The Alpine Loop Back Country Byway is a rugged
Back Country Byway and
Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway
Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways are highway and backroad routes in the U.S. state of Colorado designated by the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission for their scenic and historic values. These byways follow existing roads or highwa ...
located in the high
San Juan Mountains of
Hindale,
Ouray, and
San Juan counties, Colorado, USA. The byway connects the mountain towns of
Lake City,
Ouray, and
Silverton. The route ranges in elevation from (a mere) in Ouray to at Engineer Pass. The byway features high
mountain pass
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both Human migration, human a ...
es,
alpine tundra
Alpine tundra is a type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation, with an associated alpine climate, harsh climate. As the latitude of a location approaches the poles, the threshold elevation for alp ...
, beautiful
mountain meadows,
ghost towns, and relics of the
silver mining era. While the meadows and tundra are accessible to ordinary passenger vehicles, a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle is required to travel the entire route.
The
Silverton Historic District and the
Shenandoah-Dives (Mayflower) Mill are
National Historic Landmarks. The Alpine Loop connects with the
San Juan Skyway Scenic and Historic Byway at Ouray and Silverton.
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Route
The Alpine Loop is generally considered to begin and end at Lake City. From there the route commonly followed is west over Cinnamon Pass or Engineer Pass to Animas Forks, and then returning east back to Lake City. The clockwise circuit starting with Cinnamon Pass generally puts the vehicle on the inside "lane" of the mountainous portions with the driver on the outside, providing a better view of the relative position of the vehicle and the outer edge of the road at the top of the drop-off.
The counter-clockwise direction is preferable for less powerful 4-wheel drive vehicles that may have a difficult time ascending steep sections on the western portion of Engineer Pass.
Major intersections
Gallery
File:Engineer pass road, CO.jpg, Along the road to Engineer pass
File:Animas Forks shack.jpg, Abandoned building in Animas Forks
Animas Forks is a ghost town located twelve miles (19 km) northeast of Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. At over 11,000 feet, Animas Forks is one of the highest mi ...
, on the Alpine Loop
File:Capitol City, Colo.jpg, Capitol City ghost town
File:California Gulch Rd, Colo.jpg, California Gulch Road, near Animas Forks
Animas Forks is a ghost town located twelve miles (19 km) northeast of Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. At over 11,000 feet, Animas Forks is one of the highest mi ...
File:Alpine Loop National Back Country Byway.JPG, Signs at the start of the road in Lake City
File:My Public Lands Roadtrip- Wilderness along the Alpine Loop in Colorado (19785510201).jpg, Colorado blue columbine along the Alpine Loop
File:Ouray, Colorado.JPG, Ouray
File:Hinsdale County Court House.JPG, The Hinsdale County Court House in Lake City
File:Silverton Stage.JPG, A stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
in Silverton
See also
*
History Colorado
*
List of scenic byways in Colorado
*
Scenic byways in the United States
Notes
References
External links
America's Scenic Byways: ColoradoBureau of Land Management Back Country Byways
BLM Alpine Loop websiteColorado Department of Transportation
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways Commission
*
Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways
Colorado Travel MapColorado Tourism OfficeHistory Colorado
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Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways
Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways
Back Country Byways in Colorado
Bureau of Land Management areas in Colorado
San Juan National Forest
San Juan Mountains (Colorado)
Transportation in Colorado
Transportation in Hinsdale County, Colorado
Transportation in Ouray County, Colorado
Transportation in San Juan County, Colorado
Tourist attractions in Colorado
Tourist attractions in Hinsdale County, Colorado
Tourist attractions in Ouray County, Colorado
Tourist attractions in San Juan County, Colorado
U.S. Route 550