Alpine Loop
Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Carson City
4WD Trails

1998 ALL-4-FUN Week
Silverton, Colorado

by The Flatlander for

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The Alpine Loop connects the ghost town of Animas Forks with Lake City using Cinnamon Pass going in one direction and Engineer Pass going the other.  Our speedometer showed 55 miles including the 8 mile side trip to the ghost town of Carson City.  The trip took over 9 hours even with the good pace our trail leader maintained.  The trip was easy 4-wheeling but 9 hours of bumpy roads will detract from the fun.

ALL 4 FUN trail leader Roger Ryken lead us out of Silverton at 8:30 in the morning.   Sharon drove the 4X4NOW TJ while I took photos and notes.  After about 11 miles in 2WD we came to the fork to Cinnamon Pass just short of and in view of the ghost town of Animas Forks.  We shifted into 4WD low and started up the moderate 4WD trail.

It wasn't long before we had a great view of the Animas River Valley we had just driven through coming from Silverton

The group approaches the crest of Cinnamon Pass a short while later

A view going down the east side of Cinnamon Pass

The ALL 4 FUN trail sign up sheet said Carson City.  But since we were making good time the group decided to continue on to Lake City and finish the Alpine loop via Engineer Pass rather than double back on Cinnamon.  The Carson City ghost town is 4 miles off the Alpine Loop about 15 miles from Animas Forks.  It also made a great lunch stop.

East side of Cinnamon Pass

Old collapsed log cabin in Carson City

The main part of Carson City.

The road is already 2WD by the time the Carson City turn off is reached.  The road on into Lake City gets better and better including some asphalt.  Lake City was a fairly quick 14 miles trip once we got back on the loop after visiting Carson City.

From Lake City to the fork to Engineer Pass was another fairly quick 13 miles of rather scenic 2WD dirt road.  A deluxe log cabin that belonged to Henry David Thoreau can be seen toward the top of Engineer Pass.  There are for sale signs.  The asking price is said to be the better part of half a million dollars.  The home is reached by a gated suspension bridge.  Think of carrying in your groceries over that!

2WD scenery on the way to Engineer Pass

Thoreau home on Engineer Pass.  Note parking area and suspension bridge.

Upper portion of Engineer Pass

The views from the upper portions of Engineer Pass are incredible.  "On a clear day you can see forever." 

Upper portion of Engineer Pass

Lower portion of Engineer Pass on the way into Animas Forks

Animas Forks from near the bottom of Engineer Pass

The Alpine Loop can make for a long bumpy, dusty day.  But don't miss Engineer Pass even if you only go as far as the Thoreau cabin and return.  Exploring the ghost town of Animas Forks can be interesting too.

1998 ALL-4-FUN Index  Page
Yankee Boy Basin & Governor Basin | Alpine Loop - Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Carson City | Camp Fun and Vendor's Show

1996 ALL-4-FUN

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