Animas Forks, Colorado

The highest and wildest stop here, for anyone driving the Alpine Loop in the San Juan Mountains. Animas Forks sits at about 11,200 feet, just over 12 miles northeast of Silverton, and its two-story Duncan House, built in 1879, still stands among the stabilized buildings, with interpretive signs telling the town's story. The unimproved road up from Silverton is passable by two-wheel-drive cars in summer, but the roads beyond the town need a high-clearance four-wheel drive. The route is best from May to October, so this is a summer and early fall trip.