Advice on trails and camping between Durango and Hwy 70 for upcoming summer trip

Hello TW,

Looking for advice on an upcoming trip for the summer of 2022. I have two weeks and plan to make a run from Durango CO to Lovell WY (near the Morrison Jeep Trail…) via as many beautiful places as I can. I am including the Itinerary for the first section from Durango to Hwy 70 here and asking for advice/input from those who know and have an intimate knowledge of the area. I am going to share on more than one page for more coverage (if okay with Moderators…)


Background:

This will be a solo trip. Yes, I have done such things before (did the Dalton Hwy to Deadhorse solo in 97, Rubicon etc..) Me? 57 year old semi fit high school shop teacher-welding, fabrication, woods etc. Assume I have experience (I do) and enough common sense to know my boundaries (I do.) Also assume that the truck is capable (it also is.) The trip will happen around the first week of August and depends on lots of things like weather and fires in/near the area of the planned route. I am choosing the Durango area because I have been there before and want to explore more and I have a good friend with a cabin off of Hwy 550 just past Purgatory on Cascade Creek that is available as a staging area. Planning to stay one night in the cabin… maybe two and then head north.


Plan:

I am going to do this in sections as not all of my planning resources are here yet. For this instalment I am asking about the section from Durango CO to Hwy 70. Yes, there is a book. Yes I have it. Also have maps. I am looking for local expertise now, and definitely any suggestions that will avoid crowds. I tried to get a primer via TW to save time, but in typically provincial TW fashion I was snubbed and I think mocked… oh well. I will do it twice. Here is the current fantasy: Start with a two day blast from Wisco to Durango and stay at the cabin.

Day one: Looking to complete Engineer and Cinnamon pass-I will take FS 591 across the hwy from Cascade Creek and run up to its union with 550, then up to Silverton. Heading out of Silverton on CR 2 up to Engineer Pass and follow CR 20 to Lake City. Plan to look over the Ute-Ulay mine but any other must see sites would be appreciated.

From Lake City I will take hwy 149 to CR 30 and head up over Cinnamon Pass back to CR 2. From here I head to CR 9 up over California Pass, pick up CR 11 and summit Hurricane Pass on down Corkscrew Pass. Any suggestions for camping up here are appreciated (My FS materials are not here yet and I don’t know what the dispersed camping rules are. Suggestions please.)

Day two:

Early start and head down to 550 with a turn on to CR 31 and the mine loop. This looks fascinating and from what I remember being up there a few years back (with a borrowed Honda Fit…) it is somewhere I want to visit. As I sit here now the plan is to then cross 550 and do Blackbear Pass. Not sure if I need to-I don’t care about the hype; however, it is the shortest route into Telluride and Imogene Pass which I would like to do… Might just extend and go over Ophir Pass and around to Telluride. What says the hive mind? Not spooked by the driving on Blackbear; rather, the crowds...Are there other options (besides just not going there..)? Imogene is next and on to Ouray. Need camping suggestions here.

Day Three:

Leave Ouray and head to Ridgeway. Take CR 10 and head back into the mountains. Rt on CR 8 and over Owl Creek Pass to a Lt on FR 861 and up to Silver Jack Reservoir. Continue on via FR 858 to Hwy 50 and Gunnison CO. Continue on Hwy 130 to FR or CR 130 and up towards Ohio Pass. I need camping recommendations for this area.

Day four:

So this is where I head into (I am guessing) a very populated wilderness, so any options further West are appreciated. I will try and not be around here on a weekend! Next I will head over Ohio Pass to Crested Butte. Here I will follow Hwy 135 to the airport road and bounce over Pearl Pass to Aspen. Heading north on hwy 82 I will turn at Basalt CO and experience Augerman Pass into Leadville. Need camping advice here.

Day five:

From Leadville CO heading north on Hwy 24 I will do the Slide Lake/Wutz Ditch loop all the way back to 24, and then take McAllister Gulch up over Shrine Pass to I 70. Left turn and head to, my current thinking is, Newcastle. I don’t have the FunTreks book for the north section yet, so this is all very malleable. Camping near Newcastle would be a start unless you all think there is a fantastic route up between Vail and Newcastle.


That's it. Part one. I would prefer more dirt to less on this so if you know of something fun that I have missed please pass it along. Also any must see and or do places that are near this routing let me know. I have lots of options and will be doing side trips… with 12+ hours of daylight there is lots of time in a day for driving/hiking/exploring/riding etc. Finally, if you think this plan sucks and know of better routes please feel free to share.

 

@ColoradoTJ

 

What's your build?

My take? Avoid Black Bear Pass if you're not in it 100%. It sucks there's not a quicker way into Telluride. Worst-comes-to-worst, Lizard Head Pass (paved) is super scenic, though you'd probably be going up into Lake City and Gunnison if you choose to avoid this pass.

Do we know if Pearl Pass is navigable again? That trail got rocked by avalanches a couple winters ago. Even before that, it was an all-day venture.

I like your route planning though - you definitely did your research. There's some local intel that I hope you'll get by having posted here.

EDIT: Standard CO Disclaimer: All of your route planning is subject to the winter we have, e.g. snowpack, avalanches, route conditions, etc.

 

Agree with above to probably avoid Black Bear in August. Potential long lines and closures. You can take Ophir from Silverton to Telluride and then Imogene. Also, depending on conditions, downhill on Corkscrew is often more difficult than up. I ski there several times a Winter and it can vary widely by mid-Summer through over-use.

 

That is a great story... Damn! We (wife and I) spent time this summer in the Bighorns and up into the Beartooth's. Camped near trail head for Morrison Jeep trail, but for the sake of our marriage I did not bring her up it. Hoping to run it on this next trip-thus the destination. Bears... glad I didn't know then what I know now, just say'in.

So I looked at 24 near Buena Vista and I need more from you on what to look for. Not sure about it as it seems I am getting closer to people (East...) can you expand on what might be a link with my trip north through that area? I am game just not finding it.

Thanks for tip near Holy Cross City-I will check it out!

All of this is contingent on the stars aligning-healthy, snow free, smoke free etc. etc. Thanks for the input!

 

@pearing @MGM_Grand @ColoradoTJ
No issues on Pearl Pass as of 9/17/2021:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/winkle99-build-thread.511998/page-5#post-26303115

Allocate 4-5 hours to get from Crested Butte to Aspen.

 

Thank you so much for posting! I was just looking at these options... nice, and video too.

 

Up dated plans as of 12/28/21:




Quirk of Google… cannot map routes that are closed in winter so this mess does not show route over engineer pass for start.


Engineer and Cinnamon pass-I will take FS 591 across the hwy from Cascade Creek and run up to its union with 550, then up to Silverton. Heading out of Silverton on CR 2 up to Engineer Pass and follow CR 20 to Lake City. Plan to look over the Ute-Ulay mine

From Lake City take hwy 149 to CR 30 and head up over Cinnamon Pass back to CR 2. From here I head to CR 9 up over California Pass, pick up CR 11 and summit Hurricane Pass on down Corkscrew Pass


Camp near the pass or even on Hurricane pass area


Book I: Area 1: engineer Pass (14), Cinnamon Pass (15), California Gulch (13), Hurricane pass Corkscrew Pass (11)


6:40 per Google Long day!





head down to 550 with a turn on to CR 31 and the mine loop. This looks fascinating and from what I remember being up there a few years back (with a borrowed Honda Fit…) it is somewhere I want to visit. As I sit here now the plan is to then cross 550 and do Blackbear Pass. Not sure if I need to-I don’t care about the hype; however, it is the shortest route into Telluride and Imogene Pass which I would like to do… Might just extend and go over Ophir Pass and around to Telluride. What says the hive mind? Not spooked by the driving on Blackbear; rather, the crowds...Are there other options (besides just not going there..)? Imogene is next and on to Ouray. Need camping suggestions here.


Book I: Area 1: Red Mountain Mining Area (12), Orphir pass (7), Imogene Pass (28)


4:27 probably 2-3 hours more




Leave Ouray and head to Ridgeway. Take CR 10 and head into the mountains. Rt on CR 8 and over Owl Creek Pass to a Lt on FR 861 and up to Silver Jack Reservoir. Continue on via FR 858 to Hwy 50 and Gunnison CO. Continue on Hwy 130 to FR or CR 130 and up towards Ohio Pass. I need camping recommendations for this area.




Crested Butte to Aspen over pearl pass (Google!)


Ohio Pass to Crested Butte. Here I will follow Hwy 135 to the airport road and bounce over Pearl Pass to Aspen. Heading north on hwy 82 I will turn at Basalt CO and experience Hagerman Pass into Leadville. Need camping advice here. Book I: Area 3: 32.(Pearl Pass) Area 5: 54. (Hagerman Pass


If Pearl Pass is not an option because of snow or damage continue down 135 seven miles to cement creek rd over Reno Divide. Avoid FS 642 and do the lower route FS 759. Lt on FS 742 to Taylor Pass. Book I: Area 3: 33, 34 (Reno Divide and Taylor pass) Express creek Rd to FS 102 to Hwy 82 and Aspen.






From Leadville CO heading north on Hwy 24 I will do the Slide Lake/Wutz Ditch loop all the way back to 24, and then take McAllister Gulch up over Shrine Pass to I 70. Left turn and head to Dotsero CO. Book I: Area 5: 52, 51 to 50 out at Vail Pass.

 

I live in the area and your times are not allowing for the crowds. There can be an hour hold up on any or all of those passes most days. We've added rangers to try and mitigate the traffic problems on the Alpine Loop and Blackbear, but since Covid it's crazy. Just so you know to allow enough time.

 

Thanks for that. once I get away from Silverton area I imagine that the crowds will diminish some...