Mineral Creek Road in Colorado: Stay Away Unless You Know You Are Capable

Mineral Creek Road is a very challenging drive located in San Juan County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. This is a 4WD road. It’s the quickest way to get to Engineer Pass from Ouray, although not the easiest.

Mineral Creek Road in Colorado: Stay Away Unless You Know You Are Capable

Where is Mineral Creek Road?

The road is located west of Silverton (the county seat of San Juan County) in the southwestern part of Colorado within the Uncompahgre National Forest. The road climbs up a scenic narrow canyon, passes a waterfall, and provides access to Poughkeepsie Gulch and Mineral Point, ending at Bandora Mine, which still has a few structures standing.

How Long is Mineral Creek Road?

The road (County Road 7/Forest Service Road 585) is accessed by turning off U.S. Highway 550 (Million Dollar Highway), about 3 miles west of Silverton. It’s 11.26km (7.0 miles) long. This route can get quite busy on the weekends.

Is Mineral Creek Road Suitable for Passenger Vehicles?

A high-clearance vehicle is required, preferably one with four-wheel drive. It is not suitable for passenger vehicles, minivans, or family SUVs. The road starts off of Highway 550 as a two-lane graded gravel road, but after the first 1.5 miles from the campground, the road becomes very rocky. There is no room to pass along one stretch of narrow ledge road.

Is Mineral Creek Road Open in Winters?

Set high in the San Juan Mountains, the road is usually open from June to September only. The trail tops out at 3,258m (10,688ft) above sea level.

 

 

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