How did Engineer Pass get its name?

The Russian born engineer Otto Mears famous for his construction of the Million Dollar Highway connecting Silverton to Ouray is also credited for building the road known as Engineer Pass.

How do you get an Engineer Pass?

The quickest way to reach Engineer Pass is via CO Highway 550, a few miles south of Ouray, Colorado. Engineer pass road is a rough, dirt and rock road mainly used by Jeeps and offroad vehicles. Seasonality – Engineer Pass Road is extremely dangerous in winter.

How hard is Engineer Pass?

Explore this 20.5-mile point-to-point trail near Ouray, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 59 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, fishing, and off-road driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

Where is Engineer Pass?

Engineer Pass makes the list as one of the most exciting, rugged and highest mountain passes in Colorado. Located in the San Juan Mountains between Ouray and Silverton, this trail comprises one half of the well-known Alpine Loop.

Can you camp on Engineer Pass?

Camping: Their are dispersed sites at the very estern end of Engineer Pass near Lake City.

Engineer Pass in Four Minutes

How hard is the Alpine Loop?

Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 35 h 28 min to complete. This is a popular trail for off-road driving and scenic driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are July through October.

What is the Alpine Loop in Colorado?

Alpine Loop Byway – Lake City-Ouray-Silverton

Alpine Loop is a circular route that navigates through the high elevation Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass in the San Juan Mountains. It connects the towns of Silverton and Ouray with Lake City, where it is generally considered to begin (and end).

What is Ouray Colorado known for?

Known as the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray, Colorado is a beautiful mountain town surrounded by rugged canyons and the unparalleled beauty of the San Juan Mountains. Located in Southwestern Colorado, Ouray is famous for its hot springs, outdoor activities, and its historic charming downtown.

What is the highest pass in Colorado?

The Mount Evans Scenic Byway is the highest paved road in Colorado, the United States, and the entire of North America. It stretches for 28 miles and reaches a dizzying height of 14,130 ft.

What's the elevation of Engineer Pass?

At 12,800 feet in elevation, Engineer Pass boasts views of American Flats, Uncompahgre Peak, and on clear days, Utah.

How hard is Cinnamon Pass?

Get to know this 25.8-mile out-and-back trail near Lake City, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 13 h 34 min to complete.

Is Ophir pass one way?

Moderate to Difficult Biking - Spectacular Ophir Pass is six miles one way from Hwy. 145 to top of the pass with a 2,480-foot elevation gain. From Telluride, drive south on Hwy. 145 for 8 miles.

Is Imogene pass one way?

The Imogene Pass Trail is about 14 miles one way and takes about 3 or 4 hours to reach Ouray.

What is the steepest pass in the US?

Slumgullion Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.514m (11,530ft) above the sea level, located in Hinsdale County, in southwestern Colorado, USA.

What is the steepest grade in America?

This record is disputed; Pittsburgh news and international media have claimed Canton Avenue is the steepest street in the world. The United States record is also disputed, as Bradford Street in San Francisco includes a 39% grade nine meters long and Waipio Valley Road has sections as steep as a 45% grade.

What is the scariest pass in Colorado?

Black Bear Pass is notoriously billed as the 'most dangerous' road in Colorado and that's a claim that's hard to argue. Found just outside the town of Telluride, Black Bear Pass includes a one-way downhill-only stretch of narrow and exposed switchbacks.

Why is Ouray called the Switzerland of America?

Ouray is known as the “Switzerland of America” because of the high mountains rising on three and a half sides of town. It sits at 7,792 feet in the heart of the San Juan Mountains off of Highway 550. The town of 1,034 people was named after Chief Ouray of the Ute Indians, a native tribe to the area.

How did Ouray get its name?

Ouray (1833–80), whose name means “Arrow” in the Ute language, was a leader of the Tabeguache (Uncompahgre) band of Ute Indians in Colorado during the late nineteenth century.

Why is it called Million Dollar Highway?

The canyon-clinging stretch of spectacular roadway between Silverton, Durango and Ouray is called “The Million Dollar Highway” either because it cost so much to build, the amount of gold ore that remained in the roadway's fill or the figurative price for those amazing San Juan Mountain views.

Is Cinnamon Pass Open 2021?

CINNAMON PASS is now open.

Can you camp on the Alpine Loop Colorado?

Alpine Loop Camping

As mentioned above, the cities along the way generally offer some options in the way of RV-friendly camping accommodations, including a KOA in Ouray and two different RV resorts in Silverton — one to the north and one on the south end of town.

Where is the San Juan Skyway?

The San Juan Skyway is an All-American Road and a component in the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway System. It forms a 233.0-mile loop in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Colorado traversing the heart of the San Juan Mountains.

Can you do the Alpine Loop in one day?

Is it possible to drive the Alpine Loop on a one-day itinerary? Yes, it is. Alan and I enjoyed this scenic drive on trip to southwestern Colorado. The Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains introduces off-roaders to high-country scenery and Colorado mining history.

How many miles is Alpine Loop Colorado?

Colorado's Alpine Loop Scenic and Historic Byway has a narrow window in which it's snow-free (June to September). But it's worth the wait — the 65-mile scenic drive travels through a surreal landscape of treeless tundra and mountains seemingly splashed with red and yellow paint near Ouray, Lake City and Silverton.