San Juan fire help

[tubalubb]

Hey gang
Every three years or so I drive from Mississippi to the Weminuche Wilderness outside Durango and hike for several days. Last time we’d hoped to drive into the wilderness on one of the many off-road access trails but didn’t have a rig to do it in. Well this year is the first time I’ve had the kids for this trip post ugly divorce and have really boogied getting the 80 ready with some help from our great mud members. This post was originally meant to ask which trail in the vicinity: (stony, bear town, timber hill near Silverton) (even possibly Imogene, black bear pass) with the ultimate goal of driving in, getting some great off-road scenery and driving, then park in the wilderness and hike/camp several days either on a loop trail or set a base for day hikes.
Then I got news they got a fire going on and have shut down San Juan Natl Forest.
Is anyone familiar with the general vicinity enough to advise on trails that would work if a fire weren’t happening (hoping it rains and reopens, weminuche is my special place) and also perhaps a backup option? This is a 26 hour drive and a huge effort getting the truck ready so I would hate to get there only to find Wally World is closed.
Appreciate the guidance.
Tub

 

[Trapper50cal]

The 416 Fire (That's what they decided to call it) is up over 22,000 acres now...San Juan National Forest, in it's entirety, has been closed for the first time ever. Highway 550 (the main highway from Durango to Silverton) has been closed. Train operation has been suspended. The fire is around 10% contained.

I wouldn't count on this weekend's forecasted rain to drastically change any of those realties.

Wally World is going to be closed for a while. The 550 being closed really removes most access to
anything in the area and further closures may occur as the fire grows west and north.

I would look into going to Moab. Arches and Canyonlands are amazing and are "bucket list"
level destinations.

 

[Trapper50cal]

The Durango Herald – Breaking news and photos from Durango, Colorado

 

[tubalubb]

Thank you. This is unfortunate, we have a lot of history visiting this area and it’s been a rite of passage for the boys.
The map I saw seemed to show Silverton and the areas east and north in the Rio Grande Forest to be ok. We could take Pagosa Springs to Southfork to Creede into the RGF side, see map https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd583247.pdf

What do you think of this? Are there good trail options this area or am I not looking at it correctly?

 

[Trapper50cal]

The problem is the smoke plume....traveling east. I'm not as familiar with the other side of
the Continental Divide...so stuff out of Creede headed towards Silverton may or may not be
open as this stuff progresses.

I would say, in general, looking to get anything done around the edges of the San Juan NF
is a recipe for disappointment if this fire continues to grow...which conditions make it appear
as though it will.

Where you're looking to enter looks fine, the problem is you're looking
to head west directly towards fire activity. I just don't know if that's going
to be a great game plan.

 

[woody]

According to the Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page, the Alpine Loop and backcountry trails are presently open. The San Juan closure is effectively everything SW of Red Mountain Pass and S of Silverton. Ouray is presently not in a closure situation (Uncompahgre Natl Forest)

Obviously, this can change daily. Fire restrictions are in place.

Access wise, come in from the north on Hwy 50. Beautiful drive.

We are headed to Ouray from July 9-22 and are not changing our plans...however, it may be more of a sightseeing/vacation trip with minimal offroading.

Hoping Mother Nature cooperates, but based on how dry it's been, I'm not holding my breath. Keeping the fire crews in my thoughts, don't envy that job.

 

[basfire]

Below is a link to Inciweb. Current fire status

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5822/

 

[Frogprince]

I grew up in that area. While the area around Durango is closed due to the fire. You could look around Echo Basin (Mancos) and the Glade down in Dolores. Both places offer some scenic mountains and some off road opportunities.

Depends on the exact goal of the trip if not there is Moab only a few hours further away.

 

[Trapper50cal]

I may be overcautious in my assessment, I just don't want you to be disappointed after such
a long haul getting here. Definitely a good idea to have a plan B

 

[tubalubb]

I really appreciate al of the input. Here is an update. I spoke with the Creede station. Everything on their end is wide open. They even mentioned the same trail access points: Stoney, bear town, (but I believe these may head toward the 416) and some others I’m not familiar with. Does anyone have experience accessing from Creede? The goal is to drive in on a 4x4 road in my built 80 and then park and hike a loop. May still do the ouray imogene &/or black bear pass. If those trails have a park and hike trail option I’d be amenable to that. Hope my query makes sense.

 

[woody]

From some trusted sources:

Black bear pass is CLOSED
Ophir pass is CLOSED
Portions of engineer and cinnamon are in the CLOSURE AREA
Bullion lake. CLOSED
clear lake CLOSED

Currently OPEN
Maggie gulch
Minnie gulch
Alpine loop

Subject to change, daily

Clear Lake is where my wife and I got married 4 years ago (July) and is a regular stop for us. Hoping we get to continue that tradition this year.

 

[tubalubb]

Thanks Woody
I hope it is open for you. The Creede station guy said they were hopeful that some west coast storm in Mexico would put everything out. Do you have any experience with trails from Creede or do you recommend Maggie, Minnie or any other route?

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

The Stoney Pass trail from Creed is a nice area, affraid the smoke may be a problem though. The Great Sanddunes is a cool place, Medano Pass is worth doing.

 

[tubalubb]

Thank you. Those dunes are impressive. We stopped there last time. I’ll research Medano. I think Stoney will take us toward the fire. I’m hoping to find a decent path to the continental divide and then camp and hike up there. Appreciate all of the input please keep the suggestions coming. Still can’t believe we drove the 40 out there and back a few years ago, that was an adventure.

 

[tubalubb]

That Alpine Loop trail looks incredible! It accesses all of the areas I was trying to get to and my recollection is that it will cross several hiking trails. Surprised it’s still open though, isn’t it in San Juan? Have you driven it? Any pointers?
Thanks tub

 

[JZelnick]

Great news regarding the fire - see the link below

4th Annual 200LCDC Event

 

[tubalubb]

That is great news. We are in Santa Fe this morning headed to lake City. Need a bit of advice. Taking alpine loop to American basin to hike Handies peak. Would like to get over eventually to Imogene. Any suggestions as to the best scenic route to do this? Would you or would you rather just continue to cinnamon back to lake city?