Alpine Loop

Hover or scrub the chart to place a marker on the map. Hover the route line on the map to move the cursor here.

1. MI 0.0Lake City TrailheadTrailhead8,671 FT

   Fuel, coffee, and the BLM visitor center. Check pass status before rolling.

2. MI 18.3Sherman TownsiteViewpoint10,301 FT

   Foundations of a mining town flattened by the 1900 flood.

3. MI 24.9American BasinViewpoint12,375 FT

   Columbine-filled cirque below Handies Peak. Peak bloom mid-July.

4. MI 27.1Cinnamon PassViewpoint12,464 FT

   12,640 ft. The easier of the loop's two passes. Still check your brakes.

5. MI 28.2Cinnamon Creek CampCampsite11,567 FT

   Dispersed spruce-line sites just below treeline. Cold nights, huge stars.

6. MI 28.6Animas ForksViewpoint11,417 FT

   Colorado's best-preserved ghost town, 11,200 ft. Walk the Duncan House.

7. MI 29.5Silverton Spur: FuelFuel11,235 FT

   The loop's lone fuel: a 12-mile spur down CR 2 to Silverton. Don't skip it if you're under half a tank.

8. MI 33.6Engineer PassViewpoint12,465 FT

   12,800 ft, knife-edge views into five drainages. The shelf off the east side is the loop's spiciest driving.

9. MI 40.1Henson Creek CampCampsite11,700 FT

   Creekside dispersed sites below Capitol City.

10. MI 42.9Capitol CityViewpoint11,042 FT

    One brick post office is all that remains of a would-be state capital.

11. MI 63.0Lake City ExitExit8,700 FT

    Back to pavement on CO-149. Burgers at the wave pool stand.