DaJudge said:
What about trails on the east side of 550, Engineer etc. Anything over there I should do? I am a big history buff so any ghost town suggestions would be appreciated as well.[/FONT]
There are LOTS of cool trails on the east side of 550.
I recomend(sp?) going up Corckscrew from 550 Hurricane Pass, on to California Gulch to the ghost town of Animas Forks, then to the top of Engineer and back down to 550.
OR... if you plan on some trail camping, from Animas Forks to Lake City by way of Cinnamon Pass. Then from there go to the north side of Lake city and go back to 550 by way of Engineer. There is a pretty cool place to camp before you get to Lake City called Mill Creek.
There are lots of old mines on the east side of 550.
I recomend getting a book by Charles A. Wells, Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails Vol.#1. Its a GREAT book!!!! It gives trail discriptions with difficulty levels, directions, ect....
Got a map of the area? A fantastic map is one put out by Trails Illustrated (National Geographic) its number 141 and titled "Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City.
All the trails can be done in a stock 4x4 except Poughkeepsie Gulch.
Check out
http://mapsco.com for the book and map. I ordered mine from the store in Denver and had it in 3 days. GREAT service.
Here is a direct link to the map from National Geographic's Map Store...
http://www.ngmapstore.com/shopping/...RODUCT&iMainCat=54&iSubCat=122&iProductID=229
ANYWAY...
LOTS of good trails on the east side of 550.
Just wish more was open when I was there last month.
Check out this site for some info on the trails with pics...
http://www.narrowgauge.org/4x4/html/4X4.html
under the map are trail names, click on them.
Hope that helped ya out a little.
Any more questions... just ask.
my pics..
2004
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v455/drifto77/
2005
http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/whitecherokee/
2006
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/JeepPower/
EDIT: Trails I have done in the area
Owl Creek Pass from hwy 550 to hwy 50
Yankee Boy Basin
Governor Basin
Imogene Pass
Black Bear
Ophir Pass
Alta Lakes
1/2 of Clear Lake (was blocked by snow at the 1st mine)
Engineer Pass
Cinnamon Pass
Picayne and Placer Gulch
Corkscrew Pass/Gulch
California Pass/Gulch
Hurrican Pass
Arrasta Gulch
Hard to pic a favorite one, they are ALL GREAT!!!
Cant go wrong going to the San Juans!!!!!