Sept 6-11 Alpine Loop

[MarkEva]

This is a reschedule of a fire canceled trip. The Alpine Loop is a high elevation, incredibly scenic multi day drive that's not too hard. It's week days and after Labor Day so it won't be too crowded. We will be driving to a dispersed campsite a little West of Lake City on Sunday and then we will have four days to drive around Including Corkscrew Pass (but not Silverton) and I'll be heading home on Friday. Bring your own food and toilet. There will probably be a fire ban. So bring a propane campfire if you have one (I don't). I am re-doing this old thread instead of starting a new one because it has so much good advice. There is even more in the Members Only Section.

 

[Corbet]

I’d still plan on it being crowded that week despite the reports I’m getting from clients in the Silverton area regarding summer reservations. Fuel prices are taking their toll on those who burn fuel as primary recreation. Heads up it was $6 per gallon in Silverton on Friday.

I’d get an early start to try to get ahead of the initial daily wave, if leaving from a town that day. Lots of spurs to camp in if you want off the main route. Best to find a campsite earlier in the day than late.

Full disclosure, the vast majority of us avoid the Alpine Loop down here. We generally explore the less used spur roads when we wheel in the Alpine Loop vicinity. I’m not trying to discourage you, it’s a cool route but solitude it generally will not deliver. Many do it in a day. That’s a lot of trail to cover in traffic, I don’t recommend that.

 

[Inukshuk]

I've never done it and would love some advice here.

Sounds like a great plan! Alpine loop trips were some of my earliest great Colorado trips. Like Corbet said, many side loops to explore and you will have plenty of time to do it. I led the Alpine Loop Run at FJ Summit a few times - did it all in a day!
Check MVUM for camping. Naturally your rig is minimal footprint so its easy.
Sure, there will be some traffic but most parts have passing room, just not up near the summits.
Pop into Silverton for a meal if you can. Its a tourist trap but still cool.

 

[Corbet]

Currently the best food in Silverton is "Osteria Restaurant and Wine Bar" reservations probably prudent. Otherwise I'm a Golden Block Brewery or Lacey Rose Saloon kind of guy.

 

[nakman]

I do the Alpine Loop every year, Mark. I led it for 8 years or so during the Hundreds in the HIlls events, and I still lead it each year for Cruisers in the Rockies, this year will be #6. Would be glad to tell you about it, where to camp, where to swim, where to poop... hit me up anytime perhaps at an upcoming club event?

my record is 4.5 hours, Silverton to Silverton. Up past the ski area, then Hurricaine, California, Engineer, lunch at Lake San Cristobal, back over Cinnamon, down along the Animas river. Usually it's more like 6-7 hours... doing it in 3 days sounds like a great pace though.

 

[Mag71k5]

If you can include corkscrew pass Into your trip, its totally worth it. Some of the most scenic sights were from corkscrew.

I ran Corkscrew, Hurricane, California then hit Cinnamon. Such a rad place.

 

[MarkEva]

Thanks for the advice (and warnings). I added the route to Corkscrew to my map. Tim, I'd love campsite suggestions, particularly right around Lake City. I'll be at the meeting.

 

[pmccumber]

I’ve been doing some trails on the north side of the La Garitas. There are seemingly endless amount of trails between the wilderness and the road that goes over Los Pinos Pass.

Last year I camped just below Stewart Peak (13,988) over Labor Day and never saw another person or vehicle.

There are roads on the eastern end where you are above treeline for 15 miles and there just aren’t people. There are a couple long remote roads south of Spring Creek Pass and Slumgullion too where I’ve been wondering if I’d end up in a city at some point.

 

[MarkEva]

I was planning to leave this Sunday, but the Gold Mtn fire closure is really close to the Loop and moving towards it. Not only that, smoke predictions for the whole loop are pretty bad at times. Not only that, smoke predictions are pretty bad at times for the entire state. I hate to just stay home. I think I will look at smoke predictions for Glacier and Waterton Parks.

 

[Corbet]

Currently the smoke is blowing away from the Alpine Loop from the Gold Mtn Fire but that could change quickly. Maybe it has since I looked yesterday. Glacier and Waterton are really cool. But it will be crowded and hard to find a campsite without a reservation. Last summer the whole Many Glacier area was closed for construction. Not sure if reopened yet.

 

[MarkEva]

Going felt irresponsible; for me, for my truck, for local law enforcement, for fire fighters. I did decide to go to Glacer next summer and put on my calendar the day I'll need to make reservations.

 

[Corbet]

I ran Cinnamon, Carson, Stoney on Saturday. No sign of smoke at any point in the day.

 

[MarkEva]

Gaia says "go", but I have plans with my brother and nephew this week. I calendared it for Sept 6-12.

 

[GTBradley]

I have plans to do something in the Alpine Loop area over the weekend of Sept 19. I'm going with a friend who owns a large 4x4 pickup. Does anyone have advise for the loop trails done with large vehicles?

 

[pmccumber]

West Cimarron was completely consumed. All the way up to Wetterhorn Pass. It breached Middle Cimarron in places too.

West Cimarron was on my short list of the most beautiful spots in Colorado.