Sunnyside Saddle
The flanks of Hurricane Peak proved to be irresistible to
the miners of Silverton and Ouray. Consequently its slopes
have been thoroughly sifted, and mining debris litters all
sides. Another result of all this activity is that the
peak is encircled by passes: California
Pass, Hurricane Pass
and Sunnyside Saddle. Of these three Sunnyside Saddle may
be the most satisfying for a mountain biker in the middle
of the summer. This saddle offers a chance to leave behind
the traffic jams of Texas jeep convoys, ATV blobs and
exploding motor cycles. In order to do this one has to
engage in a bike hike in the literal sense of the word. A
short section on one side of the summit has only the very
faintest of foot trails.
click on profile for more detail |
1.(9300ft,mile00) START-END
SOUTH-EAST: downtown Silverton
2.(10460ft,mile01) Gladstone, route continues up
steep dirt road on right signed for Hurricane and
California Pass
3.(12290ft,mile07) route takes right fork, deviation
from Hurricane Pass
4.(12780ft,mile10) TOP: Sunnyside Saddle
5.(12270ft,mile11) Sunnyside mining reclamation area
with nonexistent Lake Emma
6.(9990ft,mile11) Eureka Gulch terminates in Animas
Canyon. Profile continues to right, back to starting
point.
7.(9300ft,mile24) START-END NORTH-EAST downtown
Silverton
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 Approaches
From South. The profile begins in Silverton and
heads up Cement Creek. That part of the is described on the Hurricane
Pass page. The turnoff to Sunnyside Saddle is not marked.
But the first sight of the saddle is oftem mistaken for
Hurricane Pass, which is out of sight on the left. The section
between the turnoff and the saddle is really just a short
traverse to the right. At the saddle the path continues
steeply up Hurricane Peak, with no immediately apparent way
down the other side into the Sunnyside Mining area with its
drained Lake Emma.
From North. The approach is described in a downward
direction. Continuing up on foot a short distance above the
saddle offers a better vantage point on the best way down.
Continuing from the pass around the right side of the
snowfield ( if it exists ) leads to an ever so faint path that
leads down to the mining debris area in one single switchback.
This section is not rideable. The continuation from Sunnyside
down the dirt track into Eureka Gulch turns out to be a scenic
highlight with the right light conditions. Emery Peak (13310
ft) forms an impressive triangle in the sky. Just before
descending into lower Eureka Gulch a series of cascades and
waterfalls on the opposite side of Animas Canyon dwarfs the
altitude that the cyclist himself has been descending from the
saddle, even though that seems like a very respectable
altitude already. The profile returns to the starting point
down Animas Valley to Silverton.
Tours
Dayrides.
A loop ride from Silverton up Cement Creek over Sunnyside
Saddle, down Eureka Gulch back to the starting point measured
21 miles in 3.3 hours ( no measured altitude gain due to
altimeter malfunction ). The distance is a little shorter than
shown on the profile, probably the loop did not go into
Silverton. The 3.3 hours only account for the time the bike
was moving. The actual trip with hike up towards Hurricane
Peak took longer. (m3:06.07.24).
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Colorado Pass Tables Page
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