Volcanic activity filled the south west region of Colorado before humans walked the planet. These volcanoes filled the area with rich deposits of gold, silver, zinc and other precious materials. In the late 1800s, miners came west to strike it rich from the remnants of the volcanoes. Many of the towns boomed when the railroad brought mobility. However, the towns along the Alpine Loop byway were too high in the mountains to get railroad access. Now, though, the only the skeletons of these mining towns remain. Destroyed by floods, harsh winters, or being mined dry, the towns did not endure, but the scenery still survives. The Alpine Loop covers 65 miles of roads between the towns of Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton. Depending on winter snows, the Loop opens in late May or early June and closes in late October. Give 1-2 days to cover all the byway has to offer.

 

Be sure to travel either Cinnamon Pass or Engineer Pass. Each pass rises to over 12,000'. From Cinnamon pass, one can view Handies, Redcloud, and Sunshine Peaks, each over 14,000'. On Engineer Pass, Mt. Sneffels at 14,150' and Uncompahgre Peak at 14,309' can be seen. However, to traverse these parts, you will need a 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle such as a Jeep or ATV. If you don't have such a vehicle, you can rent one in the surrounding communities, or go on a 4-wheel drive tour that allows you to sit back and enjoy the scenery.