Familiar with Alpine Loop?
 

ANyone familiar with the Alpine Loop in Lake City? I've already got one post here but I found this great 4WD road on a AAA map that may take us from Silverton to Lake City. We're taking a 6 cyl. explorer. No, I have never driven off road. But I'm game! The little info I've found says 2WD can make it except for the very center. Does anyone know how easy it is? Thanks!

hi, take a look at www.narrowgauge.org they have a good map of the area you are interested in. as well as good descriptions of the trails. while i support your adventurous spirit, i would caution that if you have never driven off road, you should, at the very least find a local person and ask them if the loop is a difficult jeep trail or not. some jeep trails are easily drivable other require acquired skill. (not knowing where your wheels and center of gravity are could mean life or death or at the very least leave you in need of a winch/other vehicles to get you unstuck) and if the info you have says 4wd if required it definetly will be. if the loop is not for you there will surely be several that are!! take plenty of water and snacks. stop, get out often and use your binoculars. you never know when you might wee a heard of elk on the next ridge over.. poke around the old mine frames. have a great time.

You definitely need to check with local experts before taking off down the trails. We talked to someone last year who didn't and they got into some serious 4WD areas. Even though they had 4WD and some experience, they said it was scary and wished they hadn't done it--it wasn't enjoyable in those conditions.

Every summer, people have rolled off the trails getting in over their heads--they don't usually survive it.

There are plenty of trails that are not 4WD and not scary but you need to find out exactly where you should and shouldn't go with your equipment and experience.

Please this seriously--it isn't a lark.

Thanks for the comments. Believe me I am taking it seriously - I've been in the Rockies before, although not 4wheeling and I totally respect what you're saying. We'll probably opt for a jeep tour if we go at all, I was just kinda hoping someone would say," Nah, it's not that bad." ;-).

There definitely are roads that aren't that bad. Just be sure you know which ones to avoid.

Either renting a Jeep or taking a Jeep tour definitely gets you into some awesome scenery that you can't get to by 2WD. I highly recommend it. We've used Switzerland of America twice and are always happy with their vehicles and professionalism.

Pay the extra money for the tour. We live in Colorado and have done the Alpine Loop a few times in our old small jeep. Engineer Pass out of Ouray is much rougher than Cinnamon Pass out of Silverton. After we do Engineer Pass I literally have bruises on my thighs where the bumps have caused me to hit the door. Wonderful trip, great scenery, no place for novices.

Hey thanks everyone. We're definitely taking a tour. I appreciate all the info.

You will need a high clearance vehicle and 4 wheel drive, or all wheel drive, adds to the stability and traction.

I tried some of that road in a standard Ford and came out luckily with only a dented gas tank. I learned from that attempt to get the right vehicle for those roads.

Heavy rains or snow melt can rut those roads something awful.

GJLinda - Is Cinnamon Pass OK with an SUV 4wd? We would like to do Lake City to Silverton (do you go by Animas Forks this way?). My husband can handle 4wd, and even did some trail riding on a course with his friend's Hummer, but he doesn't any rough Colorado driving experience.

We bought the book "4WD Trails: Southwest Colorado," by Peter Massey and Jeanne Wilson. It was an excellent guide to 4wd trails in the area, with a description of each one and a difficulty rating. It was a great way to know what you are getting into, and it also provided some history and description of what you were seeing. We bought it in Ouray, but I think it's available on-line.

Karens.

I think Cinnamon would be o.k. for you in a 4WD SUV. It is quite a bit less harrowing than Engineer and the scenery is still beautiful. Don't know where you live or when your trip is planned, but there are several good 4WD books about Colorado and we like the Colorado Pass Book(I think that is the name) too.

Engineer Pass is pretty hairy; I wouldn't do it unless you are experienced (and it's one way with steep and far drops on the way up to the pass). However, the drive to the pass from Lake City is really very beautiful, if you can avoid having to back uphill (!) as you go downhill to let uphill drivers have the right of way.

Just an FYI of some info I discovered. In the Colorado visitor's guide there's a whole spread on historic byways. The West Elk Loop byway from Crested Butte is gravel. I emailed the CO Dept. of Transp. and they told me that while it is not paved it is a highly maintained gravel road. Graded and even treated to keep dust levels down. An alternative for those of us who want the off road experience without denting gas tanks?

I wouldn't compare West Elk Loop with the Jeeping roads. The Jeep roads take you up and over the mountains, above the tree lines with great views. West Elk was more of a country drive through the forest. It was nice but not something I encourage anyone to do. There's so much better roads to spend your time on.

Deeaugust,

Please don't let all these people scare you off of Cinnamon Pass from Silverton to Lake City. It is NOT like Engineer Pass. While it does require high clearance vehicles and 4 wheel drive it isn't a hairy jeep trail compared to Engineer or others. Use a dose of common sense and don't go over it in bad weather and you will be fine and enjoy yourself.

The West Elk Loop over Kebler Pass is an all weather dirt road closed in winter. On the average summer weekend you will find it clogged by motorhomes and dust. It is pretty but it is not in the same class as the San Juan Mountains. You can reach some very beautiful areas like Oh-Be-Joyful from Crested Butte. The rest of the West Elk loop is rather boring compared to other choices you can make.

Take er easy,

Beanman