Mayflower Gulch

Round-Trip Length:  5.14 miles
Start-End Elevation:  11,099 – 11,912′
Elevation Change:  +821’
Skill Level:  Easy
Trailhead Location:   From I-70 take Exit 195, Copper Mountain / Leadville, and travel south on HWY 91 toward Leadville.  Travel south 5.3 miles.  The Mayflower Gulch trailhead and parking area will be on the left side.

It was four years ago that we did this hike so thought it was time to do it again.  The hike is relatively short and takes you to some spectacular views and often some amazing wildflowers depending on the year and amount of rainfall we have had.  This year has been quite a dry summer so the wildflowers were not as great as some years but we did find some.  You can read our other summer blog posting of this hike here and our winter blog posting our snowshoe trek up Mayflower Gulch here.

Heading up the trail.

Some wildflowers along the way.

A glimpse through the trees of the views up the valley.

A view of the beautiful sawtooth peaks.

We approached the old Boston mine camp with the views opening up into the magnificent amphitheater below the ragged crest of Fletcher Mountain (13,951 feet).

We explored around the old cabin ruins, always framing some shots through the open windows of the cabins.  Below is a view of Jacque Peak (13,211′).

After a short break, I headed up further into the amphitheater to explore and see if I could find more wildflowers.

Looking back down the valley with Jacque Peak in the background.

After taking in some final views,  we headed back down to the car.  We were lucky that the weather held out for us and we were able to enjoy the hike and day!  Our route.

 

 

 

 

Mineral Belt Bike Trail

Trailhead Location:     Leadville, Colorado
Trail Length:  11.6 miles

With Memorial Weekend past and summer upon us, it’s time to get back up into the High Country for some summer outings.  There are many great bike paths in the mountains, including the Mineral Belt Trail in Leadville.  We biked this trail a couple of years ago in June.  The trail is a fairly easy paved trail with spectacular views!

The trail loops the city of Leadville, traveling through aspen groves, conifer forests, wildflower meadows, and open vista sage parks. The Mineral Belt Trail is a 11.6 mile all-season non-motorized ADA accessible route with numerous trailheads and access points. Approximately six miles of this trail meanders through the historic Leadville Mining District. It offers unsurpassed views of the Sawatch and Mosquito ranges.  The trail starts out at 9,974’.

A map of the complete loop:

Here we are at about 2.5 miles up the trail.  We were heading out of town with great views of the mountains.

At about mile 3.5, we came to the Turquoise Lake Overlook.

More great views as we continued up the trail.

Close to the 4 mile mark, we passed by many of the mining ruins along the trail.

Leadville was a major Mining District around the turn of the century. The trail cuts through the heart of the mineral belt that earned Leadville the moniker of “Colorado’s Silver City”.

Just past the 4-mile mark, the trail passes through the Greenback Crib Wall.  In early September of 1899, the D&RG Graham Park Branch railroad was being laid in a southerly direction into Graham Park, approaching the Mahala and Wolftone mines, which would require crossing the existing C&S Mineral Belt Line. The D&RG built an overhead crossing between the Greenback and Mahala mines. The Mineral Belt Trail passes between the crib walls erected to facilitate the segregated grade crossing.

Continuing on up past the crib walls.

The trail tops out at around 5 ¼ miles at 10,653’ with beautiful views of the Sawatch Range.

From here the trail heads down, winding through scenic forest and great views.

I think it’s time to go back and do this ride again!