Alpine Tunnel, Colorado - An Engineering Marvel

Alpine Tunnel, Colorado

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Due to the high elevation and the harsh winter conditions, the tunnel began to close during winters between 1887 and 1889 and again between 1890 and 1894. In the meantime, the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad went into receivership in August, 1889 and re-emerged as the Denver, Leadville & Gunnison line under control of the Union Pacific Railroad. However, that line, too, would go into receivership five years later.

In 1895, the tunnel faced two more disasters when, during the reopening of the tunnel after the winter, four crew members suffocated. Not long after, a train wreck occurred, killing two men near the tunnel in May.

The line continued to struggle financially until Colorado and Southern (C&S) Railway Company was formed with the merger of the DL&G, Union Pacific, and Denver & Gulf railroads in 1899.

The historic Alpine Gulch Water Tank, on the trail prior to

reaching Woodstock, has been restored, Kathy Weiser,

September, 2006.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

The line was plagued with accidents and storms during its 30 year life. In 1901, a train with one passenger coach and ten loaded freight cars was completely buried by snow and in 1904, another train wreck occurred west of the tunnel. Two years later, a fire destroyed the engine house and another collision occurred inside the tunnel.

Finally, the railroad company gave up on the dangerous and accident prone tunnel. The last train came through in November, 1910. A decade later, the vast majority of all of the old track had been removed.

Today, the area is known as the Alpine Tunnel Historic District, which consists of a two hundred foot wide right of way along thirteen miles of original Denver, South Park and Pacific rail bed between the town sites of Quartz and Hancock.

Though the east portal of the tunnel collapsed many years ago and the west portal is covered by landslides, the district still provides a vivid peek into its prosperous early years. From Hancock westward the former rail bed is now a hiking trail. The west side can be accessed over a very rough road, also on the rail bed, to the restored railroad station house.

Though this 4-wheel drive trail is listed as “easy” by many resources, when Legends of America visited in 2006, we did not find it “easy” by any means and would never make the entire drive again in a jeep. The trail is primarily accessed today by ATV’s, which unfortunately, make the road an even rougher ride in an any kind of automobile.

That being said, it is a great trip. The Alpine Historical District is normally open from July to September, where a narrow dirt road winds upward to the tunnel for about ten miles.

Start your trip northeast of Pitkin, Colorado at the junction of the Cumberland Pass Road (FDR 765) and the Alpine Tunnel Road (FDR 839). Though the first seven miles or so are rough, we had no trouble making it up the grade in a four-wheel drive jeep. Along here you will see the old town sites of Quartz, Woodstock, and Sherrod, as well as numerous mining remnants, a restored railroad water tank, and remains of some of the old railroad tracks.

The Palisades on the way down from the Alpine Tunnel,

about 1900. Paywell Mountain stands in the background.

However, just beyond Sherrod, where the road comes to a “Y”, with one really rocky path leading to Hancock and the other to the Alpine Tunnel, the trail becomes very narrow, steep in places, and extremely rocky. This is the point that we would not traverse again in a jeep, and would recommend an ATV, mountain bike, or hiking only.

Though we are, by no means 4-wheel drive experts, this conclusion was also drawn from several locals and members of ATV groups in the area.

The trail, traveling across the old narrow gauge railroad bed is very narrow in places, especially when crossing the "Palisades," a retaining wall, built of hand-cut stones without the use of mortar. The retaining wall is 432 feet in length and 33 feet in height with spectacular views.

The trail continues to the Alpine Station, where the remains of the old engine house can still be seen, as well as the restored station and telegraph office and the old railroad roundtable. Just short of the station, no ATV’s or vehicles are allowed, requiring visitors to walk a short distance to the station. The entrance to the west portal of the tunnel is on down about 1/8 of a mile.

Contact Information:

Alpine Tunnel Historic Association

P.O. Box 515

Gunnison, Colorado 81230

970- 641-5271

The Palisades today with Central Mountain in the background, September, 2006, Reletta Clumsky

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

Roundtable at the Alpine Tunnel, September, 2006,

Reletta Clumsky.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

The west portal of the Alpine Tunnel, is covered over by landslides, September, 2006, Reletta Clumsky.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

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