Stony Pass

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4.7/5 (41 reviews)
Silverton, Colorado (San Juan County)
Last Updated: 09/08/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Situated in the San Juan Mountains near Silverton, Colorado, Stony Pass crosses the Continental Divide and is one of the longest uninterrupted off-road climbs in the entire state. It used to be a major supply route into Silverton from the east until 1882 when the Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad made it obsolete. It became just a road utilized for mining before it was abandoned. The road was reopened as a four-wheel drive route by the US Forest Service in the 1950s. Optional side trips are available that allow you to travel up to the historic Buffalo Boy Tram Station and beyond up to 13,000' in elevation. Wildflowers, alpine views, and mining history make this a trip worth taking.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.7/5 (42)
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/22/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Ran this with a Jeep Jamboree group. We also did the ‘Rocky Gulch Road/Buffalo Boy Tramhouse’ spur. We ran this from Silverton to the top and then back down and over to Hwy 550 via Corkscrew Gulch. Fantastic day, trail is rocky, but not at all technical. The washout section is easy to navigate, but would be a challenge in the ‘wrong’ conditions.
Trail Review: Stony Pass - Matthew Griffin
Trail Review: Stony Pass - Matthew Griffin
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Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/16/2023

Beautiful scenery; would love to come back and camp on the trail. It’s not hard, but it’s very rocky and rough.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/10/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

*DISCLAIMER* This review is more geared towards other Subarus (or similar AWD crossovers) and not dedicated 4x4s. Overall this trail was very scenic. We ran it from west to east and it was really a great trail with TONS of camping options (though it does get busy on the weekends). The initial climb to the summit was very doable, however the trans did get up into around 230 degrees close to the top, so I did take a little break up there to avoid any unnecessary damage. The hardest part for me by far was the rocky downhill between waypoints 11-13. This was a huge challenge for me since my clearance was not up to scratch, especially aired down like I was (around 24 psi). Thankfully I have full armor underneath with skid plates but they definitely took a bit of a beating (so did one of my rims). Overall, a very scenic trail with a few challenging parts for an AWD vehicle without a lift. Definitely would recommend it for the camping, proper dispersed camping away from any city lights.
Trail Review: Stony Pass - Lalo Martinez
Trail Review: Stony Pass - Lalo Martinez
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 09/10/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Giving this a 4 but I’m sure the trail is amazing on the alpine side. We started in silverton. It was sketchy where a power line came over the trail. Did not think I had the clearance. Raptor with tent on bed rack. Also narrow with steep rock face. Someone should measure that line and put in reviews just in case.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/26/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

The pictures and video do not really show this trail correctly. We drove it from east to west. I believe the rating is correct however there are alot more shelf road areas then depicted. There are steep descents between waypoints 11 and 10 and from the summit to the trail to Silverton. There is also a tight shelf hairpin at middle hairpin between waypoints 2 and 1. It is not terribly difficult but some features to be aware of. Check the topo and you will see how fast it descends.

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