Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways - 2024/2025

The Alpine Loop is unlike any other byway in Colorado. The route passes over mining roads established in the late 1800s, taking in wildflower meadows, and numerous historic sites and districts. Begin in Silverton, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is noted for its quaint Main Street, famous Town Hall, and the Old Hundred Mine and Mayflower Mill on the outskirts of town. Above the mine sits the Old Hundred Boarding House, a weathered two-story dormitory that precariously clings to Galena Mountain. The byway also stops at a series of intriguing ghost towns, including Animas Forks (where a 23-day blizzard in 1884 dropped 25 feet of snow) and Capitol City (a diminutive mining town that aspired to be the state capital). Depending on the route you take, the byway ends in either Lake City or Ouray (both of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places). Lake City is the Hinsdale County seat and has a museum devoted exclusively to the county’s past. Ouray — named after the Ute Chief Ouray — is nestled in a box canyon and has long been a sanctuary for hot springs lovers and ice climbing.

Distance: 63 miles • Allow 7 hours

Total elevation gain: 7,706–12,840 feet 

(Note: Four-wheel drive is required for a majority of this byway, and it is closed from September through May.)