The Alpine Loop is a scenic byway you mostly drive in four-wheel drive

The Alpine Loop is an official Backcountry Byway through the San Juan Mountains, connecting Ouray, Silverton, and Lake City. It is also a state scenic byway, but do not picture a smooth paved drive. The loop climbs over Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass, both near 12,800 feet, and the high portions require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle. A regular car can reach some lower parts but cannot finish the full loop.

This is an all-day trip, not a quick shortcut. The road passes old mines, ghost towns, and wide-open alpine views, and weather at this elevation can turn cold or stormy in any season. The passes are open only in the warmer months and close once snow arrives.

Cell phones and other wireless devices usually do not work along the route, so it helps to download or print a map before you start and to tell someone your plan. Carry water, warm layers, and basic recovery gear, and know that help can be hours away.

Conditions change year to year and within a season. Check the current status, opening dates, and route details with the Bureau of Land Management or the Colorado Department of Transportation byways program before you go.