Engineer Pass - Alpine Loop Connector

This is an easy 2.1 mile climb through the San Juan Mountains. This part of CR 2 connects Cinnamon Pass to Engineer Pass in order to complete the famous Alpine Loop. This trail is yet another road that connected one of the many mines in the area from the late 1800’s. It’s more maintained than some of the other roads in Alpine Loop and the San Juan's as a whole. The area is usually clear of big rocks and debris (though rock slides can and do happen) and is an easy ride throughout. Even though it is a short part of this route, it packs a lot of scenery and fun as you go through the valley and then climb up to Engineer Pass through the Alpine Tundra of the San Juan Mountains. There are plenty of places to pull off for traffic coming down or for you to stop and take a photo or two. From late June until late August there are a lot of wildflowers in this area and the contrast of snow to flowers can make for some striking imagery.