Southwest Colorado  July 1, 2007  

    The Alpine Loop  Back Country Byway is one of the finest examples of   our nation's Back Country Byway system.   There are seventy-five miles of high clearance 4 wheel roads through the beautiful San Juan Mountains.   These road connect the towns of Lake City, Ouray, Telluride, Ophir and Silverton.   These routes follow ancient paths worn by Native Americans who traversed the area.  More recently pioneer miners expanded and improved these paths to accomodate wagons and eventually mechanized equipment.     The remains of these mines still exist and are part of the history of the region.   Maps are available at visitors centers throughout the area.   All vehicles must remain on the designated routes.

       At right are the mining buildings near Animas Forks, just west of and far below the Cinnamon Pass.

     Unlicensed ATV's and motorcycles are allowed on most of the San Juan Alpine Loop.   In most cases they must be trailered before leaving the back country and re-entering improved roads and neighboring towns.

  A weekend teepee camper along the way.

      Still a good deal of snow at these elevations.   There are at least five mountains of over 14,000 feet on the Alpine Loop.    Photographs in the visitors center in Lake City Colorado showed heavy equipment digging out the route through 15 foot snow fields.   The huge payloader was posed in the center of a completed trough with snow looming above the cab on both sices.   The photograph was dated just three weeks prior to our July 1st passage!

     The loop route snakes its way up from Lake City to the high point at Cinnamon Pass.   Streams are nearby most of the way, and waterfalls are seen below the melting snow fields.    The road is very rough in places and perches you and your vehicle on gut wrenching drop offs on several occasions.   The Jeep Cherokee scraped bottom two times in our trip from Lake City to Silverton via Cinnamon Pass.

Streams abound in the alpine terrain as melting snow feeds the gullys, ravines, and canyons.    West of Cinnamon Pass these small waterways combine to form the headwaters of the Animas River.

Left:    A young girl rides back into the historical old west on a beautiful stagecoach in the town of Silverton.

Below:   Views of the mountains east of Route 550 as we head south toward Durango.   These are the West Needle Mountains that hold Snowdon Peak and Twilight Peak, both over 13,000 feet in elevation.    Two Passes are incountered along the way.   Molas Pass and its nearby lake are stunningly beautiful, and Coal Bank Pass is where these photos were taken.