Looking for adventure?
Hiking
There is a multitude of hiking option right from the cabin or within a short drive. Just out the door you can wander for hours in just about any direction. If you prefer to stay on a trail, from the cabin you can walk up County Road 9 to the top of the saddle between Picayune and Placer Gulch or continue down into Placer Gulch. You can walk down County Road 9 and connect to county Road 99 which will bring you to the other side of Picayune Gulch, where multiple roads split off mostly ending in dead ends. County Road 99 itself, will wind back down to County Road 9 closer to the junction of County Road 9 and 2. Below are several options that will require you to drive from the cabin itself.
Grouse Gulch is a great option that starts right at the junction of County Road 2 and 9. To complete the hike it will require hiking over a pass at approx. 13k ft before descending and connecting with the Handies Peak - Southwest Slopes route. Hike a little ways and turn back or go all the way. This is the closest legitimate hiking trail to the Bonnie Belle Cabin.
Highland Mark Lakes starts up Cunningham Gulch (County Road 4) closer to Silverton. The Weminuche Wilderness, a remote and rugged parcel of southwestern Colorado wildlands, has over five-hundred miles of trail and a few roads traversing its 488,210 acres. Entering the high alpine tundra of Colorado’s largest wilderness usually involves an overnight backpacking trip, but Highland Mary Lakes is a spectacular exception that can be reached in just a short excursion through the high country's Continental Divide Trail and Cunningham Gulch Trail #502. Add in a return trip along the Highland Mary Lakes Trail #606, and you can find hours of unspoiled backcountry all to yourself.
Permit now required! The hike up to Ice Lake and Island Lake in Colorado's San Juan Mountains is truly an amazing one. It is moderately difficult, clocking in right at 8 miles with a total 3,000 feet of elevation gain, but the waterfalls, fantastic lakes, and wonderful views below and above the tree line are absolutely fantastic.
Very challenging and difficult route finding! Trail requires good hiking skills and no fear of heights, skree, or scrambling. Bear in mind this is a personal account of how to get there and not a traditional trail. This one is not for the inexperienced or weak and weary! Seriously!
4x4, Jeep, UTV, ATV and Dirtbikes (Motor travel)
Ride right from the cabin to access miles and miles of 4x4 roads. The main attraction is Colorado's Alpine Loop Scenic and Historic Byway has a narrow window in which it's snow-free (June to September). But it's worth the wait — the 65-mile scenic drive travels through a surreal landscape of treeless tundra and mountains seemingly splashed with red and yellow paint near Ouray, Lake City and Silverton. Several of the passes below are part of the Alpine loop while others are not. Do your research and be safe!
Cinnamon Pass is a historic pass between the ghost town of Sherman and the ghost town of Animas Forks. It is part of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. It is a scenic road following the Gunnison River through Burrows Park before quickly climbing up and 12,640’ and following Cinnamon Creek down to the Animas River or vice versa.
Engineer Pass is a historic pass into the San Juan mountain region. It is part of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. It connects Lake City with the ghost town of Animas Forks. It passes through the ghost towns of Henson, Capitol City, and Rose Cabin.
California Gulch 4WD road heads west from the ghost town of Animas Forks passing the Frisco-Bagley Tunnel mill building. It heads up a wide valley passing the road up Placer Gulch (County Road 9), to a saddle and then crosses into Poughkeepsie Gulch, or connects with the Hurricane Pass (County Road10), 4WD road.
Hurricane Pass 4WD road heads north out of the ghost town of Gladstone passing the Mogul Mine. It climbs over a ridge between Brown Mountain and Hurricane Peak connecting with Poughkeepsie Gulch and California Gulch.
Corkscrew Pass is one of the first pass roads built to connect Silverton with the towns and mines on Red Mountain. It climbs to a saddle off of Red Mountain No. 1.
Stony Pass (12,492 ft) sits along a popular off-road vehicle route. Atop Stony Pass east of Silverton, there are panoramic views of the Continental Divide and the Headwaters of the Rio Grande.
Ophir Pass is a historic wagon road that crosses between Lookout Peak and South Lookout Peak, connecting Ophir with Silverton.
Mountain Biking
Silverton itself is not really a Mountain Biking destination, however there are some great trails in the area if you are willing to drive. You can ride on the 4x4 roads out around the cabin and on the Alpine Loop, or if you are willing to take a drive, below are some option in the area.
The Rainbow Trail is a mixed singletrack and doubletrack (mostly singletrack) trail that runs from Silverton to the bottom of Ophir Pass Road. This trail is great as an out-and-back, with a fun descent back into Silverton or as a link to Ophir Pass.
Boulder Gulch Trail is more than a ride. It's an alpine adventure that you won't forget. After a 2,000' hike-a-bike, you'll crest the ridge and be treated to spectacular views. Boulder Gulch trail is very steep and descends 3,700' in less than four miles and has a variety of riding (alpine tundra, exposed side hilling, rocky technical fun, and many very steep, loose sections). This is a hardcore alpine experience and you must be fully prepared (be prepared for remoteness, wind, cool temps, and lightning likely during thunderstorms). There is very limited cell service on this route.
Colorado Trail, Molas Pass to Engineer Mountain (out and back)
The Colorado Trail, Molas Pass to Engineer Mountain (out and back) is an excellent up-and-back segment of the CT that will give the intermediate rider a taste of alpine riding without the deep commitment of some of the area loops.
The Engineer Mountain Trail can be an extension of the previous ride (run as a shuttle) or can be accessed other ways (see below). This popular trail is technical in a few sections mainly north of Pass Trail, but is very rideable and fun overall (especially south of Pass Trail). The views at the top are very nice! There are several different ways to access this trail, the easiest being from the top of Coal Bank Pass (10,600 ft.) via the Pass Creek trail. Once Pass Creek trail meets Engineer Mountain Trail, take a left and get ready for a fun descent after about half a mile. The downhill is only steep in a few locations; it contains plenty of roots and switchbacks, but only a few rock gardens (no big mandatory moves). This option is typically done with a shuttle vehicle at the bottom of the trail (or hitchhike back up).