animas forks

I drove the Mineral Creek Jeep trail, which is part of the Alpine Loop, from Ouray to Animas Forks in July 2014. The trail was was a little more difficult than what I had the impression it was based on some guides. If you are concered about the level of difficulty, you might want to drive to Animas Forks via Siverton, which is much easier. The route from Ouray had a fair amount of narrow shelf road, and was quite rocky. I aired down my tires to around 20 PSI before I began and I am really glad I did. I drove the trail with JKU with a 2.5" lift. The only times I had clearance issues were when my hitch hit rock obstacles. I definitely should have removed it first. This is a very busy trail on a weekend, so there is a lot of help if you get stuck or have problems. I found other drivers to be extremely courteous and good natured.If you can tackle the drive, however, the views are extremely rewarding. Beautiful, high altitude basins, teeming with wildflowers, waterfalls, and abandoned mines. The views are some of the best views in the area and rival the Yankee Boy Basin in terms of their beauty.Animas Forks itself, is an extremely well-preserved ghost town, with many buildings. This scenic location is an excellent spot to stop for lunch. The site is also very crowded on weekends.If you are a photographer, be aware that it can be hard to capture any great shots as there are so many people. As a result, I only shot with my cell phone.

This is a well preserved ghost town in an arrested state of decay. Repairs are done only to preserve not restore. The drive from Silverton is not very difficult but if you really wish to explore the area once you get to Animas Forks 4X4 is best. Lots of building and historic ruins. Be respectful of the building and be careful of the terrain. Stay overnight in Silverton. Better yet stay two nights one in Durango and one in Silverton. The Silverton/Durango railroad is a must see and do. Enjoy!

Taking a trip out to Animas Forks is a must!!!!!! For every explorer you have hit your gold mine and you will be left speechless when you see what is left of this once booming mining town. For a moment you will be transported back to a time when you could truly feel the solitaire these people felt in the middle of no where in the midst of a booming mining time.

we went over corkscrew pass and dropped down into Animas Forks. Most of the buildings have been repaired to prevent them from falling down so you can walk into them and look around. There are plaques explaining the history but other than that the buildings are empty.

Anyone riding trails that pass this old township should stop and tour the buildings that have been restored. Many other buildings still under reconstruction. Be sure to read the history of this site.Great work is being done to restore what was left of the township.

Animas Forks is one of my favorite places to visit! Love doing the loop and taking a break here and walk around and thru the old buildings. Great opportunity for pictures. Imagine living here back then. Crazy!!

Interesting Ghost town that is being refurbished by historical society. Easy ride up from Silverton and a great spot to begin your journey to Engineer Pass for fantastic views of Uncompahgre. Great place to rest and have picnic lunch after coming over from Corkscrew Gulch and Hurricane Pass.

Getting there from Silverton definitely requires a high-clearance vehicle, and lots of patience. It is 12 miles from Silverton, but takes an hour, due to the rocky road at the last third of the trip. If bad roads and dust are not your thing, don't go. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Animas Forks! I loved going through the old buildings, imagining what it may have been like to live there (at over 11,000 feet, very cold in the winter!) The view of mountaintops are all around you. Some of the buildings are being restored to what they would have looked like at the time. The new wood will soon fade to old and worn.

We thoroughly enjoyed this drive. We drove up through Silverton and the drive is beautiful. So much to see and the restorations being done at Animas Forks is interesting to see. What was sad was seeing how the work being done is being defaced by idiots who just can't stop themselves from carving their initials or painting graffiti on the new boards. Still, it was amazing to see how folks lived up there so long ago.

Lots of history and easy access by car from Silverton. Plenty of signs with information about the history, and you can walk around inside the various buildings and get a real feel for how the people lived. Some buildings have been restored a bit to keep them from falling down, but nothing too extreme. Still has that "ghost town" feel.

Leave Silverton on a nice road, get to Eureka (also interesting!), and you are able to travel to Animas Forks on a true jeep road that is nice and wide (not like Engineer Pass in places). I don't suggest you try this in your car, but it's great for trucks, jeeps, something with AWD or clearance, side-by-sides, dirt bike or ATV. Along the road you are treated to beautiful mountain and river vistas, scrambling marmots, and history everywhere. It doesn't take long to get there, and the time passes quickly just enjoying the views! For anyone expecting a fancy tourist stop, don't go -- this is a true mining ghost town. They are doing a great job restoring it so that people are safe when they walk through buildings, but still, be careful. Around the corner from Animas Forks is the Bagley Mine, which is also a great stop. From Animas Forks, you can head to Cinnamon Pass, Engineer Pass, or just enjoyed the scenery.

This old mining town is a beautiful basin with snow lasting well into the summer. It gets crowded on weekends. It is easier to reach it via Silverton. High clearance vehicle recommended. 4WD necessary if traveling the Alpine Loop.

Getting there is a beast, unless you're on a dirt bike or in a real Jeep. But it's a great place. Just imagining 5000 people living there takes a leap. I've been to bigger ghost towns, however. Still, it's worth the trip, the long, tough trip.

Huge day journey on roads that shake your teeth out and propel you from 8000 feet to nearly 13000 feet over many miles. Lots of old mines, cabins, and mills slowly decaying in the wilderness. Plenty of 4WD traffic, but worth it...and nice to know there are others to help you in an emergency.

The drive is fairly short and easy (for a Jeep road). The history and views are fantastic. Go early to beat the crowds. We got there by 8am and had it to ourselves. Then the people started coming and it wasn't as charming. They are also restoring the buildings and the sawing and hammering noise was disturbing. So get there early!!