Colorado Info For Alpine Loop

I will be in Estes Park July 30 - Aug 6, and then camping at Molas Lake Campground Aug 6 - Aug 11. Panning on doing the Alpine Loop, hiking to Ice Lake, etc. Im thinking about renting a RZR for the Alpine Loop for the open air ride, but not sure yet

 

And if anyone wants to do a trail or just drink a beer hit me up, and we can plan it out

 

We might be up there depending on weather, if we do I'll let ya know. Really waiting for Cinnamon to open

 

Is Cinnamon easily done in a 3rd Gen?

 

Most trails can be done in a stock 4x4, Poughkeepsie is the hardest trail in the area which requires a bit more from the vehicle.

 

Good news is the Alpine loop is finally open!!

 

All the full sized pick-ups from Texas on Mineral Creek can make it more interesting than it should be.

 

Lets not confuse this with fully opened. Lots of trails that people associate with the Alpine loop on west side are still closed. For instance, Corkscrew pass is the only open exit to the west (either to Silverton or Ouray) everything else is still reported as closed.

 

Haha I'm sure they get up there and know pretty quick they made a big mistake, but can't turn around.

 

The Alpine Loop is Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass. Corkscrew is not the loop.. ROAD UPDATE!!! The Alpine Loop is fully open! Hinsdale County Road and Bridge finished opening Cinnamon Pass yesterday afternoon! Thanks for all your hard work.

Please remember afternoon thundershowers can affect road conditions. Drive aware!

 

Let me help you

 

Cool, the Alpine Loop is open.. and that's what I said.

 

There is some confusion on the Alpine Loop. One must reach Animas Forks via Hurricane and California from Cement Creek and Silverton. The road from Eureka to Animas Forks is not open and not expected to be any time soon per Louie Girodo, the plow driver. The big news today was that Cinnamon is now open to Lake City from Animas Forks

 

You are correct that Corkscrew isn't considered part of the loop. However, the official scenic byway designation and most maps (including BLM, FS, etc.) consider Mineral Creek and Silverton to Animas Forks to be part of the 'loop' and the connector between Engineer and Cinnamon a cutoff/shortcut/half-loop. Maybe you (and others) don't. It would make sense that if you can do any sort of loop from the Hinsdale side, they'd claim it's 'open'. Particularly since it looks like it was their side of Cinnamon at the top that was the last to be cleared.

 

Lets just get back on topic.... I'm planning on being up there August 3rd if any other folks are also.

 

Just came from there, the roads are so crowded!!! FJ Summit, first week of potential loops, etc,etc....Lines of trailers behind campers struggling up 550 through the paving/painting zones.

 

Any idea how trails will be early November?

 

Damnit

 

Today's "official" word from the Silverton Standard.."Alpine Loop open — but barelySee BRIEFS, Page 5County Road 2 is still blocked at Grouse Gulch; won’t open this summer"

 

2nd week of September was absolutely perfect for me. 75-80 during the day, Mid 50's-lower 60's of a night. (see 2nd post day 3 and 4 here)

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/5k-miles-west-cross-country-pics-video.575256/