Engineer Pass San Juan Mountains Colorado 

Engineer Pass, along with Cinnamon Pass, make up the iconic Alpine Loop. The west side of Engineer Pass is a challenge. The Engineer Pass trail is 21-miles long but it is only 2.3-miles to the Summit from the end of the easy connector trail. Going up to the Pass, from the west, the ascent is a short but continuous, very steep, rocky, rough, twisty, narrow shelf trail to the top. It is slow going and 4-low the whole way up. Oh-point (Odom Point), is the highest point on the trail, at 12,956-feet, Engineer Pass is 12,800-feet. One mile after the pass, the challenge is over, the trail becomes rutted but very easy going. The scenery is magnificent, with stunning views of a couple of the San Juan’s, 14’ers: Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre Peaks. There are also several mines to explore and view, making for an interesting drive back to Lake City, and the completion of the Alpine Loop.