THE ALPINE LOOP Scenic Byway

Story by Kathryn R. Burke
All content © San Juan Publishing Group, Inc, All rights reserved.

Alpine Loop
The Alpine Loop is a Scenic Byway, a special designation noted by signs showing the blue Columbine, Colorado’s state flower. Unlike most byways, this one is a rugged, four-wheel drive route over steep mountain passes, some topping 12,000 feet. The byway follows mining and stage trails laid out more than a century ago, and winds through many ghost towns, past mining relics, cascading waterfalls, fields of alpine wildflowers, and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world! Although generally traveled by jeep or ATV, the byway is also a favorite of high altitude hikers and backpackers, who can access five of Colorado’s “Fourteener” peaks (14,000 feet or more) from connecting trails. Our favorite way to do the Loop is by jeep, going east from Silverton on Engineer, stopping for lunch in Lake City, then returning to Silverton via Cinnamon Pass. It's a full day!
More information: National Scenic Byways - Alpine Loop.

The roads are very rough, but a lot of fun! The best way to see the Loop is to rent a jeep or ATV in Ouray, Silverton, or Lake City. You need high clearance and a short wheelbase for this trek. It gets a bit hairy near the top. (Use the rest room before you start, and take water with you.) Be sure to observe the rules of the road: 1) Safe & Slow; 2) When in doubt, pull over and let the other guy go; 3) Uphill has the right of way (makes sense, once stopped on a steep incline, it is difficult to get going again without a mishap); 4) Stay on designated roads and respect private property; 5) When driving, keep your eyes on the road not the scenery; stop in a pullover, leaving room for others to pass, if you want to look and take pictures. Best of all, go with professional guided tour—guides know all the rules, are comfortable and careful with the equipment, and leave you free to ogle scenery and take photographs

You'll see incredible scenery, lots of wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife. (Watch out for sheep and cattle, too; this is open range country and they do wander onto the road.) Less easy to spot, but there if you look closely, are Big Horn Sheep, wild goats (both white and brown), moose—yes, really, moose!, big cats—mountain lion, bobcat, and lynx), black bears (that are really brown, cinnamon, even blond!), marmots, chipmunks, elk, deer —no, they don't turn into elk in the fall — and all sorts of other critters including hawks, eagles, wild turkeys, even emu. Be careful around all of them. This isn't a zoo. Don't get too close and never try to pet or feed wild animals.

Three towns survive, Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray. Each is unique in its own way, and all three are designated as National Historic Districts. There are also numerous ghost towns, some fairly well preserved, and a multitude of mining relics.

For the complete story on the Alpine Loop, including Travel Information, videos, more...click here!

Photos
Alpine Loop Sign, Engineer Pass © Kathryn R. Burke
White mountain goats above Silverton, Coutesy Silver Summit RV Park, Silverton.