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Cinnamon Pass Jeep Trip
July, 2002
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On July 10th, Don & Sharon Dodds joined us for our Cinnamon Pass jeepin' trip - the southern portion of the Alpine Loop.
From the book, 4WD Trails of Southwest Colorado (Peter Massey & Jeanne Wilson), we did trail #6 - Silverton to Animas Forks (ghost town), then trail #3 - Cinnamon Pass to Lake City. Trail #6 is an easy trail that can be done with a 2WD passenger car, however, 4WD is required to do Cinnamon Pass climbing steeply out of Animas Forks. This trail is still a moderate route - good for beginner Jeepers like us!
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We left Sublette Ranch @ 7:15 am and drove over Red Mountain Pass (Hwy 550) south to Silverton. After a short visit there, we started off to Animas Forks @ 9:20 am. It was a beautiful day with no sign of forest fire - clear Colorado skies!
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Looking back toward Silverton, you can see the Animas River that this route follows.
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It's amazing how well preserved this tramway is that was used in the late 1800's
and early 1900's to carry ore and miners into & out of Arrastra Gulch mine.
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Below, the road bends in front of the Sunnyside Mill. The Sunnyside mine was located in Eureka Gulch behind the mill and was discovered in 1873. By 1910, it employed 300 miners and consisted of 10 miles of tunnel. This was the site of the town of Eureka.
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Don checks out the remains of one of Otto Mears' (a San Juan mountains road-builder of the 1800-1900's) snowsheds. These were built to allow the railroad to continue year-round. However, the showsheds were destroyed by snow the 1st winter and the railroad was finally closed in 1916. The railroad tracks were removed in 1942 and the rail bed became the road this trail travels.
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Another "Kodak moment" for Barb & Steve.
Below, Steve & Don stand in front of the Silverwing Mine.
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Marmots run all over the area!
Some call them "whistle pigs" because
of the whistle sounds they make.
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Animas Forks is a great ghost town! There are still a dozen houses standing, as well as the Columbus Mill, several other structures and the remains of the Gold Prince Mill.
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The Gold Prince Mill was constructed in 1904, then moved to Eureka in 1917.
From standing on the remains of the Gold Prince Mill, we got a beautiful view of the valley we just drove through to reach Animas Forks ghost town.
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Steve in the old jailhouse.
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Don, Steve & Sharon check out the Duncan House.
This was the fancy house in town - having two stories and a bay window. It was built in 1879 by William Duncan, who was a miner and mail carrier in the area.
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The road heads northeast through town, then turns east in front of the old Columbus Mine & Mill buildings. In the upper right you can see a white Jeep on the road above coming down from Cinnamon Pass.
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Trail #3 (Cinnamon Pass to Lake City) climbs quickly out of Animas Forks. Here is a good view of the town and mines as we drove up the road.
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