Reaching Durango, Colorado, we meet with one of our sponsors, Durango 4x4. After chatting for a while, George from Durango 4x4 offers to show us some of the area and we head north to Silverton, an old mining town and continue along a dirt road toward Engineer Pass. On the way, we pass the ghost town Eureka and several old mines. This is an easy trail but is very scenic.

As we work our way up the mountain, the terrain becomes rockier and the height of the snow walls next to the road increases. Most of the snow has already melted by now, though. There is quite some water running down or across the trail from all the snow melting under the beating sun. A few tight switchbacks provide the biggest obstacles but are managable by any stock 4x4. Finally we reach the top of Engineer Pass at 12.800 feet and we take the obligatory picture of 'victory'. We also meet another guy from the area up here who is a professional photographer and is waiting for the sunset (that's the third car on the pic). The view is absolutely breathtaking. After exchanging a few words, we start our descent and cruise about half way down where we can't resist to cross the river to a spur road for a little photo shoot.
We end the day with a pleasant meal in a Silverton restaurant before heading back to Durango.

This trip offers spectacular views and a lot of mines to discover. It is a fun drive and, if conditions permit, you can explore many spur roads and/or complete the Alpine Loop via the Cinnamon Pass.

Check out the 4x4 gallery

Directions: From Durango follow Highway 550 north to Silverton and go through the town. At the end of town the road forks; stay right. Follow this road and the signs.