September in Southern Colorado - Stony Pass, Cinnamon Pass, and Trout

[91foxbody]

Cinnamon pass is relatively easy and should not be a problem if you have any off road experience. Go over Cinnamon to Lake City, get an ice cream at the great ice cream store there, then go back to Animas Fork via Engineer pass.

When you get back to Animas Fork go south to Silverton; DO NOT continue on Engineer to highway 550, sometimes called Mineral Creek, for that route is really bad. I mean really, really bad.

I was there just two weeks ago and some of the jeep trails were still closed due to snow, so check with the visitor centers in Ouray or Silverton. At that time California and Hurricane were still closed so I went north from Silverton to Gladstone, then over Corkscrew; on the Corkscrew route there were cuts through snow banks the walls of snow were over twenty feet above the car.

Other suggestions:
Take a swim in the hot springs pool in Ouray.
Take the short hike to Box Canyon falls in Ouray. They just installed a new extension to the "trail" so you are directly below the falls.
Drive to the top of the falls in Telluride (4X4 only) and see the power plant there.
Ride the free gondola from Telluride to Mountain Village.
Go to Ames, just outside Telluride, and see the first A/C power generating station is the world installed by George Westinghouse and Nikolai Tesla. (used to light the mines in the 1800s).

Another fairly easy 4X4 road is Ophir Pass (my dad was born in Ophir). That has some of the sharpest switch backs in the area, but the drop off beside the road can be intimidating.
Last Dollar road is fairly easy, but still a 4X4.
Brooklyn Mine road is easy with spectacular views.

When you get more time and experience try:
Clear Lake
Imogene (quite difficult)
Yankee Boy Basin (do not go beyond the forest service rest rooms -- very difficult)
Governor Basin

Have fun, but be safe.

Is Engineer going west towards Odom Point (and eventually Ouray) really that bad? I'm probably going to skip Black Bear since I'm not terribly interested in the steps, but everyone else I've seen talk about Engineer say it isn't bad at all.

 

[thatoneguy]

Cinnamon pass is relatively easy and should not be a problem if you have any off road experience. Go over Cinnamon to Lake City, get an ice cream at the great ice cream store there, then go back to Animas Fork via Engineer pass.

When you get back to Animas Fork go south to Silverton; DO NOT continue on Engineer to highway 550, sometimes called Mineral Creek, for that route is really bad. I mean really, really bad.

When you get more time and experience try:
Clear Lake

Have fun, but be safe.

Is there a "better" direction to do the Cinammon/Engineer loop? I was thinking of going clockwise, is counterclockwise better?

Also, is the road up to Clear Lake difficult? It didn't appear very difficult from what I could see online, but I have a good amount of serious offroad experience.

 

[fkheath]

I'm doing a similar route next month. Please tell me about Stony Pass in particular, I've heard nothing about it so far. .

Best way to describe Stony Pass is: Stony. Lots of rocks. Not too difficult if you go slow and take your time. Be careful of the run down mine area just as you start from the Silverton side; when I was last there I picked up a nail from the rotted wood and had a flat. Worst part was it was a Sunday so could not find a place to get a tire repair.

 

[fkheath]

Is Engineer going west towards Odom Point (and eventually Ouray) really that bad? I'm probably going to skip Black Bear since I'm not terribly interested in the steps, but everyone else I've seen talk about Engineer say it isn't bad at all.

Engineer from Animas Forks to Lake City is not bad. The trouble spot is from Animas Forks to Ouray, the top left in this picture: Alpine Loop — Colorado Department of Transportation On some maps, that is labeled as Mineral Creek, not to be confused with South Mineral Creek to the west of Silverton.

That is really bad. Really, really bad. Large rocks (12"), large holes (12 "), thus if you don't have a lift or armor, you will likely have damage.

I have never done Black Bear, but since the Jeep rental places ban you from taking their vehicles there, I don't think you want to do it unless you have a large lift, large tires, etc. You can easily go to the top of Black Bear from the east side, then turn around and go back toward Silverton. The bad part "steps" is on the west side going down hill into Telluride.

 

[comtn4x4]

Definitely appreciate this. I'm an eagle scout so not completely worthless in the wilderness, just don't know the first thing about offroading really.

Would try to get a friend to ride shotgun or else caravan, but might not be an option. Is that necessary or just recommended?

What's the typical solution for emergency comms? Have a Rocky Talkie if that's suitable.

Having another rig with you can make recovery considerably easier especially if you don't have a winch. Or if a vehicle breaks down.

As far as comms go it would have to be something that can get a message out of that area. So in order of preference satellite phone, Garmin in reach, ham radio (If you know what you're doing). However like was said before it's a popular route and probably someone would come along

 

[fkheath]

Is there a "better" direction to do the Cinammon/Engineer loop? I was thinking of going clockwise, is counterclockwise better?

Also, is the road up to Clear Lake difficult? It didn't appear very difficult from what I could see online, but I have a good amount of serious offroad experience.

Really doesn't matter which direction you go. I think Cinnamon is a bit easier than Engineer. I usually start on Cinnamon out of Animas Forks. Both are not bad. Just avoid the short section from Animas Forks to Ouray as I said in above post.

Clear Lake is one of the more difficult routes, but very short compared to the others. If you have experience, you should have no problem. The scenery at Clear Lake is spectacular! That alone is worth the trip.

 

[fkheath]

Our route is Corkscrew/California, Engineer, Cinnamon, over to Silverton, up to Clear Lake and back, then back over Stony Pass, and past the Creede area. Also doing more stuff over by Leadville/Aspen.

That is a lot for one day. I would break it into a couple days if you can. Just Corkscrew, Hurricane, California, Animas Forks, Silverton can take most of a day. Silverton, Animas Forks, Engineer, Lake City, Cinnamon, Animas Forks, Silverton can take most of a day.

California/Hurricane was still snowed in when I was there two weeks ago. Check with the visitor center in Silverton for the status, or the Jeep rental in Ouray (Switzerland of American) shows the status of all the passes on their web site:
Trail Maps & Conditions, Ouray Colorado - Switzerland of America

 

[thatoneguy]

Best way to describe Stony Pass is: Stony. Lots of rocks. Not too difficult if you go slow and take your time. Be careful of the run down mine area just as you start from the Silverton side; when I was last there I picked up a nail from the rotted wood and had a flat. Worst part was it was a Sunday so could not find a place to get a tire repair.

Thanks! Yes, a nail could be a day ruiner. We're wheeling saturday, sunday, and monday in that area, and I have a matching spare, "bacon strips", a can of fix a flat if absolutely necessary. I'm now on stock size SL-rated Wildpeak AT3W's as well.

Really doesn't matter which direction you go. I think Cinnamon is a bit easier than Engineer. I usually start on Cinnamon out of Animas Forks. Both are not bad. Just avoid the short section from Animas Forks to Ouray as I said in above post.

Clear Lake is one of the more difficult routes, but very short compared to the others. If you have experience, you should have no problem. The scenery at Clear Lake is spectacular! That alone is worth the trip.

Thanks! I almost meant that wondering if doing it one direction is more scenic than the other. Good to know on Clear Lake. I want to let my girlfriend get some good offroad driving in when it isn't too hairy, so perhaps I'll make sure I'm in the drivers seat for the Clear Lake out and back. She's wheeled about 20 total miles before and done a solid job, just gotta keep practicing!

That is a lot for one day. I would break it into a couple days if you can. Just Corkscrew, Hurricane, California, Animas Forks, Silverton can take most of a day. Silverton, Animas Forks, Engineer, Lake City, Cinnamon, Animas Forks, Silverton can take most of a day.

California/Hurricane was still snowed in when I was there two weeks ago. Check with the visitor center in Silverton for the status, or the Jeep rental in Ouray (Switzerland of American) shows the status of all the passes on their web site:
Trail Maps & Conditions, Ouray Colorado - Switzerland of America

I should have clarified, we're doing this over three full days. Spending a night in Ouray, a night randomly camping somewhere along the alpine loop, and a night in Silverton, before we then head east over Stony Pass to Great Sand Dunes the following day. Seems like ample time to me. Worst case, Clear Lake gets skipped, but hopefully not. We are also going in mid-late August, 4+ weeks from now, and even with this big snow year I think the trails I've chosen should all be good by then.

I have been to Ouray twice before. The second time, I rented a 2-door base Willy's Sport Wrangler from SOA for the day. With that I did Ouray/Corkscrew/California/Animas Forks/Engineer/Lake City... and then got scared of rental time and actually took the long paved road way back to Ouray. Nothing on that route seemed sketchy to me, but a Wrangler on 33's is also a bit easier to wheel than a 5th gen. That taste left me thirsty for more, so here I am coming back in my new 4Runner!

 

[91foxbody]

Engineer from Animas Forks to Lake City is not bad. The trouble spot is from Animas Forks to Ouray, the top left in this picture: Alpine Loop — Colorado Department of Transportation On some maps, that is labeled as Mineral Creek, not to be confused with South Mineral Creek to the west of Silverton.

That is really bad. Really, really bad. Large rocks (12"), large holes (12 "), thus if you don't have a lift or armor, you will likely have damage.

I have never done Black Bear, but since the Jeep rental places ban you from taking their vehicles there, I don't think you want to do it unless you have a large lift, large tires, etc. You can easily go to the top of Black Bear from the east side, then turn around and go back toward Silverton. The bad part "steps" is on the west side going down hill into Telluride.

Thanks for the info. I’m following someone else’s route and they make no mention of that part being bad. I’ve got a ~2” lift, sliders, and full armor….so I guess we’ll have to check it out to see if we want to go down that way or not.


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[fkheath]

Thanks for the info. I’m following someone else’s route and they make no mention of that part being bad. I’ve got a ~2” lift, sliders, and full armor….so I guess we’ll have to check it out to see if we want to go down that way or not.

I've done that twice. The last time I had a spotter (daughter in law) to keep me away from the really big holes. I did get a good hit on the front OEM TRD skid plate there; ripped off one of the letters so had to get a replacement: Toyota 4Runner (2009-2023) Aftermarket Accessories — Tufskinz.com Glad I had the OEM skid.


Have fun and let us know how you do.

 

[AZ Craig]

Engineer from Animas Forks to Lake City is not bad. The trouble spot is from Animas Forks to Ouray, the top left in this picture: Alpine Loop — Colorado Department of Transportation On some maps, that is labeled as Mineral Creek, not to be confused with South Mineral Creek to the west of Silverton.

That is really bad. Really, really bad. Large rocks (12"), large holes (12 "), thus if you don't have a lift or armor, you will likely have damage.

I have never done Black Bear, but since the Jeep rental places ban you from taking their vehicles there, I don't think you want to do it unless you have a large lift, large tires, etc. You can easily go to the top of Black Bear from the east side, then turn around and go back toward Silverton. The bad part "steps" is on the west side going down hill into Telluride.

I ran Mineral Creek in 2012 with my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon stock (and all of like 2000 miles on it). The trail was tricky and there are some horrendously narrow sections where passing vehicles will be a nightmare. Otherwise it didn't strike me as that horrible though to be honest, but it's possible it's gone down hill in the last ten years (I find UTVs are tearing up a lot of trails out there and making them more difficult than they used to be).

I haven't been down Black Bear in my 4Runner also having done it in my Jeep in 2012. I actually found the steps to be way scarier than the switchbacks (which just required taking yoour time and not doing anything stupid). To this day I remember the fear I felt when we started to slide sideways a bit on them with wet tires before we hooked back up. Trail is amazing though and yes, you can go up to the top of the pass and turn around; one-way traffic begins slightly after that.

If Black Bear is similar to 2012, I wouldn't hesitate to do it in a 4Runner on 32 inch tires, preferably with skids and rock rails for a bit of security. It's a very unforgiving trail though so definitely not for people new to offroad driving.