Written by Kyle
You have probably seen photos of American Basin in a calendar, on instagram, or a magazine at some point before. Located near Lake City, Colorado in the Gunnison National Forest this high alpine basin is surrounded by cliffs up to 14,000 feet in elevation, and is absolutely stunning.
You can get to the American Basin from the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway which starts in Lake City. Since that is only an hour away from our cabin we decided to make the drive over Slumgullion Pass early on the weekend. This winter has been remarkably dry so far and because of the time of the year there was almost no other traffic…..very different from the summer months! Bee’s son was visiting and came along as well, so we had an excuse to show him the sights and of course grab some lunch at the Sportsman’s BBQ Station in Lake City. We made our way up the loop, enjoying the sights along the way – mountains, waterfalls, and a bit of wildlife. Most people aim for the wildflower season in the summer, which is beautiful, but the fall and winter seasons here offer beauty and quiet most people never get to enjoy. The loop itself is a fun all day adventure (this is just one stop on the trip), but 4WD is required.
We made our way to the American basin trailhead (only the last mile is really bumpy, but if you do not feel up to the off roading, or your vehicle is not high clearance, you can always park at one of the earlier turnouts and walk to the trailhead), took a few minutes to stretch after the long drive, and enjoyed the views.
We were greeted by a dusting of snow on the mountains, and the view from the trailhead was perfect. We started to hike up the basin and were able to see several waterfalls, as well as one we stopped at for a quick cool down.
If you are in the area, the Alpine Loop is absolutely worth the trip, and seeing the American Basin is an experience to remember, whether in the summer months or shoulder seasons!
Ramble Around 