Silverton, Co

[Christophe Noel]

We just returned from yet another amazing jaunt to Southern Colorado. For those who have never been, put it on your short list. The off roading options are endless and take on vistas to rival the best on the planet. We knocked out several hikes, mountain bike rides and explored some roads that really had my knees knocking.
View attachment 9129
That was the relative "wide point" in the road. I wasn't too nervous about it but my wife was crawling in the glove box by the end of that section.
View attachment 9131
For a sense of scale, look close for the yellow jeep. Not a difficult road by any means but it gets a little nervy in spots.
View attachment 9130
This is Clear Lake at about 12,000 feet. It makes for a great moderate off road jaunt. The top 1/4 of the road is fun. Nice picnic spot.

If you've never been, you need to go. Such a great area and I've been there at least a couple dozen times.

 

[Christophe Noel]

Oh, and a highlight.....

View attachment 9128

We found a couple spots where the road sluffed off. This spot allowed for about 8" between my tire and 300 feet of ugliness. For most of you that is small potatoes, but for a green horn like me, it was spoooooky.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Nice pics. Thanks. This area is defintley on my short list. I gotta get up there and spend some time.

I know what you mean about the road wash outs. I once almost went off due to a wash out and loose shale. The nasty part was the road dead ended and I had to drive back across the washed out section.:yikes: On the return crossing, I dug out a trench on the up hill side and then dug out and buried a mining timber to bridge the washed out gap. My passenger then got out and guided me as I drove across the mining timber.

I'd rather not do that again.

 

[Willman]

Right on!!! Looks like a fun trip!!! That area is very pretty!!!....Wish i was their now getting away from the heat!!!!

 

[77blazerchalet]

I had so much fun on the road to Clear Lake in 2004 (neat slideshow of that place & surrounding area at this guy's page http://www.aroundcolorado.com/trip_reports/2005_0729_IceLake/photos/photo_01.html ). The 1st photo below is the bigger version of the one at this photo link in the Rokon motorcycles thread http://expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8974&d=1183175175 and the 2nd one is what it looked like behind my car - you can just see part of the waterfall, the car is temporarily pointed downhill. I drove up one more switchback to the pullout for the mine, then walked the rest of the way to the lakes, the sun came out in spectacular fashion!

 

[BajaTaco]

Beautiful! What a great trip. Glad to see you are getting out

Did you ever get your poor wife out of the glovebox?

 

[Clutch]

Cool pics! I am heading that way in about 3 weeks.

 

[Christophe Noel]

Beautiful! What a great trip. Glad to see you are getting out

Did you ever get your poor wife out of the glovebox?

On that stretch my wife looked at me and calmly said, "you look concerned." I replied, "nah....I'm not concerned....I'm freakin' out!!!"

I'm developing a love/hate with shelf roads.

 

[IntrepidXJ]

Cool pics! I am heading that way in about 3 weeks.

Hey, I'll be out that way in about 2.5 weeks

 

[Clutch]

Hey, I'll be out that way in about 2.5 weeks

Pulling out of Tucson the 26th of July, should be in Durango that evening, then up to Crested Butte/Taylor Park via South Fork, back down to Ouray, Silverton area by the 3rd and 4th. Then back up to Taylor for the 5th and 7th....then home...should be well worn out by then.

...and you think shelf trails for 4WD's were tight...

live for this stuff

 

[Ursidae69]

That lake picture is awesome.

 

[hattrik21]

Yeah those are always fun roads to drive. 2 months till I get to head out there

 

[kcowyo]

I'm developing a love/hate with shelf roads.

An affair that will last the rest of your days travelling through Colorado.

Great pics, cool trip. Congrats on making it back alive - :beer:

 

[durango_60]

On that stretch my wife looked at me and calmly said, "you look concerned." I replied, "nah....I'm not concerned....I'm freakin' out!!!"

I'm developing a love/hate with shelf roads.

What else would you do for fun on a weekend? After 5 years of hitting these roads nearly every weekend over the summer I still pucker up...

 

[77blazerchalet]

Pulling out of Tucson the 26th of July........

Pencil me in for the 23rd & 24th, for a pair of full day tours with these guys http://soajeep.com/home.html fifth year in a row. Ophir/Imogene, and Black Bear/Imogene, assuming those are open. Then after a family member visit near Grand Mesa on the 25th, I think I'll hit the west side of Rollins Pass, and after that who knows? I just follow the front of my car wherever it takes me....

Pic below - south of Howardsville, east of Silverton July 2001