Cinnamon Pass

Cinnamon Pass in our opinion is one of the more epic and scenic routes we have experienced in Colorado. (See photos). We drove it westward from Pine City to Animas Fork on Independence Day in our stock 2006 Ford Explorer. Despite it being a holiday, vehicle traffic was relatively light. We stopped and sauntered for awhile in American Basin. The wildflowers are just beginning to bloom and a myriad of waterfalls added to the eye candy. One high point was a steep cascading waterfall on Cooper Creek in the trees just on the north side of the road east of waypoint 13. If you drive by it quickly, you might not even see it. But, we've lived in Colorado for over two decades and we can't recall a more beautiful waterfall, particularly because of the verdant environment that surrounds it. (It's the last photo in the set of photos...and that's just the upper third of the falls, the entirety of which has dozens and dozens of terraces over which the water flows.)

Regarding the technical rating, I (Chuck) would have agreed with many of the reviewers that this is easier (2 rating) were it not for the first of four switchback that make the final ascent to Cinnamon Pass. That particular turn is, in my opinion, is what makes this route a 3...at least that's how I see it. So, I rated it Spot On for that reason. Specifically, this switchback turn that was too tight for my truck chassis and had a challenging rock pattern that necessitated a creative 3-point turn to get us in position to even begin the process of choosing a path over it. Drivers of stock SUVs (8.9" clearance) such as ours should be forewarned that this turn will take a bit of patience to get into position, but it is passable if your choose a line right down the center keeping your left tire on the larger rock on the left.

Also, on the narrow shelf road to the west of waypoint 10, we encountered a long stretch where the road was too narrow for multiple vehicles and we were met with oncoming traffic. The driver of the first oncoming vehicle exercised exceptional etiquette and kindness in stepping out of his oncoming vehicle, consulting with me and then walking behind my vehicle where he helped direct me as I put my vehicle in reverse and drove it backwards a couple hundred yards along a very steep cliff to finally a point in the road wide enough for the traffic to pass. #SphincterMomentForSure #FellowTrailRiderComesThrough