The route is circular, running from the ghost town of animas forks to lake city and return. When tackling the alpine loop trail youre saying goodbye to the paved highway and hello to some of the most rugged country in the colorado rockies. Explore your national forests and grasslands with the new and improved visitor map 2. On the alpine loop, you can camp in american basin east of cinnamon pass summit. The state forest state park is located in the moose viewing capital of colorado and offers abundant. When you move your cursor over national forests, national grasslands, wildernesses, along with a wide variety of other recreation areas, a popup menu will appear with different selections. The alpine scenic loop, part of the uintawasatchcache national forest, features stunning views of mount timpanogos and impressive aspen groves with access to. As part of the rei coop family, were dedicated to making websites and mobile apps that help outdoor enthusiasts connect, share information and get out into the places they love to play. Colorados alpine loop scenic and historic byway has a narrow window in which its snowfree june to september.
When you move your cursor over national forests, national grasslands, wildernesses, along with a wide variety of other recreation areas. The alpine loop trail system is a group of colorado trails comprised of a series of dirt and gravel county roads that ascend high mountain passes that connect the towns of ouray, lake city, silverton, and telluride. Welcome to the online version of our offhighway vehicle trail guide. The alpine scenic loops stretches 20 miles from the mouth of america fork canyon via sr92 to provo.
Includes co trails information for atv and motorcycle use. The alpine loop national back country byway is located northeast of silverton, colorado in san juan and hinsdale counties. The data displayed on these maps is maintained by the u. Alpine loop scenic drive 20mile drive open late maylate oct. Sjma has a participating agreement with the san juan national forest and the bureau of land management tres rios field office to develop educational programs, publications and volunteer projects, as. San juan national forest bureau of land management.
Winter trail map with trails, lifts for winter skiing and riding. The alpine loop national backcountry scenic byway is the true gems of the san. Alpine loop colorado 2020 all you need to know before. Interactive travel map united states forest service. Alpine loop national back country byway colorado alltrails. This 65mile route between lake city, silverton and ouray was first built by miners in the late 1800s for mule wagons hauling equipment and ore across the mountains. These routes are gravel and dirt roads that may not be suitable for all vehicles.
Engineer pass, cinnamon pass, and alpine ohv loop colorado. Turn right north on larimer county road 103 and follow it 6. Alta lakes is a popular dispersed camping area that offers fishing and camping in a spectacular alpine setting. At 11,187 feet, you are at the virtual high point of the grand mesa and have a 360degree panoramic view that spans from the san juan mountain. Located northeast of silverton, colorado in san juan and hinsdale counties, the circular route makes its way from lake city south along co149, to county road 30, which turns west over cinnamon pass to animas forks, and then returns east over engineer pass back to lake city along. We have been asked a number of times where people can find updated information on the status of the alpine loop passes. Includes co trails information for atv and motorcycle use home colorado alpine loop trail map. The alpine scenic loop, part of the uintawasatchcache national forest, features stunning views of mount timpanogos and impressive aspen groves with access to numerous hiking trails and campgrounds including sundance mountain resort, timpanogos cave national monument, and cascade springs. Jan 16, 2020 colorados alpine loop scenic and historic byway has a narrow window in which its snowfree june to september.
The trail climbs easily up the east side of the basin through pine forests, then begins a series of switchbacks. Usda forest service fsgeodata clearinghouse fstopo map products. Animas forks open black bear pass closed bolam pass closed california closed clear lake closed cinnamon pass open to lake city corkscrew pass. The rugged fourwheeldrive trail will take backroad enthusiasts to the heart of the san juan mountains and back to the time when early native americans hunted and gathered their food throughout. Peaks, 6 lakes, 3 waterfalls, 18 mines, 7 scenic overlooks, 4 restrooms, 3 parkingstaging areas, lake city hospital, 2 campgrounds, plus several other pois. But its worth the wait the 65mile scenic drive travels through a surreal landscape of treeless tundra and mountains seemingly.
Varying in steepness, the track climbs quickly past bristlecone pines and wildflowers into the alpine tundra to the summit house. The heights around creede and lake city remain strewn with abandoned mining structures, most of them. Alpine loop national backcountry byway, colorado legends of. Turn left west onto colorado highway 14 and continue for 50. The alpine loop backcountry byway is a rugged 4x4 road that winds through the. Kebler pass that some people chance the financial liability you would incur in the event of any damage, the alpine loop is not. Most scenic byways are located on paved highways, while backcountry byways focus on the outoftheway sights. Jun 03, 2016 we have been asked a number of times where people can find updated information on the status of the alpine loop passes.
The current status of alpine loop passes silverton restaurant. The mining history of the area is readily apparent in the numerous ghost towns and abandoned mining sites the road travels by. There are also two blm campgrounds lower on cinnamon pass road and frequently there is dispersed camping around the grizzly gulch trailhead area. Ouray trail map, ouray co map ouray mountain adventures. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. One side shows the trails for ouray silverton and telluride trails and the opposite side shows lake city trails.
Alpine loop national backcountry byway, colorado legends. The ohv decal allows for crossing state trust land and riding on trails only. Fstopo is the forest service primary base map series 1. The trail is primarily used for bird watching and off road driving. Located northeast of silverton, colorado in san juan and hinsdale counties, the alpine loop back country byway is a premiere visitor destination. Animas forks open black bear pass closed bolam pass closed california closed. Download a pdf of the stay the trail ohv trail guide here. Kelly flats is notorious for heart attack hillan extremely steep and rocky climb. Alpine loop colorado 2020 all you need to know before you. This map has more choices and capabilities than previous colorado map versions. All the important motorized trails in the area together in one spot showing how they connect.
Pristine campsites, crisp mountain air, and peaceful solitude are the order of the day on the alpine loop. Usa national forest topographic maps with trail mileages. Play forever homepage national forest foundation copper environmental foundation play forever initiatives. National park service state of colorado bureau of land management national forest usfs wilderness. Nine unique colorado national forest experiences national. Read more about visit meeker colorado through the seasons. This is state trust land and a permit or ohv decal is required. Us forest service, r2 rocky mountain region colorado hi. All other activities requires a state land recreation permit information. Map the loop rocky mountain national park west side 14oct14. Interactive visitor map forest service visitor map. Alpine ranger san juan mountains, colorado ura ounty. Geotiffs and pdf s can be downloaded from the viewer below. Map includes 30 trails rated easy, moderate and difficult.
Alpine loop colorado all you need to know before you. These roads were originally paths used by native americans crossing the region. At 11,187 feet, you are at the virtual high point of the grand mesa and have a 360degree panoramic view that spans from the san juan mountain range in the south to the bookcliffs and roan cliffs to the northwest. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Backcountry adventure map for colorados rawah wilderness, national. More information on the cinder hills ohv area can be obtained by contacting the coconino national forest, peaks ranger district, 5075 n. Dec 18, 2016 alpine loop atv, jeep trails map, co, colorado vacation directory stay safe and healthy. Alpine loop national back country byway lake city forum. This area has a rich mining history and is in nestled in the midst of some of colorados most. National geographic maps makes the worlds best wall maps, recreation maps, travel maps, atlases and globes for people to explore and understand the world. San juan national forest alpine loop usda forest service. During the 19th century, gold and silver miners used this unpaved trail to transport precious metals between the towns of ouray, lake city and silverton. Map lsr and phelps lake trails grand teton national park sep14.
Alpine loop trails, co garmin compatible map gpsfiledepot. Adventurous travelers looking for an offthegrid road trip in colorado can find it on the alpine loop scenic byway. Camping state forest state park offers campers 170 developed sites in five different campgrounds and primitive sites available throughout the park. Check out the sandstone acoustics of red rocks amphitheatre, drive through alpine forests on the scenic lariat loop, and get panoramic views of colorados front range from atop lookout mountain. This interactive map includes all the trail systems from our most recent paper maps. This interactive travel map supplements the corresponding motor vehicle use map mvum by displaying on detailed color maps the national forest system nfs roads, nfs trails, and areas on nfs lands that are designated for motor vehicle use on that mvum, as well as nearby points of interest. Hiking guide easy, moderate, or strenuous bryce canyon map. Alpine loop colorado motorcycle and atv trail map for. Dec 19, 2014 the pikes peak cog railway pike national forest. Hiking access to five of the states highest peaks begins along this route. The trail is primarily used for scenic driving and off road driving and is best used from july until october. More detailed information including maps, photos, trail descriptions, and gps.
It is recommended that you download or print hard copy maps prior to your trip. The alpine loop national backcountry scenic byway is the true gems of the san juan mountains in southwest colorado. But its worth the wait the 65mile scenic drive travels through a surreal landscape of treeless tundra and mountains seemingly splashed with red and yellow paint near ouray, lake city and silverton. The current status of alpine loop passes silverton. The arizona strip, where the west stays wild, is that vast region of arizona north of the colorado river. The 65mile alpine loop backcountry byway winds through the alpine terrain of the san juan. The alpine loop backcountry byway, a network of fourwheel drive roads that connect lake city, ouray, and silverton, traverses passes up to 12,800 feet while showcasing old mines, ghost towns, natural wonders, beautiful wildflowers, and abundant wildlife. Tucked away in the san juan mountains of southwestern colorado is the alpine loop national backcountry byway. G loop trail custer draw trail medicine bo trail medicine bo trail t or ollins montgomer p tr. Telluride, silverton, ouray, lake city national geographic. Its demandingthe two 12,000foot passes cinnamon and engineer require a highclearance 4wheeldrive vehiclebut the wellprepared motorist reaps unparalleled rewards.
Location map state forest state park to granby to ft. Buffalo creek area in pike national forest buffalo creek, colorado 3. Located northeast of silverton, colorado in san juan and hinsdale counties, the circular route makes its way from lake city south along co149. Media in category alpine loop national back country byway the following 34 files are in this category, out of 34 total. The alpine loop was a natural for this recognition and was one of the blms first backcountry byways. Engineer pass, cinnamon pass, and alpine ohv loop is a 63. Sjma was created in 1988 to assist the san juan national forest in providing education and interpretation of public lands in southwest colorado. No, the alpine loop is, for the most part, a four wheel drive, high clearance road and definitely not suitable for rental cars. Regular rental cars prohibit driving offhighway yes, even in their suvs, and although some unpaved roads are well enough maintained i. Collins walden gould cowdry to laramie to steamboat 127 jcr 6e 125 125 14 14. Alpine loop trail colorado co find off road trails.
Current trail map and gps points for ohv riding and camping at alpine loop in colorado. Alpine loop atv, jeep trails map, co, colorado vacation. Map wild basin, rocky mountain national park 16apr14. The alpine loop leaves pavement and people behind, crossing the remote, rugged, spectacular heart of the san juan mountains. Expertly researched and created in partnership with local land management agencies, national geographics trails illustrated map of telluride, silverton, ouray, and lake city provides an unparalleled tool for exploring this breathtaking region of colorado. Alpine loop backcountry scenic byway map colorado vacation. This map adds the final piece to your trail preparation. Silver thread colorado department of transportation. Soak up the scenery and culture of the rocky mountainseven if you have a limited timeon this halfday tour from denver.
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