I am an amateur photographer and NPN member from Amarillo, TX. I am planning a vacation from June 21-June 28 and I will be traveling in the Durango, Silverton, and Ouray area. I am interested in visiting Yankee Boy Basin. I was wondering how accessible the road is since I do not have experience driving off road (I am, after all, a flat-lander ). I also know that this region has received record snowfall; will the road to Yankee Boy even be open during this time? I would also appreciate any suggestions on other locations to visit. I plan on spending a couple of days in Durango before moving on to Silverton and finally to Ouray. I am planning on traveling to the Dallas Divide area as well.
They plow that road quite a ways up, and it should be pretty accessible by then. Just expect a lot of snow, and be surprised if you see any flowers at all that early. Some of the passes will be plowed by then, too, but if you're not familiar with 4WDing, be prepared to bring a butterfly net for all the butterflies that'll be floating around your stomach. Places like Cinnamon and Engineer passes will be attention-getters for sure. Then again, Yankee Boy might be quite a thrill for you, too.
Posted by Scott Fricke on May 15, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Yankee Boy is a pretty easy road accessible to normal cars most of the way up. My guess is most of the higher offroad passes may not be open that early, sometimes they don't open till July 4 or later. They were 70% over normal snowfall this winter. It was snowing down there today even. If you are going to the Durango area, Mesa Verde National Park is a good place to visit. If you are driving up, the Great Sand Dunes is a great place to shoot and might be on the way. Ice Lake Basin, outside of Silverton is a beautiful place to go.
Assuming that you'll be renting a 4 wheel drive of some sort, then take a drive up LaPlata Canyon road while you're in Durango. It's only about 20 miles or so west of town, and follows the LaPlata River up into the mountains past waterfalls and an old mining camp on the way up to Kennebec Pass.
Along with the Yankee Boy Basin road, this is one of the easier four wheel drive roads in the state and it should be snow free for.most of its length by the time you arrive.
Discussion
4 repliesThank you,
Brian Schrayer
Along with the Yankee Boy Basin road, this is one of the easier four wheel drive roads in the state and it should be snow free for.most of its length by the time you arrive.