Location: San Juan Mountains
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: Outside Silverton, take C.R. 110 to Gladstone, go left at C.R. 10
Time: Approximately 1 hour, one-way. Only 5 miles.
Trail Description
There’s several ways you can get to this trail, but my favorite starting point is from Silverton and ending up back on Highway 550 at the ghost town of Ironton. The road climbs and switchbacks quickly and it opens up and you’re treated to some beautiful views to your right as you hug the mountain on your left.
Photo Opp: When you reach the summit, make sure to drive the small road that shoots off at the top, as it brings you to an in-your-face view of Red Mountain.
The ride down is steep, but easy, and you end up at Highway 550 (Million Dollar Highway) midway between Silverton and Ouray. To your left is the ghost town of Ironton. Don’t miss this!
Hi, I have been enjoying your videos for years now! Thank you so much! I do have a question, are any of the trails that you gone on that are easy both for the driver but also for the car. As in are there any trails that you could drive with out having low range 4wd. I know many are too steep and the road too bad to not have low range 4wd. But I was wondering if any were OK for a smaller 4wd SUV? Thank you so much for your videos and for taking the time to read my email!
Greg
Hi Greg! Thanks for writing and watching! The easiest ones in the San Juan Mountains that you could do without a 4WD are Owl Creek Pass, Yankee Boy Basin (to the Twin Falls, but past that you need 4×4), Last Dollar Road (if it’s dry), most of Lime Creek Road, as well as Animas Forks…As far as the Colorado Springs area, where I live, you can do Phantom Canyon Road, Shelf Road and Gold Camp Road in a car. Not sure which area of Colorado you are specifically asking about…thanks again for writing!