Alpine Loop and Ouray Area - 7/22 - 7/26/15

Cool thanks for the info guys. And this does look like an awesome journey. Me and a buddy were gonna do some of the trails you did but it was too early in the year. Gonna have to make another trip out there one day

 

Haha, that is funny, never noticed you in the dirt.

What camera did you get?

 

Cannon T5. Trying to learn the fancy camera stuff. It'll take me a bit though. Took this last night playing with longer exposures.

 

If a Sequoia can fit on it, you can.

 

Digging up an old thread! This trip looks amazing! I want to do this one day but I think I would need 4x4 to do it.

 

Cinnamon and engineering I think could be done by a 2wd. I'd be concerned about not having low range and transmission temps though.

I would not attempt any of the other trails we did without 4WD.

Oh, and it's always fun reading this thread again, thanks for bumping it up.

 

The actual Alpine Loop (Engineer and Cinnamon) can be done with 2wd. Ive seen cars go over both sides numerous times, granted a bit more CO pin striping. Most of the trails can be done in 2wd for the most part, but theres a few sections that could need 4wd. I usually drive most in 2wd.

Alpine Loop is my favorite area and I love seeing this thread over and over again.

 

I am going to try and plan a trip for next year! Thinking about going up on the 4th of july. I'm sure it will be busy but would be cool to see an awesome firework show there as well. Maybe i will add an E locker to the truck which would help out quite a bit i would think. I showed my wife this thread and she was amazed by the photos she ready to go!

 

Population of Silverton -700
Population of 4th of July in Silverton - 10000ish

I've been there for the past 4 of 8 fireworks shows and it gets busier every year, but seeing and hearing the fireworks in the canyons is pretty damn cool.

 

Probably worth athe least a one time trip right? Even if it is super busy

 

Not if you come up the Mineral Creek way. And even the southwestern start of Engineer Pass (assuming you come up from Silverton and avoid Mineral Creek) has some pretty rough switchbacks with big rocks before the shelf road. Conditions on these roads change year to year. I wouldn't recommend any but Cinnamon without 4WD.

Also, it is absolutely awful out there in the Summer. Cold, miserable, no sun, not very scenic. Best to stay away.

 

when would you think would be a good time to go then?

 

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sorry that will teach me to be sarcastic. Long standing Colorado joke as we are being overrun by people moving and visiting from elsewhere. The internet hasnt been kind to Colorado as some of the scenic beauty is discovered by others.

Anyhow.....Summer is the only time to visit if you want to wheel...and you want to wait until mid to late July otherwise some of the passes in the San Juans are impassable due to snow blockage. I think they barely got Black Bear open before the FJ Cruiser Summit X. I also wouldnt recommend doing it in a 2 wheel drive. You will be frustrated by all the roads you cant go on. I suppose you can do the easy ones with your 2WD and rent a Jeep in out of Ouray to do the 4WD passes. They also seem to be renting a lot more UTVs etc out of Silverton and Lake City.

 

Definitely worth it. As more vehicles go over them, the worse they get.

 

Awesome trip, would love to be able to make thus trip one day

 

It was definitely an awesome trip, with some amazing views.

 

would this trip be possible without lockers or rocksliders?

 

Yes to both

 

I've done all the trails out there in stock Toyota Tacoma's, RZR, Rhino, and dirt bikes. You will have no problem.

 

Yes you can, good tires and good clearance is needed. Cinnamon pass is open, but still lots of snow up top.