The Labor Day Weekend presented an opportunity for me to enjoy an "end-of-summer" Colorado trip.  I wanted to hike.  I wanted to camp. I wanted to drive. I wanted to photograph some grand scenery. Above all, I just wanted to sit in a sunny meadow next to an alpine lake and just stare at the mountains for an afternoon. The Alpine Loop region of the San Juan Mountains repeatedly caught my eye as I scoured my maps and books in search of the perfect retreat.

I knew that the Alpine Loop National Byway was one of the most scenic drives in the country. This famous driving route is a combination of the Cinnamon Pass and Engineer Pass four-wheel drive trails. But did it offer the kind of backcountry access that I wanted?  Trails to high lakes and quiet meadows? A little book and Internet research revealed an alpine wonder that I had somehow not heard of before — the Highland Mary Lakes. After reading about the hike in my "100 Classic Hikes" book, the location of my weekend retreat became a no-brainer. I would drive the scenic Alpine Loop into the heart of the rugged San Juans, hike into a high alpine basin and camp in what appeared to be a tundra paradise of lakes and meadows.

Leaving civilization behind, I embarked on a quiet, scenic drive from Colorado Springs to Lake City — a great jumping off point for the Alpine Loop. I left home well before sunrise, so I had a relatively solitary drive through Salida and Gunnison along Highway 50 to the Lake City turnoff near Blue Mesa Reservoir. The portion of Highway 149 between Blue Mesa and Lake City is one of my favorite highway stretches in the state. The drive is almost always free of traffic, and always full of inspiring scenery — from the high peaks of the San Juan Mountains to the dramatic canyons along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The approach to the Alpine Loop culminates at Lake City, an unspoiled town that (because of its remote location) will probably always retain its small-town charm. After a slow drive along the tree-lined main street (a sight that always beckons me to move there), I continue south along 149 past Lake City to County Road 30. And so, my adventure begins ...



WARNING: There are a large number of photographs in the following slide show! The slide show spans three full days of driving, hiking and camping ... and represents a small sample of the hundreds of photos that I captured during my trip.

When To Go

July through September, for backpacking

Trailhead

Cunningham Gulch
(10,480')

Directions

Drive 4 miles east from Silverton to Colorado 110. In Howardsville, turn right (or left if coming from Cinnamon Pass) on FR 589. Drive about 4 miles through Cunningham Gulch to the trailhead, at the end of the road. 4WD is recommended for the last 3/4 mile, which includes a creek crossing near the end. You can park at mine sites near the creek crossing (or below), and walk to the trailhead.

Hike Length

2.2 miles one-way, to the first lake (from the actual trailhead)

Elevation

1,600 foot gain to the first lake

Hike Rating

Scenery:

Solitude:

Difficulty:

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Topo Map

Contributed by Jesse Speer
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