The Alpine Loop Back Country Byway in the northern San Juan Mountains of <br />
Colorado is a spectacular tour of some of North America's most magnificent <br />
scenery. The largely 4WD trail boasts two 12,000+ foot passes, Cinnamon Pass <br />
(12,613ft) and Engineer Pass (12,800ft) and is an epic high country mountain <br />
bike adventure with 7,000ft + of climbing. The route is mainly on well maintained <br />
4WD roads that are well signed. Take plenty of water, food and rain gear since it's <br />
very exposed on top. The Loop itself has rustic facilities including three <br />
campgrounds, a picnic area, and 10 restrooms along the way. The Alpine Loop <br />
was one of BLM's first Scenic Byways. Outside magazine listed the Alpine Loop as <br />
one of the 10 best rides in the country. The loop can be accessed from Ouray, <br />
Silverton or Lake City. The route described starts at Eureka (there is car parking <br />
at the trailhead) which is reached by heading NE out of Silverton about 7 miles on <br />
Co Rd 2. Lake City is also a popular starting point and you can do the loop and <br />
avoid the out and back from Eureka to Animas Forks.
The trail is well marked and signposted. From the car park at the trailhead <br /><br />(+10,000ft) at Eureka head up the trail to Animas Forks. This about a 3.5 mile <br /><br />steady climb on a decent 4WD trail that takes you up to about +11,000 ft. About <br /><br />0.5 miles past Animas Forks you take a right turn following the signs for Cinnamon <br /><br />Pass. From here the trail climbs more steeply over the next 3 miles to the pass <br /><br />(+12,630ft) with a few difficult rock sections. Once at the the pass, enjoy the <br /><br />view as you are surrounded by 14,000+ ft peak!!!. From the pass, the trail <br /><br />descends steeply at first with some rocky sections. After about 2.5 miles the trail <br /><br />splits (CR 12), stay left. From here you ride another easy 7.5 miles or so downhill <br /><br />until you reach Co Rd 30. There are a few turn-offs on the right on the way but <br /><br />just stay left. Turn left on Co Rd 30. Ride about 8 miles on a decent dirt road <br /><br />where the 30 forks left around Lake San Cristabal. Ride around the west side of <br /><br />the lake until you reach the 149 turn left and head into Lake City. You've just <br /><br />completed about 24 miles of downhill with a drop of elevation to around 8,730ft - <br /><br />get ready for the uphill!! At 1st St turn left, after a few hundred yards, fork left <br /><br />onto Co Rd 20. There is now about 20 miles of climbing to get the Engineer Pass <br /><br />(+12,800ft). The road starts off easy so enjoy the first 10 miles as you climb <br /><br />easily (after about 6 miles you pass the turn off to Co Rd 23 on the right). After <br /><br />about 10 miles you reach a junction (Co Rd 24), here you need to take a left turn <br /><br />and continue on Co Rd 20. From here the road starts to climb more steeply with <br /><br />rocky and heavily rutted sections. After about 5 more miles you will reach another <br /><br />junction, stay right on Co Rd 20 and right again after about another mile. Now <br /><br />the real climb begins about 4 miles from Engineer Pass. You grind it out to the <br /><br />pass with a few sections that you may have to hike your bike. At the pass, the <br /><br />road turns to the left and continues to climb (ouch) looping around the side of <br /><br />Engineer Mountain. Enjoy the view, it's SPECTACULAR. Continue to climb <br /><br />another 0.5 mile (+150 ft) and then start to descend. There is a short uphill <br /><br />(downhill all the way after this) and after a mile you come to a junction. Take a <br /><br />right and follow some switchbacks down another mile where you will pass a trail on <br /><br />the right. Go straight on for about 0.5 mile to another junction where you turn <br /><br />left. Carry on for another 2 miles to Animas Forks (passing to trail up to Cinnamon <br /><br />Pass you took earlier after about 1.5 miles). From Animas Forks, take to trail <br /><br />downhill another 3.5 miles to the trailhead and car park.
http://www.singletracks.com/item.php?c=1&i=5571