Cinnamon Pass Road — Lake City to Silverton via the Alpine Loop
12,620 feet of raw San Juan shelf road.
The Alpine Loop is one of the most storied 4×4 circuits in Colorado, and Cinnamon Pass is the crown of it. You leave Lake City on dirt, climb fast through aspen corridors, and then the trees drop away entirely as you grind up to the 12,620-foot saddle on a shelf road barely wide enough for two trucks to pass. Animas Forks ghost town sits at the western junction — rusted headframes, collapsed mill buildings, and the wreckage of a boom that went bust in the 1880s. The descent into Silverton drops through loose talus and tight switchbacks with exposure that’ll test your downhill throttle control.
This is a genuine high-clearance 4WD route — don’t try it in anything without low range and real ground clearance. Stock lifted trucks and dedicated 4×4 rigs are the minimum. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast above 11,000 feet from July through August, so start early. The road is typically open late June through September depending on snowpack. Fuel in Lake City or Silverton before entering. No permits required. Dispersed camping is possible in the Gunnison National Forest sections. The views off the pass rival anything in the lower 48.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 12620 ft |
| Best season | Late June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with low range |
| Nearest town | Lake City, CO |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Gunnison National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler or 4Runner handle Cinnamon Pass, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with low range can make it, but you need genuine low-range capability — not just AWD. Lift helps on the rockier shelf sections, but plenty of stock Wranglers and 4Runners run it clean. Aired-down tires and a confident driver matter more than a built rig here.
When does Cinnamon Pass Road actually open each year and when should I avoid it?
Typically late June, depending on snowpack — some years it's July before the pass clears. The season runs through September; after that, early snow can close it fast and without much warning. Don't count on it being open before checking with Gunnison National Forest or calling Lake City locals.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to drive Cinnamon Pass Road?
No permit required and no fee to drive the pass itself — it's USFS land managed by Gunnison National Forest. If you camp at a developed site in the area you may pay a fee, but dispersed camping along the route is free.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect there?
The shelf road climbing to and just below the 12,620-foot summit is the crux — narrow, exposed, and unforgiving if you meet oncoming traffic. Uphill traffic has the right of way on these shelves, and there's limited room to pass. It's not a technical rock crawl, but the exposure and altitude are real; a mistake here has consequences.
Is there any water or gas between Lake City and Silverton on this route?
Zero gas between the two towns — fill up completely before you leave, as the full Alpine Loop circuit can push 100+ miles of remote driving. Water crossings exist on the route and a filter lets you pull from streams, but there are no services of any kind once you leave Lake City. Cell service is nonexistent the entire way.
Trail track
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