Scenic Backcountry Tours
Get off the beaten path with our local, expert drivers.
See the backcountry in style!
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Alpine
Lakes
Ghost
Towns
Mine
Tours
Incredible
Hiking
Roadside Vistas
Half Day
$650
4 hrs
Half Day
$650
4 hrs
We will happily customize the tour based on what you want to see & do.
Just ask!
Half Day
$650
4 hours
Full Day
$950
7 hours
Includes up to 6 passengers.
Spring & Summer Tours
Half Day:
Animas Forks, California Pass & Hurricane Pass
Historic ghost towns and breathtaking high-alpine scenery
Travel into the heart of the San Juan Mountains on a scenic journey through Colorado’s historic mining country. Explore Animas Forks, a remarkably preserved ghost town that offers a glimpse into the lives of the miners who once called these mountains home. Then climb above the tree line toward California Pass and Hurricane Pass, where rugged peaks, colorful mountainsides, and sweeping views stretch across some of southwestern Colorado’s most spectacular backcountry.
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This tour combines the character of the Old West with the raw beauty of the high Rockies. Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities to stop, take photos, explore historic remnants, and simply enjoy the incredible landscape.
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A great choice for: Mountain scenery, Colorado mining history, photography, and unforgettable views.
Full Day:
Animas Forks, California Pass, Hurricane Pass, Cinnamon Pass & Lake City
Ultimate San Juan Mountain Tour
Everything the Half Day trip offers, plus...
The journey continues over Cinnamon Pass, one of the region’s signature high-mountain crossings, before descending toward Lake City, a historic mountain town with deep roots in Colorado’s mining era and a character all its own.
With historic sites, remote mountain roads, and breathtaking scenery throughout the day, this tour offers a chance to experience the San Juans beyond the usual stops. There’s time to take in the views, capture photographs, and appreciate the landscape that drew prospectors here more than a century ago.​
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A great choice for: Guests looking for a full-day mountain adventure, Colorado history, remote backcountry scenery, and a chance to experience the historic communities on both sides of the San Juan Mountains.
Fall & Winter Tours
Half Day:
The Million Dollar Highway
Silverton & Ouray
One of Colorado’s most spectacular drives along the legendary Million Dollar Highway. Leaving Silverton, travel through the rugged San Juan Mountains toward Red Mountain Pass, where towering peaks, deep valleys, and striking rust-colored mountainsides tell the story of the region’s rich mining past.
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Along the way, take in dramatic canyon views, historic remants, and the winding mountain road that has connected these communities for generations. In autumn, golden aspen groves bring another layer of color to the landscape. In winter, snow-covered peaks and frosted cliffs transform the route into a completely different scene.
With opportunities to stop for photographs and appreciate the scenery along the way, this is a chance to experience the beauty, history, and character of southwestern Colorado.
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A great choice for: First-time visitors, leaf peeping, mountain photography, Colorado history and an unforgettable scenic drive.
Full Day:
Molas , Coal Bank, Lizard Head & Red Mountain Passes
The Four Pass Loop
Spend a full day exploring the remarkable variety of landscapes that make the San Juan Mountains so special. This scenic journey crosses four of southwestern Colorado’s signature mountain passes, each offering its own perspective on the rugged peaks, broad alpine valleys, and historic mountain communities of the region.
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Take in the sweeping views from Molas Pass, where the dramatic Needle Mountains rise above the high-country landscape. Continue over Coal Bank Pass through forested mountain terrain, then travel toward Lizard Head Pass, known for its distinctive volcanic rock formations and striking views of the surrounding peaks. The journey also includes Red Mountain Pass, where vivid red slopes and remnants of Colorado’s mining era create one of the region’s most recognizable mountain scenes.
As the day unfolds, the scenery shifts from open alpine overlooks to forested slopes, rugged ridgelines, and historic mining country. Whether framed by golden aspens in the fall or fresh snow in winter, each pass offers a different view of the San Juans.
With time to enjoy scenic stops, take photographs, and appreciate the landscapes along the way, this is a relaxed way to experience a wide stretch of southwestern Colorado in a single day.
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A great choice for: Guests who want a more comprehensive scenic experience, dramatic mountain photography opportunities, take in the fall colors, and the full beauty of the San Juans.