From Overland Expo to Engineer Pass: A Scenic Journey Home with Tern Overland

As the Overland Expo Mountain West came to a close, Mike R, Tern OEM Sales Manager, and I decided to take the scenic route back to Arizona. Our chosen path? The famous Colorado Alpine Loop, specifically tackling the challenging Engineer Pass.

After wrapping up at the Expo, Mike and I headed to Colorado Springs, spending the night in the Woodland Park area. The next day, we made our way through Gunnison, taking a brief work pit stop before continuing to Lake City. Just outside of Lake City along the beginning of the pass, we prepared for the following day's trek- airing down our tires and eventually setting up camp, and getting a good night's rest before tackling Engineer Pass.

Early the next morning, we set out on the 35-mile stretch from Lake City to Silverton, with the heart of our journey being the famous 27.5-mile Engineer Pass route. This historic pass, built in 1877 by Russian-born engineer Otto Mears (also known for constructing the Million Dollar Highway), offers a thrilling drive through the San Juan Mountains.

The summit of Engineer Pass stands at an impressive 12,800 feet, offering panoramic views of multiple 14,000-foot peaks, including Mt. Sneffels and Uncompahgre Peak. Along the way, we were treated to stunning vistas of mountains, valleys, waterfalls, wildlife, wildflowers, and glimpses of abandoned gold mines, kilns and other historic sites.

Our work truck, an  AT Overland Aterra XL, handled the challenging terrain like a champ, navigating obstacles and hairpin turns with ease all while providing the luxury of a home - snacks, views and all. 

Despite the moderate to difficult trail conditions, we encountered a surprising amount of traffic, including adventure motorcycles, side-by-sides, Jeep and other 4x4 high clearance vehicles. That day, we were the biggest rig on the trail, so there were some hairy passes, but overall it was very achievable for an experienced driver.

For those inspired to follow in our tracks, here are some key takeaways:

1. The best time to attempt Engineer Pass is between July and September.
2. Bring recovery gear and emergency equipment. There's virtually no cell service on the pass.
3. We experienced about a 20-degree temperature drop at the pass. Pack for all conditions.
4. A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is a must for this trail.
5. We completed the pass in about half a day, but you could easily make it a full-day trip with stops. Bring snacks.

After conquering Engineer Pass and reaching Silverton in the afternoon, we camped north of Durango off the Million Dollar Highway on National Forest Service land near a large pond scattered with water lilies. Where we saw one of the most epic sunsets of the summer. The next day, we made the final stretch back to Prescott, Arizona, concluding our epic post-Expo adventure yet.

This journey not only highlighted the stunning backcountry routes of Colorado but also demonstrated the capability and comfort of our Tern Overland vehicle and products in real-world, challenging conditions like high winds and dust. Adventures like these inspire us to keep innovating, ensuring our overlanding solutions are ultra-reliable and built for peace of mind. With one less thing to worry about, you can fully focus on the road ahead and the journey that lies beyond.