Feedback on Alpine Loop Scenic Byway and Owl Creek Pass and the road to Silver Jack Reservoir.

Hi Folks,

Doing a road trip later this year and have never been on either of these roads/areas. My '12 Tacoma (2012 Sport, double cab long bed with Blistein 5100s) is not lifted and my Summer tires are Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max 265/65/18. There are apparently places along both routes for "4x4 only" and at least one water crossing. My question is for anyone familiar with these roads if they are technically challenging, requiring a lifted and armored 4x4 and if these tires would be okay to use?


Many thanks,

12tac

 

This is my backyard. I just came from skiing above these 4wd roads earlier today. You can drive any of them with a stock Tacoma. They have all been driven by stock Suburbans and old VW beetles. The drivers of large vehicles get a little nervous in spots, but they all make it over the passes.

first freshies of 2016. San Juan Mountains

 

Thank you for the feedback. So no special tires or suspension required for these trails?

 

No. You would be happier with non-street tires, but the jeeps rented to the tourists in Silverton, Ouray, Lake City, etc are all dead stock, mostly 4 doors and they don't have any trouble unless they happen to be there in bad weather. Most of our moisture comes in the Winter, we've had 160" of snow so far this season. We only get a few inches of rain in the Summer, so its pretty much just rocky and steep in places, and often narrow. Even the stream crossings aren't muddy, they are the Rocky Mountains, after all.

 

Owl Creek is a graded road you will have no problems there. As far as Alpine Loop the only thing that would concern me is your street tires, many sharp rocks.

 

Given the terrain any suggestions on appropriate tires for the journey?

 

Any tire that has stronger sidewall, I run BFG AT with no problems.

 

Any tire that is an LT (light truck) rather than a P (passenger car) designation.

 

Yeah I'm not liking the fuel max. Looking into the Cooper ST Maxx but need to decide 16s" or 17s".

 

When do you plan on going? I'm going to be running some trials there during mid June

 

Late June to early July. May have some specific dates when we get closer.

12Tac

 

Can't say enough about Dustin @ FN Wheels. Got the new 16" wheels in and new shoes put on this morning.

 

Damn, we'll miss each other by a week or two. Headed around Jun ~7 till ~12th. I know its a little early in the season and I wont get to do many of the higher trails, but not much I can do about the timing.

 

given the snow pack of this year...keep an eye on http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm for trail openings...they don't "close" but they can be impassable...people usually are good at updating that throughout the spring as people go out exploring trails

ST Maxx would be perfectly fine choice for tire given the terrain down there...

 

Usually, the Alpine Loop, Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Hurricane Pass, Corkscrew Pass, etc are plowed by then. You can check the condition of these on http://silvertoncolorado.com/backcountry-updates/. This is usually the most accurate as they're paying the plows. Ophir Pass gets plowed from the Silverton side, but the Ophir side is up to nature's snow melt schedule.

 

Im looking at going up there maybe second week of July with 3 other trucks.. Maybe a possible overlap? Also, if anyone has input on an itinerary, trails to focus on, and camp location would be greatly appreciated. Hoping to have 3 maybe 4 days in the area.

 

There is free FS camping but that is prime season so might look at my favorite pay campsite down there (Ouray, CO). https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmug/recarea/?recid=32522

Use the hot springs in town for bathing purposes too.