Traverse City MI to Ouray CO - Engineer, Cinnamon, Hurricane, Ophir and others...

[ElviMcCoy]

My second round tripper this summer to CO in the 60.

I follow Patrick/Bowfin Cruisers on Insta and saw his pics from the SAS. Which got me inspired to head west. After some advice and words of encouragement from Patrick, I packed up and took off. I left Wednesday the 30th and got back last night.

Before I left, I thought I’d try to get as prepared as possible since I was going solo and had never done it before. I bought the book by Charles Wells - Guide to Colorado Backroads and 4-wheel drive trails. And downloaded their app - FunTreks 4x4 Trails. Then I downloaded offline maps of the trails I wanted to hit in that book - then did the same on my google maps for offline. Then I spent a lot of time figuring out everything from good creeks/rivers to fish, to toilet locations on the trails, to recommended disbursed camping locations along the trails and pinned everything in my google off-line maps. I did the same for the ingress and egress points for every trail I wanted to hit.

I made it to Grand Island Nebraska after the first days drive. There is a great little campground on a lake just north of 80 - Mormon Island State Rec Area. The next day I headed straight to Denver. It was going to be cold at night and at higher elevations, so I wanted to buy an anti-condensation mat for my Tepui Ayer and as luck would have it, they had one in stock at the REI in Denver just off the highway. The mat helped a bunch. No condensation issues with the mattress.

I landed in Ouray late the second night and headed to the KOA. I got up before dawn packed up the Tepui and headed out for my first day, My plan was Corkscrew Gulch>Hurricane Pass>California Gulch>Engineer>Cinnamon and then back through Cali/Corkscrew to Ouray. Hadn’t counted on early am ice at Corkscrew and had to improvise. Did not anticipate the last switchback before Hurricane Pass either. There were about 3 points before I hit Cali Gulch where I knew I couldn’t turn around and doubted the 60 would get up and over what was in front of me. Left without much of a choice, I just released the clutch and let the 60 do it’s thing in 4-Lo. Never had to use 4-Lo here in MI. It was an eye-opener. That 60 will climb a tree.

Over the course of the time I spent in Ouray, I hit these runs again as well as Ophir Pass, Last Dollar Road, Alta Lakes, and the Red Mountain Mining Area. I fished the San Miguel on the Telluride side and the South Fork of the Gunnison on the Lake City side. I pretty much just made it up as I went and am looking forward to coming back and hitting some of the other passes with a group next year where I can get some advice/assistance and not have to worry about being solo or mechanical issues.

I think this was Hurricane:

Hurricane:

Last Dollar Road:

Alta Lakes:

 

[ElviMcCoy]

Ophir Pass - west side shelf:

Fall Colors were primo:

San Miguel fly fishing:

Here’s a Quick Story Vid from Fridays second Run on Engineer - horrible edit, but I didn’t have much time
Engineer Pass Video

It was a great time solo - Looking forward to doing it again with some folks from this site.

 

[69LC]

That looks awesome!

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Rainbow or Brook Trout? I see some w/ the rosy red fins here in CT where I hike. Closest ID seem to be Brook which aren’t super common,
Looks like a great trip.

 

[Seth S]

Did you drive up and over from Ouray to Silverton? that highway is a bit of an eye opener on the Ouray side.

 

[mattressking]

Did you do Imogene or Black Bear? Didn't see it listed.

Great trip nonetheless, it's stunning there.

 

[Seth S]

Side note/suggestion. There are a lot of routes that are well documented and provide either GPS files or map kits and involve lots of overland terrain with some dirt roads and try to minimize pavement. Not all are fully accessible by motor vehicles but there is a trans canada trail that the motorcycle community has put together thats pretty well documented:

Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT) | Adventure Motorcycle Travel

The Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT) is not so much a set road, as a set of guidelines for traveling across the whole country. The real purpose of the TCAT is to simply experience Canada as the amazing and diverse country that it is. Plan your ride today >>

adventuremotorcycletravel.com

Also the Transamtrail:

TransAm Trail – with Sam Correro

Sam will be on vacation from April 9 through April 15, 2025. (Shipments will be delayed during that time; GPS orders can be sent as internet connection is received). I thank you for your understanding of the short interruption of receiving your order. Sincerely, TAT Sam Receiving and...

www.transamtrail.com

I did a good portion of the transamtrail back in 2005 on a motorcycle. Its been modified a lot since then and a lot more people have traveled it. But much of it is 4wd-able.

My recollection is that in Colorado the TAT covers Hancock, Cinnamon, California, Tomichi, Ophir ,Imogene, and Engineer....maybe more maybe less.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Silverton

Oops, my mistake, I think it was Silverthorne. I stayed there back in ‘05 for about 6 days. Gorgeous. Hiked Buffalo Mtn a 12,777 but I stopped at prob 10 or 11. I just read it starts at 9k plus. I thought my lungs were going to explode and have a photo of myself looking pretty whipped. I really dug the area tho.
Dillon was a neat place, cool little bar overlooking the lake where the town used to be. I had my first Fat Tire there.

 

[Seth S]

California pass is 13k feet and I did that on the motorcycle. I did Georgia pass a couple years ago on a mountain bike packing trip. By that day my lungs were handling the altitude pretty well.

 

[Gretsch]

For next time if looking for a great place to camp out that way, hit Molas Lake campground. Just outside of Silverton to the South so it maybe a bit out of the way of a lot of the popular attractions, but a lot of the trails are accessible via Animas Forks outside of Silverton. Its one of my faves out that way. Campground is right at 9 - 10K feet but its by far one of the best spots out there IMHO. Reservable spots too. Right off 550 just South of Silverton. Sounds like you had a great trip:

 

[Seth S]

For next time if looking for a great place to camp out that way, hit Molas Lake campground. Just outside of Silverton to the South so it maybe a bit out of the way of a lot of the popular attractions, but a lot of the trails are accessible via Animas Forks outside of Silverton. Its one of my faves out that way. Campground is right at 9 - 10K feet but its by far one of the best spots out there IMHO. Reservable spots too. Right off 550 just South of Silverton. Sounds like you had a great trip:

View attachment 2464622View attachment 2464623View attachment 2464624

We camped on the Ouray side a few years ago off road 16. If heading up the pass its one of the first left turns off the first switchback. Its a dead end road that quickly cimbs above the town and a lot of good places to pull off and primitive camp. My recollection is that there were some nice spots up near the end of that road too.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Rainbow or Brook Trout?

Hard to tell. They are stocking some hybrids such as the "cuttbow" (cutthroat + rainbow).

 

[NMC_EXP]

I just released the clutch and let the 60 do it’s thing in 4-Lo. Never had to use 4-Lo here in MI. It was an eye-opener. That 60 will climb a tree.

As you gain elevation you loose horsepower. With that plus the long steep grades my standard practice on any trail in the mountains that requires 4WD is put it in low range and get it over with.

With my stock drivetrain FJ60 in 4Hi the gearing is either too fast for the rough spots or not enough grunt for the steep places.

Nice trip by the way.

 

[MoaByte]

As you gain elevation you loose horsepower. With that plus the long steep grades my standard practice on any trail in the mountains that requires 4WD is put it in low range and get it over with.

With my stock drivetrain FJ60 in 4Hi the gearing is either too fast for the rough spots or not enough grunt for the steep places.

Nice trip by the way.

I drive those mostly in 2nd low, 1st when it's sketchy or rough. I don't go out there to hurry. I like to be able to pick my line well in advance and enjoy the scenery. This IS the reason to have a Land Cruiser. Easy does it.

 

[NMC_EXP]

I drive those mostly in 2nd low, 1st when it's sketchy or rough. I don't go out there to hurry. I like to be able to pick my line well in advance and enjoy the scenery. This IS the reason to have a Land Cruiser. Easy does it.

Same here. I tiptoe thru the rough stuff in a gear that will keep the speed comfortable and RPMs at around 1,500 to 2,000.

I'm out there to enjoy the backcountry. Not to see how far I can push the vehicle and my limited skill.

I like what the Land Rover driving school teaches: "Go as slow as you can but as fast as you must."

 

[bwesty]

Hard to tell. They are stocking some hybrids such as the "cuttbow" (cutthroat + rainbow).

The Colorado Cutthroat is native to that area and from the picture that certainly appears to be one.

 

[ElviMcCoy]

Rainbow or Brook Trout? I see some w/ the rosy red fins here in CT where I hike. Closest ID seem to be Brook which aren’t super common,
Looks like a great trip. ❤

Cutthroat Trout. I also caught rainbows in that same pool and Brown trout over on the Lake City side on the South Fork of the Gunnison.

But being from MI, I’m partial to brook trout. They are the prettiest fish out there.

 

[ElviMcCoy]

Did you drive up and over from Ouray to Silverton? that highway is a bit of an eye opener on the Ouray side.

the 550/Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton is a gorgeous piece of paved road. It’s on the first part of that YouTube vid I put together and linked. I landed in Ouray the first night and got up before dawn and headed down to Corkscrew Gulch out the south end of Ouray. Those first few switchbacks have a gorgeous view back over the city itself. It really is something else.

 

[ElviMcCoy]

Did you do Imogene or Black Bear? Didn't see it listed.

Great trip nonetheless, it's stunning there.

I was going to run Imogene. Keep in mind, I have no clue what I’m doing, never done it before, and just drove out there thinking I’d camp/fish/4-wheel.

At the end of day one after Corkscrew/Hurricane/Engineer etc, I realized I had totally underestimated the difficulty of these roads and thought it unwise for a rookie to be out wandering around Imogene and Black Bear..... so, I decided to wait till my next trip out - maybe SAS #5? - and run those more difficult passes with some solid axle friends who could help make sure I get through.

 

[Gretsch]

At the end of day one after Corkscrew/Hurricane/Engineer etc, I realized I had totally underestimated the difficulty of these roads and thought it unwise for a rookie to be out wandering around Imogene and Black Bear..... so, I decided to wait till my next trip out - maybe SAS #5? - and run those more difficult passes with some solid axle friends who could help make sure I get through.

Personally, Imogene is my favorite trip out there. Similar to the trails quoted above. Has just enough challenge and adventure while not pushing you beyond your capabilities. But good on you for waiting on friends. No reason to invite trouble. This late in the year the weather can be unpredictable. Went over Imogene in early July once after they had just plowed it open. Found plenty of ice on the trail. That will get your blood flowing. SAS group is great folks. Depending on COVID status, I plan to make it out there myself next year. Jealous of your trip. Thanks for sharing.