Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
Alpine Loop Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Colorado. Within Colorado it covers roughly 65 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Alpine Loop Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Alpine Loop is a rugged backcountry route linking Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray over two passes above 12,000 feet — Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass. The full loop requires a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, threading past well-preserved ghost towns like Animas Forks and abandoned silver mines in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. The high alpine basins fill with wildflowers in midsummer.
- Engineer & Cinnamon passes (12,000+ ft)
- Animas Forks ghost town
- San Juan Mountains
- 4WD high-clearance
- alpine wildflowers
Plan a drive on Alpine Loop Scenic Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
3 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Alpine Loop Scenic Byway.
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