Silverton Colorado Trip 7/18 - 22

will be in Ouray/Silverton area July 18 - 22. Anyone else going to be there that wants to wheel? I am thinking about doing the Alpine Loop. Any advice welcomed

BTW I will be camping at Molas Lake Campground

 

Was there last month. Where are you staying (EDIT: Nevermind, just re-read above)? There is a wildfire and some things are closed, mostly around Durango.

Alpine loop is very weather and usage dependent. A little rain makes it muddy and the ohvs rut the trails up awful. A little snow will close trails. Weather permitting, the trails are easy, places for stock vehicles or novices are marked on maps at trailheads. We were staying in Ridgway and entered at Red Mountain / corkscrew gulch off 550 between ouray and Silverton. The intent was corkscrew to hurricane to California to engineer, then lake City, then back via cinnamon, eureka, to silverton. Started snowing heavy around california gulch so we cut it short and went straight down to silverton. Trails were closed the following day.

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5286478.pdf

Also look at "U.S. Forest Service - San Juan National Forest" on Facebook and/or Twitter or something. Animas Forks is an interesting ghost town to walk thru. There are some interesting views on 550 between Silverton & Ouray if something prevents you from getting on trails. Box Canyon in Ouray is interesting, but there isn't much in Ouray that you won't find in Silverton.