Alpine Loop: Ouray to Silverton

OVERVIEW

The San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado contain some of the most spectacular high-altitude 4x4 trails in North America. The Alpine Loop is a 65-mile backcountry byway that crosses two passes above 12,000 feet, passing through the ruins of Colorado's silver mining era. The towns of Ouray ('Switzerland of America'), Silverton, and Lake City serve as base camps for exploring dozens of additional trails including Imogene Pass, Black Bear Pass, and Ophir Pass. The scenery is genuinely world-class — towering 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks, cascading waterfalls, and alpine tundra carpeted with wildflowers in July and August.