Alpine Loop - Lake City, CO feedback?

[Fordified1]

Man, that guy had a rough rough day! Thank for the info on the trails! I haven't decided on a starting point just yet, but last time I started on one side of Lake City and then finished the loop on the other side of town. Didn't go through some of the harder trails that time.

Yea he was from Great Britain and in a borrowed truck from a friend who would now need something else to tow his camper home. Saw his wife and daughter walking down the road from the truck very shaken. This was a very easy wide part of the loop. I guess Britt’s aren’t used to wide width vehicles lol.

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[Fordified1]

Black Bear is still closed.

Currently for a rock slide apparently.

 

[userdude]

Yea he was from Great Britain and in a borrowed truck from a friend who would now need something else to tow his camper home. Saw his wife and daughter walking down the road from the truck very shaken. This was a very easy wide part of the loop. I guess Britt’s aren’t used to wide width vehicles lol.

Had a British friend from London that would come to the states periodically and would rent an Escalade, even though he didn't drive in London that much (it's expensive, I was surprised he had a license at all). He thought it was so cool until he backed it into a bollard and caved in the back quarter panel and was SHOCKED, I mean SHOCKED, he was so far away from it!! I suggested a Mini Cooper, he said he'd just start Ubering.

 

[swooshdave]

Drive clock wise around the Loop and you will be on the inside of the drop offs.

It's more fun to drive with passenger on the drop off side so you can see them squirm.

 

[TXRedFE]

Correct. in a few weeks things will settle down. For some reason last week was empty. Maybe Texas schools were back in session?

Yep, we are back in school in Texas now.

 

[TXRedFE]

Currently for a rock slide apparently.

Is there a website you're looking up what trails are open and closed?

 

[TXRedFE]

I did Cinnamon Pass last year in early/mid-June. Engineer Pass was still closed and Cinnamon had just opened.

Bronco didn’t break a sweat. Actually saw several Broncos up there.

Great pics bro! Did you make any suspension upgrades or just change your wheels?

 

[swooshdave]

Great pics bro! Did you make any suspension upgrades or just change your wheels?

Suspension changes? For a Squatch? Nope. Just wheels.

 

[BoverW]

If you want to drive from east to west instead of a loop and avoid Mineral Creek, you can consider:

Lake City --> Engineer Pass --> Cinnamon Pass --> California Pass--> Hurricane Pass--> Corkscrew Gulch.

Mineral Creek is fun to drive, but there is not much to see IMHO.

 

[Fordified1]

Is there a website you're looking up what trails are open and closed?

https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/406/Road-Conditions

https://www.alpineloop.info/

 

[TXRedFE]

If you want to drive from east to west instead of a loop and want to avoid Mineral Creek, you can consider:

Lake City --> Engineer Pass --> Cinnamon Pass --> California Pass--> Hurricane Pass--> Corkscrew Gulch.

Mineral Creek is fun to drive, but there is not much to see IMHO.

Sounds like a good series of trails. Any idea how long this is? Any need for extra fuel?

 

[jzweedyk]

Sounds like a good series of trails. Any idea how long this is? Any need for extra fuel?

How long depends on how fast your drive and the number of stops for pictures and other things. I carry extra fuel, but have never needed it on trails, including the loop.

 

[userdude]

Sounds like a good series of trails. Any idea how long this is? Any need for extra fuel?

The loop itself I think is around 60 miles. I did it totally stock and Mineral Creek lead in and had plenty of gas coming from Ridgway about 15 miles north. I can't recall where/when we got gas, but we also went to Telluride (90m drive around the mountain). Back then I was getting decent gas mileage, FP tune + 91/93 depending on what they had.

I will mention if you're carrying a lot of weight and/or have significantly heavier tires, you're likely to stay in turbo more, which will chew up gas. There are long stretches where you're just kind've cruising, but when you're using the gas this is where you'll see gas mileage drop. I would guess Lake City has a gas station somewhere too (maybe), and Silverton/Ouray are options, depending on the path you take those are halfway if you need to stop.

Regardless, I think you'll be fine.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

FYI-Black Bear Pass is officially closed for the season after the recent rockslides/mudslides a couple weeks back.

Also, I know Imogene Pass has rockslide/mudslide issues as well and is currently closed both Telluride & Ouray sides as well. Unknown repair & reopening date, but looks like repairs could run into September.

 

[SoDak1623]

I did the alpine loop last year in July in my 2 door badlands manual non squatch. We took mineral creek back to 550 at the end. No issues at all. Mineral creek was a decent challenge for our first time on it, but if you take your time and spot when needed it's nothing too major. Your bronco should be plenty capable for it if you can do your part on the driving.

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