Trails in SW CO

Good question - I think it would be an easier drive but I’m not sure it would be better trip - chasing the waterfalls up the mountain coming out of Telluride is a great view to get things started. I’m guessing you won’t see as much of that coming downhill if you go the other way.

The trail is open for two way traffic for the entirety.

 

Good info, thank you.

For now, I think the plan is to take the same route you did. It makes more sense for our trip planning and travel logistics. If I scar up my skids it just means they are doing their job, right?


How I'll look with that first crunch/scrape sound.

 

Great thread, pictures and videos! We just got back from the same area two days ago and loved it. It was our first time in that part of Colorado and didn’t really know what to expect.

Unfortunately, my truck had been having issues after replacing stolen cat converters with aftermarket ones before the trip (OEM cats are on backorder). The thieves had done quite a bit of additional damage, too, including cuts to the fuel line and a big gash to the EVAP purge line. I got the repairs made before we left, but was still somewhat wary after months of chasing down check engine light issues from all the damage. So I got leery when the check engine light came back on several miles into Kennebec Pass. Not wanting to risk breaking down, I turned around and limped back to our motel where I had stupidly left the code scanner. I hope to return someday to finish it. And I never got to do Imogene Pass like I’ve been wanting to do, so maybe next time!

 

Some scenery along Kennebec.

 

Somewhere near the start. It was a fairly easy dirt road up until it started getting a bit rocky a few miles in.

 

More scenery.

 

Cool little drop off, but not as dramatic as on Imogene.

 

I'm considering doing Imogene or Engineer in a stock 2011 Rock Warrior, thoughts?

From what I can tell they both seem very doable. Looking at comments, Ouray to Telluride is the way to go if I was to do Imogene.

Engineer appears to be a bit less technical.

 

IF you want technical, Mineral Creek (Lower Engineer) from Ouray to Engineer is technical but doable. Seen a Ram Rebel with lift beat his shit up on it. Cinnamon from Lake City to Animas Forks is more fun than Engineer excluding Mineral Creek. (Not my video)

 

If you do the Alpine Loop or Cinnamon Pass from Lake City to Animas Forks, Go out California Pass to Corkscrew Gulch. This is my long, boring ass, raw video, I would suggest speeding it up.

 

Wish I would have done Engineer as well.

Regarding direction on Imogene, I don’t think you’ll miss any views going one way or the other, especially if you’re like us and you stop a lot. We saw all the same waterfalls. Maybe I’ll try it the other way next time. If it’s not pouring rain anyway…

 

Well, the plans have been made. My friend, his wife, and I are going to make a trip down to run Imogene on Labor Day weekend. I imagine it's going to be crowded and busy everywhere for the holiday, so we are staying at an AirBnB in Delta Saturday night in order to hit the trail early Sunday.

We still haven't decided if we will do the trip in the Tundra or their 4 door Wrangler. We'll see which will be more comfort for travel and supplies. Of course, I'll be lobbying for the Tundra, but the Wrangler might be better on fuel. Anyone familiar with their economy?

Also, on the note of fuel, the route we are taking will basically be from Baggs, WY down to Delta, and then on to Telluride. Any tips on what towns/cities are going to have friendly pump prices on the Colorado stretch? Regardless of the vehicle we take, we want to keep fuel costs down, so any tips would be appreciated.

Here's a snapshot of the CO portion of route.

 

I would top off the fuel in Ridgeway and just ignore the price.

 

I may have to fuel up before then because of travel in Wyoming. I'm not sure if Baggs will be where I fuel. I guess the info I am asking for is what cities and towns on the route would have the least expensive midgrade or above fuel.

 

I would still top off in Ridgeway just because it's more expensive and crowded in Telluride. Always hit the trail with as much fuel as possible, JIC.

 

Yeah, coming from Texas, I found Colorado gas prices sky high. In fact, everything in Colorado was super expensive compared to where I live in Texas, but I admit I don’t know what prices are like in other surrounding states like Wyoming and Utah, so maybe they’re comparably expensive, too, or it’s just Colorado (or maybe the SW part of Colorado)? Even so, we went there for vacation to enjoy the great scenery so the higher prices were expected and didn’t deter us.

 

For sure, but if Montrose is way cheaper than Ridgway, then I could fill there, and then only have to pay for a top off at the higher price instead of something like a half tank. I just don't know what the high price places are.

 

I fueled up often because I didn’t know where or when I’d be able to next. But yeah maybe you could save $10-15 on a tank if you planned it out well.

from Coloradogasprices.com:

 

Nice. Thank you for that! It looks like I might want to top up in Craig, skip by rifle, and then Delta or Montrose would be good to fill up again. Maybe even take a gas can so I can have cheaper gas with me to go up over the pass.

 

Definitely smart to plan ahead and I agree about hitting the trail with a full tank of fuel. I paid the outrageous price to top off in Telluride since I only needed about 10 gallons get it full. I think it was about $1 more per gallon than surrounding towns.

I was shocked we didn’t burn more fuel on the trail - I think I calculated us at around 7mpg from Telluride over Imogene and Ophir then back to camp in Dolores. That was in 4 low nearly the entire time we were on dirt. That does include the stretches of highway from Ouray to Ophir trailhead (15-20 miles) and approx 50 miles from end of the trail back to Dolores. In all I believe it was approx 70 miles of pavement and 30 miles of trail which means our on trail average was probably between 3-4 mpg.

Regarding fuel prices - it could be worse. The local marina is up to $6/gallon for 89 octane when you can get it for $3.40 10 miles down the road. My gas cans have been put to use this summer but I think it would be more hassle than it’s worth to be hauling gas over the mountain.

 

I figured Telluride would be spendy on fuel. Touristy areas usually are, but I just didn't know how far out that influence would extend. I think you did a bit more trail that we are planning to, because my friend doesn't have as much time off as I do. If I take a fuel can it'd just be a 5 gallon in the bed. At the low estimate of 3 MPG on the trail it'd cover about 15 miles. Once we run up and over we'll be headed back for Wyoming and should be able to refill on the way out as needed.

I'll probably fill the can in Wyoming with some ethanol free fuel. It's a little more money, but the truck seems to like it. Because the fuel cost for the trip into CO and back will be split I will be using the least expensive 87 grade. I don't mind paying for my expensive fuel, but I don't think it's fair to make that decision with somebody else's wallet involved.

 

I just tagged along on Schofields about a month ago to take pictures of my buddy’s tacomas. Fun trail.

I don’t think that the Devil’s Punchbowl section is doable in a Tundra. It was a tight squeeze in a Tacoma. There isn’t much on either side that isn’t doable in something as simple as a Crosstrek though.

 

Got to say thanks for planting this seed. We just booked a cabin for the first week of July next year and plan to spend the 4th in Ouray.

3rd summer visiting the area - trail plan this time is Alpine Loop. Let me know if anyone has more recommendations. So far we’ve done -
Imogene
Ophir
Kennebec
Mineral Creek
California Gulch
Hurricane Pass and
Corkscrew Gulch

Still 50/50 on bringing the sxs along - it’s more of a hassle since they aren’t street legal like they are in AZ.

 

great write up

i just picked up a 2020 1794 TRD OR. it currently has 285/65 R18 on it. stock skid. no leveling kit/lift. i was planning on doing a set of RCI skids but probably won't touch suspension/wheels/tires for a bit. I'd like to do a lot of the San Juan stuff, Alpine Loop, Ophir, Imogene, Hurricane etc. I've seen videos with Subarus and Rav4 doing at least the Alpine Loop. thoughts on the rest of the trails you've done @AZBoatHauler ?

 

From what I’ve done, I’d stay off Mineral Creek with your setup - you might be able to get by with the 33” tires on a lift, but stock height and no sliders would be not a ton of fun through some tough sections.

Imogene I’d say is doable but you WILL hit your hitch and or frame in a couple spots. Imogene should be your goal IMO if you want to maximize the utility of your truck while seeing some of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth. One of my favorite days ever.

California Pass is stunning - you should be able to get there via Corkscrew / Hurricane and might be able to make a loop out going Animas Forks back to Silverton - but research that as I have not done the Animas Forks to Silverton section. The ghost town where all these trails meet is cool and usually packed with side by sides.

Kennebec and Ophir both doable in your rig. Feel free to ask anything I might be able to help with.