TELLURIDE 2026

The classic Telluride warm-up — a mostly-gravel road winding from Ridgway through golden aspen meadows and ranch country into Telluride. No technical obstacles, just postcard scenery the entire way: 14,000-ft peaks, fall color (in season), and the Mount Sneffels range. Featured in countless films and a perfect first run for any rig.

A high San Juan crossing linking Telluride and Silverton over an 11,789-ft summit. The route climbs out of the Ophir townsite through evergreen forest, then breaks above treeline onto a rocky shelf road carved across talus slopes. The east side (descending toward Silverton) is the narrowest section — single-lane with limited pullouts and downhill traffic generally yields. One of the more scenic and accessible high passes in the region.

Colorado's second-highest drivable pass at 13,114 ft, connecting Telluride to Ouray over the Sneffels Range. The Telluride side climbs past Tomboy ghost town through old mining country; the Ouray side drops past the Camp Bird mine into Yankee Boy Basin. Narrow, rocky, and exposed near the summit — switchbacks tighten significantly near the top and traffic management above treeline can be tricky. A bucket-list run, but not where you want to learn the rig.

The most photographed (and most infamous) trail in Colorado. From US-550 at the top of Red Mountain Pass, Black Bear climbs to 12,840 ft, drops into the Ingram Basin above Bridal Veil Falls, then descends a series of single-vehicle, one-way switchbacks so tight that most full-size trucks require multi-point turns to navigate them. Stunning beyond description — but the switchback section is genuinely the technical limit for a Cybertruck's wheelbase and width. Plan to inspect on foot before committing, and have a turnaround plan if the rig won't fit.

The eastern crown of the Alpine Loop, crossing 12,800 ft between Lake City and the Animas River valley. The west side drops past Whitmore Falls and through Engineer Mountain's alpine bowls. The Ouray side (off the Mineral Creek spur) is markedly more difficult — narrow shelf road with serious exposure, often the technical highlight of the Loop. Connect Engineer + Cinnamon for the classic figure-eight Alpine Loop day.

The mellower southern half of the Alpine Loop, topping out at 12,640 ft. The route follows the Lake Fork of the Gunnison through Sherman ghost town and the American Basin (one of Colorado's most photographed wildflower meadows in July), then climbs to the summit before dropping into Animas Forks. Wide, well-graded, and friendly to a wide range of rigs — the perfect counterpart to Engineer's more technical west side.

A short, scenic spur off the Alpine Loop connecting Animas Forks to Hurricane Pass and Corkscrew Gulch. The trail climbs past the well-preserved Frisco Mill ruins through high alpine basins above 12,000 ft. Rocky surface, several stair-step ledges, and a few tight pinches near the upper end — generally rated harder than Cinnamon but easier than Black Bear. The connector that makes the full Alpine Loop figure-eight possible.

A short but punchy 12,407-ft pass connecting California Gulch to Corkscrew Gulch via the head of the Animas drainage. The road is narrow with several rocky ledges and one tight switchback near the summit. Pairs with Engineer + Cinnamon + Corkscrew for the classic San Juan high-passes day. Big payoff for short effort — the Lake Como overlook from the summit is one of the standout views in the region.

A classic west-Silverton trail named for the tight switchbacks climbing out of the Red Mountain mining district. Drops off US-550 just south of Red Mountain Pass and corkscrews up through bright orange mineralized slopes to Hurricane Pass / California Gulch junction. The switchbacks are tight but generally manageable; the real story is the otherworldly red/orange color of the surrounding peaks (the namesake of Red Mountain).

The geographic and historical hub of the Alpine Loop. A well-preserved 1870s mining ghost town at 11,200 ft, sitting at the junction of Cinnamon Pass, Engineer Pass, and California Gulch. The drive in from Silverton via CR-2 is wide and graded — not technical at all — and the ghost town itself is the day's centerpiece for many Alpine Loop runs. The famous Walsh House (with bay windows facing the valley) is worth the stop alone.