) and Seasonal Gate (12.3 mi)

10. Intersection To Historical Sherman Townsite & Interpretive Site (13.3 mi)

11. Mining Ruins, Walking Trails, Bathrooms and Parking Lot (16.6 mi)

12. Campsite with a View (16.7 mi)

13. Scenic Stop With Informational Sign (17.3 mi)

14. Scenic Stop With Informational Sign (18.7 mi)

15. Creek Crossing / Waterfall (19.1 mi)

16. Unauthorized/Private Spur (19.4 mi)

17. Intersection with Unknown Trail (19.9 mi)

18. Intersection with CR 12 (20.4 mi)

19. Cinnamon Pass Summit (22.7 mi)

20. Alpine Loop Connector & Animas Forks Split (24.7 mi)

21. Intersection with Unnamed Road (25 mi)

22. Trail Ends in Animas Forks at CR 9 (25.5 mi)

Trail Reviews

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JD Marshall

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