I'm planning my trip to Cruisers on the Rockies in Silverton in mid July. I previously posted a couple questions about Medano Pass and got some great input. After we do Medano Pass and see the Sand Dunes, I was thinking to head over to the Creede area and explore on our way to Lake City. Maybe check out Last Chance Mine or something. Any thing I shouldn't miss in the Creede area? It seems like there are plenty pf camp grounds and dispersed camping options between Creed and Lake City and winging it a bit (as opposed to reserving a site somewhere) seems like low risk in terms of struggling to find a place to camp. Is that a fair assumption for a weekend in July? Thinking about camping near the Santa Maria Reservoir or on the east end of Stony Pass. Then either go up to Lake City and take Cinnamon to Silverton or maybe Stony Pass to Silverton. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.
July overlanding trip route planning advice request
- Thread starter KCJAZ
- Start date
Cinnamon is one of the most magnificent views I have ever seen.
We stayed near Creede on the Ghost Town Run in 2021:
https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/ghost-town-run-2021.31371/
The run went to Silverton in 2023:
https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/ghost-town-run-2023-july-19th-23rd.33600
We stayed near Creede on the Ghost Town Run in 2021:
https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/ghost-town-run-2021.31371/
The run went to Silverton in 2023:
https://risingsun4x4club.org/xf/threads/ghost-town-run-2023-july-19th-23rd.33600
Last edited:
You could also go a little north after Great San Dunes and cross over via Tin Cup and run down through Gunnison to Lake CIty and over to Silverton via Engineer. Mount Princeton Hot Springs would be a potential rest stop.
I've only passed through Creed a couple times. Not much going on over there. But that is its charm.
I've only passed through Creed a couple times. Not much going on over there. But that is its charm.
Depending on your plans going to/from Ouray, you could also consider Hayden Pass to get between Hwy 50 and the San Luis Valley. Or you could check out the Mears Toll Road (historical toll road) just to the southwest of Salida.
If you want to hang out near Creede, the Wheeler Geologic Area is somewhere around there. And there's a cool drive you can do just north out of Creede and see some mines. The Slumgullion Slide going to Lake City is cool; and then you could either take Engineer Pass or Cinnamon Pass to get over to the Silverton side.
If you want to hang out near Creede, the Wheeler Geologic Area is somewhere around there. And there's a cool drive you can do just north out of Creede and see some mines. The Slumgullion Slide going to Lake City is cool; and then you could either take Engineer Pass or Cinnamon Pass to get over to the Silverton side.
Awesome intel, thanks!
I thought the Mears Toll road was just the first incarnation of the Million Dollar highway... https://westernmininghistory.com/2239/photos-of-the-otto-mears-toll-road/
is there another section of it? you got a link?
The one I am referring to goes between Marshall Pass Road and the Bonanza town site: roads 201 and 869. It's a pretty cool little drive.
Otto Mears Tollroad and Bonanza | Dirt Bike Adventure Rides
The built in the 1870s Otto Mears Toll Road runs between Bonanza and the old townsite of Shirley at the eastern end of Marshall Pass.
advtours.com
Mears built a LOT of toll roads and railroads around CO. All of the Silverton Railroads, and, as noted, the Bonanza-Marshall Pass Toll Road.
Impressive guy.
But looks like a chump compared to E.C. Hawkings. I said it.
Dan
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Probably depends on whether you call Alaska or Colorado home. I'd only argue for Mears because he did a lot with fewer resources to build those mountain routes. Hawkins came later but certainly put in many more miles through inhospitable places. When you have backing of railroads during a gold rush you can use thousands of men to get to the Klondike. Ol' Otto needed to get his wheat from Saguache to Leadville so he "just" built himself a decent road over Poncha Pass. It proved popular so he found himself in the toll road business, the railroads would later acquire and follow that and his road over Marshall Pass and put him to work on new dedicated railroad routes. But the routes, yeah, the 'roads had to bring in narrowgauge equipment just so they could follow them.
https://www.yukon-news.com/letters-...oute-defines-the-origin-of-whitehorse-6989046
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/copper-river-and-northwestern-railway.htm
https://wpyr.com/history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Mears
Last edited:
If you are looking for a national forest campground, which it sounds like an option to you, Bristol Head and North Clear Creek campgrounds are lightly used and should be no problem finding a site. Bristol Head has great views of, well, Bristol Head. Last time I was around Santa Maria Reservoir there was little to no camping, the reservoir was drained down, and a lot of private property.
brisico
New-ish
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 11
Creede is a cool little town with some some good places to eat and drink. Do the full Bachelor Loop north of town into the canyon. You can make that as short or long as you like. I usually go counter clockwise (502 to 503). You can extend by taking a right at the 503 junction. You can extend further by taking the West Willow Creek road to the West Willow Creek Trailhead. if you are so equipped, you can extend yet again and go up Rat Creek Road and loop back that way. Make sure to take the right on Rat Creek up to the summit of a peak that is right on the Wilderness Boundary. Amazing views. The full loop makes for a long day, but worth it in my opinion. If you do the full loop, take a side trip up to the commodore ore bin just inside the canyon on the left branch of the road. You can also then just go straight up that way (503) and loop around. Wheeler Geo Area is also amazing, but is a hike in. I would then take Stony Pass to Silverton since you are already in Creede and leave Silverton by Cinnamon or Engineer back to lake city then overland Road 7788 along Cebolla Creek. Stay on 7788 (right) at the junction at Cathedral then take a left at Old Cochetopa Pass Road. Take another left at 114, which will take you through Poison Gulch canyon to HWY50 or you can take an almost immediate right onto some farm roads (not sure the road designation) over to Doyleville on Hwy 50. If you are still itching for more, go left then immediately right up the back road to Waunita Hot Springs then over old Monarch Pass back to Poncha Springs. Most of the way from Lake City to Monarch Pass are easy gravel roads, but the scenery is fantastic and it is a part of Colorado few people venture to and I think they are missing out in their quest for extreme rock crawling in the San Juans...not that there is anything wrong with that!!
brisico
New-ish
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 11
And I echo what is said above about the Mears road between Shirley (on the Marshal pass road) and Bonanza (201 to 869). Very pretty and Bonanza is fun to Explore. Lots of possible side trips around Bonanza like up onto Whale Hill. With all these suggestions I hope you plan to add a few days to your trip!
For sure! I am now planning on leaving KS one day earlier to give a bit of flexibility for game time audibles. Just need to be in Silverton by the 14th for COTRockies. That will give me 3 full days to get from Walsenburg to Silverton. I’ll also be able to do some more on my way back to the Flatlands. Thanks all for the great info!
brisico
New-ish
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 11
KCJAZ - wish I was going to COTR so I could ask you to bring me a mixed case of BBQ sauce...The stuff you can't get outside of KC. I lived off 87th just down the street from Zarda after college (early 90's so a lot has changed). I miss me some smokestack, joes, gates, woodyard and AB. Don't let anyone tell you differently - Colorado just doesn't have good Q. Passable, and I will absolutely never turn it down, but at best like the average KC or Texas places. Anyone who says otherwise just hasn't been to KC, or Houston/Austin/Lockhart. Sad but true. Maybe it is the altitude...
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
We're lucky to have grown up in the Midwest and know good BBQ. I'm not wading into who's is the best, K.C. is good but I think so was ours in St. Louis. Was lucky to spend a few years in Cape so got a lot of Memphis BBQ. Then the blues trail. And Cajun food up and down the river. That's what I think you guys over in K.C. (St. Louis, too) missed out, the crawfish boils.
Just gotta put up with the floods, humidity, tornadoes and the occasional cicada swarm.
Just gotta put up with the floods, humidity, tornadoes and the occasional cicada swarm.
Last edited:
brisico
New-ish
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 11
Looks like we have the makings of a Midwest posse! Escaping the heat and humidity of summer and dull icy winters for the oasis of Colorado just might be a thing...St. Louis origin for me. Kirkwood High if you're going to ask the STL question. Most under rated food city in the country. Anthony Bourdain style - light on the super fancy and heavy on made with love and years of perfecting a dish diversity. French and Cajun, German, Irish, Portuguese, Italian, Thai, Jewish, Bosnian, and more. Plus of course great soul and comfort food. The Lu is a culinary oasis. I still travel with my stomach because of my upbringing. Throw in great baseball and hockey and there was a lot to overcome, but the weather kills it and Hidden Valley skiing wasn't cutting it either.
Really cool route from Lake City to Hwy 50/Waunita. That's the route the CO BDR and the TAT take through that section. Will have to check those out myself sometime.
brisico
New-ish
- Joined
- May 20, 2025
- Messages
- 11
I am embarrassed to admit, I had to google CO BDR and TAT. I learned about the BDRs and just went deep, deep, deep down that rabbit hole. Wow! How did I not know this existed? I know they are for motorcycles, but great intel on linking together dirt roads to travel a state off pavement. And you can download the routes into GIA. So cool! But haven't been able to figure out what TAT means. Anyone care to enlighten me? I'm under the third rock on the left....
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
TAT = Trans America Trail