Animas Forks is an extinct mining town located 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado, United States.

The loop is a 65-mile (105 km) system of unpaved roads which connects the small mountain towns of Lake City, Ouray, and Silverton.

The road beyond Animas Forks over Engineer Pass to Lake City does require high clearance four-wheel drive.

The town's first log cabin was built in 1873, and the Animas Forks, Colorado Territory, post office opened on February 8, 1875.

A Colorado State Historical Fund grant to San Juan County, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, provided for stabilization of the remaining structures in 1997 and 1998.

The BLM is now the sole owner of the Townsite, and provides interpretive brochures and maps at an adjacent parking area.

The jail structure, the oldest building on the site, has had it gable roof reconstructed as part of the second phase of the project along with new interpretive signage installed in 2014.