Ouray, Colorado is where we chose to make our base for driving four of Colorado’s 4WD Pass Trails: Engineer, Cinnamon, Ophir & Imogene Passes. These trails provide an opportunity to get out into the mountains of Colorado and offer spectacular views. We drove them in a stock 2014 Grand Cherokee.

If you don’t have a Jeep/SUV or aren’t traveling with it, there are several Jeep rental companies in Ouray: Colorado West Jeeps  and SOA (Switzerland of America) Jeeps. Update: In July 2017, we rented a Jeep Rubicon Unlimited from SOA (Switzerland of  America), while traveling with Mike’s parents. It was a good experience. We were able to pick it up between 6-7pm the evening before using it. We drove the Alpine Loop, which is described below (Engineer and Cinnamon Passes) in the rental Jeep.

The rental Jeep from Switzerland of America at Engineer Pass

We tent camped because we were taking our recently acquired Grand Cherokee and had not yet set it up for flat towing.  There is great RV camping in the area.

We recommend Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells.  His guide book provides excellent descriptions and waypoint information for all of these trails.

Engineer Pass & Cinnamon Pass Loop: creates the FAMOUS “ALPINE LOOP” between Silverton and Lake City  

Both Pass trails are rated Moderate and require 4WD with High Clearance and some experience.

Engineer Pass Trail is almost 21 miles and takes about 3 hours to complete. The high point is 12,800 feet.  The best time of year is mid June-September.  There are many mines and points of historical interest. The east side follows Henson pass which offers places for fishing.  Most of the route is easy, but there are a few narrow, steep sections. Be extra cautious if it is wet.

Cinnamon Pass Trail is 19.2 miles and takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete.  It’s high point is 12,640 feet.  It’s best to complete from early June to September. Most of the trail is easy, but the western side has some steep and rocky places.

Here are some of our pictures from the Engineer/Cinnamon “Alpine Loop”:

Mining structure along the loop

Mining structures in the valley

Alpine Loop & FJ’s

Marmot along the Alpine Loop 2017

Columbine near the Silverton end of the loop

Wild flowers near CInnamon Pass July 2017 (iphone photo)

Mike and his parents at Engineer pass

Ophir Pass (Silverton to Telluride) & Imogene Pass (the second highest drivable pass in Colorado from Telluride to Ouray)

Both Pass trails are rated Moderate and require 4WD with high clearance & some experience.  We made this a loop by driving from Ouray to Silverton to start Ophir Pass.  If you want to try a “Difficult” Trail, Black Bear Pass can be switched for Ophir pass.

Ophir Pass trail is 10 miles. It takes a little over 2 hours to complete. It gets a Moderate rating due to a section of narrow, rocky shelf road on the west side. Highest point is 11,789 feet. Late June to September is recommended.

Imogene Pass is the second highest drivable pass in Colorado (the highest being Mosquito Pass). Imogene Pass Trail is 11.6 miles in length and takes 3-4 hours to complete. It’s high point is 13,114 feet. Best time of year is mid-July to September. The trail is usually blocked by snow until plowed- which is usually in early July. Also a Moderate rated trail with rocky, steep and narrow places. Experienced drivers only. The trail takes you through Tomboy Townsite, once one of the most active mining towns in Colorado.

A marmot seen along our route.

We got caught in some very heavy rains on our way down from Imogene Pass to Ouray. We made it off the trail and onto the road that runs from Yankee Boy Basin down to town. Then we had to wait for quite some time until some heavy equipment was brought from a nearby mine to clear mud/rock slides that had the road closed. Luckily they were not far away and moved debris quickly or we would’ve been camping in our Grand Cherokee.