Entry No. 27 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: railroad history

Alpine Tunnel West Portal

Bored through the Continental Divide in 1881 by the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, the Alpine Tunnel was once the highest railroad tunnel in the world at 11,523 feet. The West Portal complex, perched in open tundra above Pitkin, is a wreck of genuine grandeur: dry-stacked stone retaining walls, the remains of an engine house that once held an indoor turntable, and a lovingly restored 1883 telegraph office whose door stays unlocked — sign the guest registry inside three spare rooms furnished with railroad history. More than 400,000 board feet of California redwood once lined the tunnel bore to keep crumbling granite at bay. The tunnel itself is sealed, but the stonework and the silence at altitude do the work.

The move: Drive the rough FR-839 from Pitkin together, earning the approach, then wander the tundra ruins and duck inside the restored telegraph shack. The 360-degree tundra views and utter emptiness at 11,500 feet make it feel like you've found something no one else bothered to look for.

📍 Before you go The road reopened in fall 2024 after an eight-year closure to repair the avalanche-damaged Palisade Wall, but a large boulder still blocks the final parking area — plan on a 1-mile walk from the Trail #298 junction. FR-839 is rough 4WD/high-clearance; the last 10 miles take roughly two hours. Season runs July through September; the road is snowed in the rest of the year. No fee, no permit. Verify current road conditions with GMUG Gunnison Ranger District at 970-641-0471 before going.

• 📍 Pitkin
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Forest Road 839, approximately 13 miles northeast of Pitkin, CO via County Road 76 through Ohio City and Quartz; West Portal Complex at end of FR-839 (park at junction with Trail #298, ~1 mile hike to portal after boulder closure)

Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-11