Historic Colorado.

As i've said in the past, we love exploring our state! There's so much to do!   Today I'm writing about another love of mine. 4-wheeling up to old ghost towns and exploring all along the way.

When my husband and I were planning our wedding/honeymoon, we'd discussed going to Australia for 3 1/2 weeks for our honeymoon. We paid the required 1/2 down at the travel agent for the airfare and were beginning to plan our trip. About a month after that, I suggested that maybe we should stay here and explore our own backyard!

Our wedding was on Sept 16th and we left for the mountains that night.  We stayed in Denver the first night then headed south to Lake City.  Lake City has an interesting history. It was just outside of Lake City where Alfred Packer was supposed to have turned into a cannibal and eaten the men he was bringing over the pass when they were hit by an early snowstorm.   If you drive south out of Lake City and watch for the sign for Lake Cristobel and Cinnamon Pass. Just past the old Ghost town of Burrows Park you will see a sign saying 4 wheel drive only beyond this point.

This is what is left of the town of Argentum in the mining district of Burrows Park. The roofless cabin on the right was built in the 1870's and was probably the Post Office that was operated by James Sloan. The larger cabin, constructed in the 1890's, could have been the stage stop and hotel that is known to be located in this area, but no one knows for sure. BLM and the Hinsdale historical society worked together in 1989 to stabalize these buildings and preserve them for future generations to see.  

   Burrows Park  Mining District.                                                  Cinnamon Pass Beginning

Heading up Cinnamon pass you will drive by the old ghost town of Carson City, last time I was there, 13 years ago, there weren't a lot of buildings left.

Heading up Cinnamon Pass

Above treeline:  Cinnamon Pass-Elevation 12600 feet above sea level.

And finally we near the end, after driving approx 55 miles in 9 hours. On the left side of the picture you can see some of the town of Animas Forks, Colorado.

Animas Forks is located more than 2 miles above sea level at an elevation of 11,300 feet. In 1875, it boasted of being the "largest town in the world" and in small print, at this altitude.  In 1876 it had a population of about 450 and had 30 cabins, a hotel, general store, saloon, (of course), and it's own Post Office.  By 1883 they had added their own newspaper, the "Animas Forks Pioneer".  In 1884 they had a blizzard that lasted for 23 days, dumping over 25 feet of snow on them. They had to tunnel through the snow to go anywhere.  Avalanches were a big problem here also, so I'm amazed that the buildings in this town are still in as good a shape as they are.

This is the most famous building in Animas Forks- there is some conflict as to who owned the home, some say it was Evelyn Walsh McLean, she was the daughter of Tom Walsh who discovered the famous Campbird Mine and was once the owner of the Hope Diamond.  I've also heard that it belonged to the Duncan Family. I don't know what the true answer to this one is. But I fell in love with this home:

Animas Forks boasted the Largest Mill in Colorado.  The people that settled this town were tough. A few would leave for the winter, but those that stayed dealt with 20+ feet of snow in the winter, avalanches & bone chilling cold and that was just the everyday life.  As I walked this town, I tried to imagine what life there was like.  Often, due to the layout of this area, snow would slide down the mountain and right up the side of the mountain on the other side.  The 1870's and 1880's were Animas Forks' boom years. But as the mines started to give out, they forced the mills to shut down. It wasn't much longer before the residents of Animas Forks left for greener pastures.

The easiest way to get to Animas Forks, and in the summer you can sometimes get there by car, is coming Hwy 110 out of Silverton Colorado. This route will take you past the ghost towns of Howardsville, Middleton and Eureka.   The other 3 routes require 4 wheel drive.  You can follow the trail up California Gulch which crosses Hurrincane Pass and over on to Lake Como.    The 2nd one goes to Mineral Point and over Engineer Pass to Lake City, or you can return over Cinnamon Pass to Lake City.

I hope no one is ever allowed to buy this town and build "summer homes" in amongst the ruins. And I hope no one ever tries to commercialize this tiny old town.  They do go in now and then and do some preservation work on the buildings that still stand, to keep them from collapsing.  You can still walk through the rooms of the Walsh (or Duncan) home and see the amazing view from the big bay window.  If you ever have the chance, go and visit this old ghost town.  But please don't take any "souveniers" from the town home with you. It would be a shame if our grandchildren couldn't see this.