The road to Alpine Tunnel was built by the Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad from 1880-1882. The Alpine Tunnel closed in 1910 (due to a cave in) and the railroad was removed by 1934, after being used from both ends to serve a few on-line stations.
The day we drove the eastern approach to Alpine Tunnel was kind of rainy and icky. The sort of drizzle that makes a mess of things. The first interesting thing I took a picture of was a bridge that was closed to anything larger than a snowmobile. To continue past the bridge, one must drive a "sho-fly" to bypass around it. The bypass was very rough, and we had to maneuver around some pretty big rocks and potholes. Dawn and I looked the bridge over, and we could not see any obvious reason that it should be closed. If you know why this bridge is closed, please send me a note at the e-mail address at the bottom of this page.
The next interesting item is one that you may have seen elsewhere, as it is quite odd and everyone takes this shot. It is some sort of structure used by a mining company long ago. We met the man that claims to have just purchased the mineral rights to this area, and talked to him for a moment or two while he panned a small stream for gold.
We went as far as Hancock, where the only remaining structure (if you can call it that) is the ruins of this saloon. We didn't go any further because it was getting late, the drizzle had turned into snow flurries, then a steady rain that became a thundershower So I took a few more pictures in the rain.
OK. The snow was only flurries. But we did get a thundershower! We even saw pea-sized hail on the ground when we got down off the mountain!
Some of the interesting sights on the western approach to Alpine tunnel are the Midway and Gulch water tanks. The Midway tank is in ruins, but the Gulch tank has been restored by a four wheel drive group.
The area called "The Palisades" is where the road is notched into a cliff,
and rests on a retaining wall, made of locally cut stone. Each stone was hand fitted; no mortar was used. Hardly a stone has been displaced in over 100 years. The retaining wall was constructed in 18??.
Williams Pass Road was built before Alpine Tunnel, and was used as a supply road for the railroad. It is a challenge for almost any wheeled vehicle, and is closed to vehicle travel by a gate. As you might guess, the railroad made travel much easier and more convenient to early settlers and miners
At the end of the western approach to Alpine Tunnel is Alpine Tunnel Station ,
and what is left of the tunnel portal and monument.
The fantastic view west from over tunnel portal.
Alpine Tunnel Road is no challenge for an AMC Eagle (at least in dry
weather!).
Alpine Tunnel Historic District
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