Super Cel West - Trip Planning

[BruiserOutdoors]

I’m planning a September road trip to the San Juan Mountains (Colorado) and debating whether it’s worth swinging over to Buena Vista for the Super Cel West event.


In the past it seems that there are trail rides and a "show-and-shine", but I’m curious how the event usually flows. For those who’ve been before, what were the highlights for you? Any trail rides that really stood out or parts of the show/area that shouldn’t be missed?


Also, anything along the journey to or from BV that’s worth building into the route (Coming from Oregon)? I’m getting ready to lock in travel plans and trying to figure out how many days to budget in Buena Vista.

 

[Scoop]

I highly recommend SC West! It's much different that the TN event. Much more trail riding and much less Show N Shine. Also less vendors (a plus or a minus?? LOL). There are multiple trail rides and street cruises each day. The show field is pretty sparse during the middle of the day as most everyone is on a trail or street cruises. Scheduled rides are Thursday through half day on Saturday with the closing awards and (small) raffle on Saturday afternoon. You might be able to hook up with a non-official trail ride on Wednesday as well.

Highlights are Chinaman's Gulch, Holy Cross, Mosquito Pass and Tincup Pass for trail rides and Independence Pass and Royal Gorge for street cruises. I usually lead a street cruise to St Elmo Ghost Town on Friday afternoon where Bronco Driver arranges for a private tour of the town giving us access to the interior of some of the buildings not normally open to the public.

Some good restaurants in BV and Salida to check out too! I would suggest at least 2 days - Friday and Saturday - but 3 to include Thursday would be better. Along the way there (or back) you might want to stop in Vernal UT and see Dinosaur National Monument and the Dinosaur museum in Vernal. Very interesting.

Hope you decide to check it out! Start practicing "bYOO-nuh VISta"!! LOL

 

[toddz69]

I echo @Scoop's opinion that SC West is a good one to attend - particularly if you're so close in the San Juans. I've attended it twice - the inaugural event in 2020 (with the freak blizzard) and last September. I enjoyed the runs I did.

Along with a group of other friends (including @Scoop), I 4 wheeled in the San Juans for 3-4 days prior to SC West this year. We took a day break between the events to travel between the San Juans (Ouray) and BV. I drove my Bronco and found the trip between the two locations very enjoyable.

Todd Z.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

I highly recommend SC West! It's much different that the TN event. Much more trail riding and much less Show N Shine. Also less vendors (a plus or a minus?? LOL). There are multiple trail rides and street cruises each day. The show field is pretty sparse during the middle of the day as most everyone is on a trail or street cruises. Scheduled rides are Thursday through half day on Saturday with the closing awards and (small) raffle on Saturday afternoon. You might be able to hook up with a non-official trail ride on Wednesday as well.

Highlights are Chinaman's Gulch, Holy Cross, Mosquito Pass and Tincup Pass for trail rides and Independence Pass and Royal Gorge for street cruises. I usually lead a street cruise to St Elmo Ghost Town on Friday afternoon where Bronco Driver arranges for a private tour of the town giving us access to the interior of some of the buildings not normally open to the public.

Some good restaurants in BV and Salida to check out too! I would suggest at least 2 days - Friday and Saturday - but 3 to include Thursday would be better. Along the way there (or back) you might want to stop in Vernal UT and see Dinosaur National Monument and the Dinosaur museum in Vernal. Very interesting.

Hope you decide to check it out! Start practicing "bYOO-nuh VISta"!! LOL

I am all too familar with "Buena Vista", as my elementary school was named that.

Thanks for the detailed overview! Its a tough choice to break away from the san juan scenery, as that is the main focus of the adventure. Do you have some "must see" trails in the san juans or of your listed trail rides? (We will likely take a 6G, not the stocker uncut).

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

I echo @Scoop's opinion that SC West is a good one to attend - particularly if you're so close in the San Juans. I've attended it twice - the inaugural event in 2020 (with the freak blizzard) and last September. I enjoyed the runs I did.

Along with a group of other friends (including @Scoop), I 4 wheeled in the San Juans for 3-4 days prior to SC West this year. We took a day break between the events to travel between the San Juans (Ouray) and BV. I drove my Bronco and found the trip between the two locations very enjoyable.

Todd Z.

I'd love to join a group of Broncos on a trail ride at least once during the trip. What is the best way to get involved/connected with those groups?

 

[Yeller]

Imagene and Cork Screw are musts for San Juan’s. I really enjoy leaving early doing black bear and returning on Imagene, if you stop and enjoy it is a long day but very worth it.

My faves in BV are Mosquito Pass, Hancock Pass and the absolutely can’t miss is St Elmo and Mary Murphy up to Polmeroy Lakes. Take the time to wander around on foot some at the lakes and Mary Murphy Mine.

 

[Scoop]

I am all too familar with "Buena Vista", as my elementary school was named that.

Thanks for the detailed overview! Its a tough choice to break away from the san juan scenery, as that is the main focus of the adventure. Do you have some "must see" trails in the san juans or of your listed trail rides? (We will likely take a 6G, not the stocker uncut).

Was your elementary school pronounced bYOO-nah or Bway-nah?

Many great trails in the San Juans and all are good for a Gen6. Will you be staying in Ouray? My favorites are Yankee Boy, Imogene and, of course, Black Bear. Another must do is a part of the Alpine Loop. From Ouray take Mineral Creek to top of Engineer Pass then turn around and go to Animas Forks - great place for a lunch break with facilities. From Animas Forks take California Gulch to Hurricane Pass to Corkscrew to hit Hwy 550 and return to Ouray.

 

[Bruners4]

We were also there for the first event! We love that area and the trail rides. Last year was the maiden voyage for the '68 with the first trail being Tin Cup pass at night. It is on our Calander to attend every year. I also highly suggest attending.

 

[stout22]

I want to get back out there. Like Scoop said it is very different from SC TN and WI. The show field is basically deserted during the middle of the day

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Was your elementary school pronounced bYOO-nah or Bway-nah?

Many great trails in the San Juans and all are good for a Gen6. Will you be staying in Ouray? My favorites are Yankee Boy, Imogene and, of course, Black Bear. Another must do is a part of the Alpine Loop. From Ouray take Mineral Creek to top of Engineer Pass then turn around and go to Animas Forks - great place for a lunch break with facilities. From Animas Forks take California Gulch to Hurricane Pass to Corkscrew to hit Hwy 550 and return to Ouray.

Good question. It was spanish immersion, so I believe the correct way was Bway-nah.

I will include those four to the list. One of my unknowns with the san juans is the best route to take on each trail. In 2023 we did Silverton to Cinnamon to Lake City up engineer and back down to silverton. This seemed like the backwards way (against traffic) to do it.

Haven't decided on a basecamp location, we might stay mobile and bounce around.

 

[toddz69]

I will include those four to the list. One of my unknowns with the san juans is the best route to take on each trail. In 2023 we did Silverton to Cinnamon to Lake City up engineer and back down to silverton. This seemed like the backwards way (against traffic) to do it.

Lots of good suggestions in the thread. Once you decide on routes, some of us can probably help with more specifics. Your 2023 route sounds like the "right way" to me - mainly because that's how I've done in the past .

Todd Z.

 

[Scoop]

Good question. It was spanish immersion, so I believe the correct way was Bway-nah.

I will include those four to the list. One of my unknowns with the san juans is the best route to take on each trail. In 2023 we did Silverton to Cinnamon to Lake City up engineer and back down to silverton. This seemed like the backwards way (against traffic) to do it.

Haven't decided on a basecamp location, we might stay mobile and bounce around.

There is a story behind bYOO-na which I won't go into here! LOL

There is really no "correct" way to do the Alpine Loop. All of the trails with the exception of Black Bear are 2-way. I would recommend staying mostly in the Ouray area. Very 4x4 friendly and it's the most central location for most of the trails. Ironton, just south of Ouray on 550, is a great place to boondock.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Here are my trail goals. How many days should I budget for this, in what order and in what direction?

Engineer Pass
Cinnamon Pass
Mineral Creek
Black Bear
Corkscrew
Ophir Pass
Imogene Pass
Yankee Boy



Maybes:
Last Dollar Mountain
Poughkeepsie

 

[Yeller]

Last Dollar is scenic and easy unless it’s wet. Poughkeepsie is probably the most difficult for about 200’.

 

[Scoop]

Last Dollar is scenic and easy unless it’s wet. Poughkeepsie is probably the most difficult for about 200’.

I don't think I'd take my unlifted Badlands SAS on "The Wall". Too much scraping on the undercarriage. But there is a (long) bypass. The bypass at the Wall is closed. I'm not a big fan of Ophir. I got drenched in my bikini top trail rig on Last Dollar a few years ago. That's the exact moment I decided to get a Gen6! LOL

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

I don't think I'd take my unlifted Badlands SAS on "The Wall". Too much scraping on the undercarriage. But there is a (long) bypass. The bypass at the Wall is closed. I'm not a big fan of Ophir. I got drenched on Last Dollar a few years ago. That's the exact moment I decided to get a Gen6! LOL

Curious to the reason on Ophir.

We will skip poughkeepsie. Its a 2025 BL SAS with about 150 miles on it currently

 

[kevscj5]

Those trail goals pretty much cover most of what I'd suggest. You're gonna need about 4 days.

-The Alpine Loop is a good day which covers multiple items on your list. I've mountain biked it, dirt biked it and jeeped it. It's a good, long day. Doesn't matter which rotation you go. But, I'd suggest counter-clockwise from Hwy 550 starting at Ironton and then going up Corkscrew Gulch and over Hurricane Pass. Leave Poughkeepsie Gulch for a different day. Then you'll do California Gulch to the ghost town of Animas Forks. Visit for a while and then continue East over Cinnamon Pass. Keep going East to Lake City where you can refuel or grab a soda. Then, go back West up and over Engineer Pass. You'll probably want to take the short way back down Mineral Creek to the Highway after going over Engineer.

-Another loop for a good day is to do Black Bear Pass and Imogene Pass. Black Bear can only be done in one direction, starting off 550 just North of Silverton. Spend some time in Telluride before continuing up and over Imogene Pass and you can go up to Yankee Boy Basin before returning back to Ouray.

-Another good day is Poughkeepsie Gulch starting again at Hwy 550. Go up Poughkeepsie to Hurrinane and then make your way down South to Silverton. Spend some time in Silverton and then make your way back Northeast up the valley and up through Animas Forks again. Then, take Mineral Creek back down to the Hwy.

-Ophir Pass or Stoney Pass are other choices, but would be secondary on my to-do list.

Have FUN!

 

[Yeller]

Ophir is just meh, I do enjoy that it spends time crossing some impressive glacial till, but the trail is super easy. I really enjoy Stoney Pass, but I plan a day for it and drive it from Creede to silverton or ouray.

 

[Scoop]

Curious to the reason on Ophir.

We will skip poughkeepsie. Its a 2025 BL SAS with about 150 miles on it currently

IMHO, compared to other passes, the views from Ophir are not that good. Starting the trail from 550, the downhill portion into the town of Ophir is long, lots of loose rocks and it's easy to get stuck for a while waiting for uphill traffic to clear. Also the town of Ophir has a reputation of not being 4x4 friendly. Bottom line is it's "OK" but other passes are more fun and scenic.

 

[BruiserOutdoors]

Those trail goals pretty much cover most of what I'd suggest. You're gonna need about 4 days.

-The Alpine Loop is a good day which covers multiple items on your list. I've mountain biked it, dirt biked it and jeeped it. It's a good, long day. Doesn't matter which rotation you go. But, I'd suggest counter-clockwise from Hwy 550 starting at Ironton and then going up Corkscrew Gulch and over Hurricane Pass. Leave Poughkeepsie Gulch for a different day. Then you'll do California Gulch to the ghost town of Animas Forks. Visit for a while and then continue East over Cinnamon Pass. Keep going East to Lake City where you can refuel or grab a soda. Then, go back West up and over Engineer Pass. You'll probably want to take the short way back down Mineral Creek to the Highway after going over Engineer.

-Another loop for a good day is to do Black Bear Pass and Imogene Pass. Black Bear can only be done in one direction, starting off 550 just North of Silverton. Spend some time in Telluride before continuing up and over Imogene Pass and you can go up to Yankee Boy Basin before returning back to Ouray.

-Another good day is Poughkeepsie Gulch starting again at Hwy 550. Go up Poughkeepsie to Hurrinane and then make your way down South to Silverton. Spend some time in Silverton and then make your way back Northeast up the valley and up through Animas Forks again. Then, take Mineral Creek back down to the Hwy.

-Ophir Pass or Stoney Pass are other choices, but would be secondary on my to-do list.

Have FUN!

Thank you!!! Exactly the info I wanted. That alpine loop is a long day for sure. We did durango to silverton to cinnamon to lake city to engineer to silverton to ouray in one day and we were cooked!