K
Kestrel2126
Well-known member
Anyone rode Silverton this year? Thinking of heading south this weekend, but wondering if stopping in Silverton would be worth it, vs. driving the extra to Wolf Creek?
Silverton Snow Conditions
- Thread starter Kestrel2126
- Start date
S
snengineer
Well-known member
you guys ride up that way very much? I have always wondered if they sled those amazing bowls I have seen while jeeping. What about over by engineers pass or maybe even imogene?
S
SSWIM
Well-known member
Yea, we get up that way fairly regularly. California Gulch accesses to Engineer Pass pretty easily. The Imogene side does not have the area to ride like the east side of Red Mtn. pass has. Really have to be careful, slides are really BIG!!! American Basin is another incredible area.
Sam
Its been a few yrs back since I rode with SSWIM down there. It was early season and we parked at the Engineers pass turnoff on hwy550 just outside of Ouray. The riding is amazing, however the Avy danger is usually high, add that to huge vertical and very little runout and it can be sketchy. As beautiful as it is in the summer its 10 times that in winter, reminds me of the Swiss Alps.
From the Silverton snowmobile clubs website
Eureka APPROX. 4 MILES (EACH WAY) ~
This trails is recommended only in the very early season and the very late season once the county has plowed the road. The avalanche danger is extreme the rest of the season. When you reach Animas Forks there are endless miles of riding including Hurricane Pass, Mineral Point and Denver Pass. There are also plenty of historic mine sites and the ghost town of Animas Forks. This trail is ungroomed and is recommended for advanced riders. It is very best in April and May and often into June.
From the Silverton snowmobile clubs website
Eureka APPROX. 4 MILES (EACH WAY) ~
This trails is recommended only in the very early season and the very late season once the county has plowed the road. The avalanche danger is extreme the rest of the season. When you reach Animas Forks there are endless miles of riding including Hurricane Pass, Mineral Point and Denver Pass. There are also plenty of historic mine sites and the ghost town of Animas Forks. This trail is ungroomed and is recommended for advanced riders. It is very best in April and May and often into June.
Last edited:
K
Kestrel2126
Well-known member
Definitely some good riding up there. It is actually my favorite place to ride in the state, when conditions are right. A few things have to be in place to make it worth it though. First, you spend 90 % of the time above timberline, so you need a clear day, otherwise you are riding in a cloud. Not having visibility up there is very dangerous given the terrain. The other thing is the AVY danger. The San Juans are the worst range for Avy in the Lower 48. Make sure everyone in the group is riding with the right gear and knows what to do in Avy country. I would suggest checking the weather several days ahead of time. If it snows, it needs at least 48 hours to set up down there, or it will slide. The last thing you need is to know where to go. THere is a lot of good riding, but it helps to go with someone who knows how to access it, as there is also a lot of off limits areas too.
S
snengineer
Well-known member
Awesome! can you access the east side of red mtn via corkscrew gulch?
You took that jeep trail off hwy 550? rough road for sure....man the area at the top seemed like an awesome boondock area for sure!
Yeah some of the Avy run-outs I saw in the summer gave me the chills!!!! I will definently be heading to this area this winter (and every 4th of July the rest of my life as long as I can help it) if the storm track continues to miss all of the west except for the san juans. I can imagine sitting in the Ouray springs in a winter scene is pretty freaking cool. thanks guys for the info and heads up.
Big stuff all the way around.
(attached view of 550 & CO-110A)
(attached view of 550 & CO-110A)
Not sure where you are coming from but I would wait for one more storm. I live in durango and ride molas ( 5 min south of silverton) all winter. Was there a couple of days ago and even with this latest storm it wasn't what I wanted. There isn't much base and there are plenty of rocks just under the surface. I would consider this our first legit storm this season. At molas there were bushes still that are usually under 5 foot of snow so be careful if you do ride there. Now to the east at wolf is a different story. Krestle I pm'd ya.
Similar threads
