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| Run/Jog | 23.88 Miles |
4,657 AEG |
| | Run/Jog | 23.88 Miles | 6 Hrs 27 Mns | | 3.72 mph |
| 4,657 ft AEG | 2 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Wanted something with 20+ miles and fairly proximate to Durango, so I decided the Engineer Mountain loop might be worth checking out. I didn't bother to do any research to find out how long this loop is, so I figured if I get to the junction with Engine Creek trail and I think I need more miles, I can add on something.
The climb up to the base of Engineer Mountain is very long and not very steep. Pretty consistent ~500 feet/mile. It was a grind, but a nice, pleasant trail through meadows and woods. Once at the base of the mountain, it was at or just below tree line the rest of the way. The miles went fast, and before I knew it, I was at Engine Creek trail, but only about 8.3 miles in. I decided I ought to at least go up to the pass, since there would likely be a great view.
The climb up to the pass was the steepest part of the day, but it was well worth it. Three drainages meet up there (Engine/Cascade, West Lime, and South Mineral), with views of Rolling Mountain, Twin Sisters, Sultan Mountain and Grand Turk, and Kendrick. Oh, I already forgot about Engineer Mountain to the South! Tundra everywhere you can see, a truly amazing spot. So spectacular that I forgot about how lazy I am and decided to continue around the loop up to Rolling Pass. This afforded views further into South Mineral, including some spots I recognized, like Ice Lakes basin and the road up to Clear Lake.
This part was on the well-groomed Colorado Trail, so I made pretty good time down the south side of the pass to the junction with White Creek trail. I ran into a couple of mountain bikers at the junction, and asked them which way back is fastest, and they said Engine Creek is most direct. I had been considering taking CO trail all the way to Greysill, but was at 12 miles at the point, so I figured more direct is nice.
White Creek trail was levelish and runnable, and also kinda scenic (but then again all the trails there are scenic). Got to Engine Creek and found the loop to be ~7 miles total, and well worth it. Engine Creek was also very pretty, with mostly red rocks reminiscent of the Maroon Bells. Some areas lower in the canyon seem to be showing some signs of bark beetle... Won't be long before they're well-established in the Silverton area.
By the time I got to Cascade Trail, I was feeling like I was ready to be done. Right when I got to where the trail on the west side of the creek joins back up, I saw the mountain bikers from earlier - they had come down Greysill. Good timing! Looped back around to the trailhead and that was that. Actually felt pretty good, all things considered.
Highly recommend this area, particularly the loop over Rolling Pass. |
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Route Editor
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