Silverton/Lake City, CO – Cinnamon Pass route is part of the famous Alpine Loop with Engineer Pass that travels between Silverton and Lake City, Colorado. We have previously written about this route in our driving the 4WD Passes post. During our recent SW Colorado trip, we drove to Silverton from Creede via the Rio Grande Reservoir Road, aka FS 520, with a side trip to Kite Lake. We decided to make our trip a loop by returning via Cinnamon Pass to Lake City and then heading south on CO Highway 149. These are pictures from our most recent trip over Cinnamon Pass.
View while climbing switchbacks after Animas Forks
Cinnamon Pass route is 19.2 miles and rated moderate. The route is mostly easy, but there are some steep rocky sections on the western side of the pass. Both sides of the pass have sections of narrow shelf road which makes passing oncoming vehicles difficult. The route is accessed by turning right after the Animas Forks area, about 12 miles north of Silverton. Steep switchbacks climb quickly out of the valley and up to Cinnamon Pass at 12,640 feet elevation in about 2.2 miles. Along the way watch for marmots and wildflowers.
View nearing Cinnamon Pass
Starting down the east side switchbacks
Steep switchbacks lead down the eastern side of the pass. As you continue east, you will pass and have scenic views of American Basin, Handies Peak, White Cross Mountain, Redcloud Peak, and Sunshine Peak. Side routes lead into American Basin (rated difficult) and Wager Gulch. This is a very scenic route with jaw dropping mountain vistas.
Along Cinnamon Pass route
Stunning mountain vistas are on display
Narrow shelf roads can be found on both sides of the pass
Another view from the route
For information about 4WD routes in Colorado we use Charles A. Wells and Matt Peterson’s “Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel -Drive Trails” to find routes and trip descriptions with valuable waypoint information. During this trip to southwest Colorado, we also drove the following 4WD/High Clearance roads:
- Last Dollar Road between Ouray/Ridgway and Telluride
- Ophir Pass between Ouray/Silverton and Telluride
- Alta Lakes and Gold King Basin near Telluride
- Porphyry Gulch near Ouray/Silverton
- Corkscrew Gulch/Hurricane Pass/California Gulch near Ouray/Silverton
- Placer & Picayune Gulches near Ouray/Silverton
- Rio Grande Reservoir to Stony Pass & Kite Lake near Creede/Lake City and Silverton
We stayed at the Mountain Views at Rivers Edge RV Park & Resort in Creede, Colorado.
