Colorado Advice

I've been there off pavement a bunch (with groups) when I was younger. We have done the Alpine Loop, Engineer, Imogene, Animas, Tin Cup, Alpine Tunnel, Stony Pass, Sand Dunes, Scofield Pass, and several other routes that I can't recall the names of right now.

We are going back this Summer alone (One vehicle). I don't have any preferences as my 13 year old son has never seen any of it. Now that I'm older though... I tend to worry a little more about being way out there alone. Granted... most of those routes I mentioned see a good bit of traffic in the summer.

I like Stony Pass because not many people travel it, it's not terribly hazardous, and it's beautiful. That is on our list. Aside from the ones I mentioned above, can anyone recommend some routes that are not packed with JKUs in the summer, that can be relatively safely traversed with a single capable vehicle? Mining relics and big views are a plus!

Thanks

 

When in the summer? Lots of the passes won’t open until mid to late July.

 

First 2 weeks in July. I know it's iffy then. Out of about 10 years going at that same time, Imogene has only been open 3 of those. We'll have a plan a and plan b by then.

Just wanting some different perspectives. Thanks

 

I live in Durango and we are just now getting winter here so your time frame might work out well. I would recommend engineer pass from silverton to ouray. It's sees a lot like of traffic, but it might be one of the best for scenery. I like to do Stoney from silverton to lake city. Then lake city to engineer into Ouray. Those are not hard core and you get to see some awesome country. When you do Stoney make the side trip to kite lake, and also regan lake (camped here twice and had the place to my self after about 5). Just over the top of engineer (on the Ouray side) there are some nice mine ruins and a couple of good camp spots above treeline. If you are camping that whole loop can be broken into some nice shorter sections with camping at a number of lakes and then a finish in Ouray hot springs.

 

Thanks. If I recall, camping is ok anywhere in the back country unless designated otherwise correct?

 

That's correct. Dispersed camping throughout that whole section. In Ouray the camping gets a little trickier just became se of the terrain but you can usually find something.