Picayne and Placer Gulches

4.8/5 (32 reviews)
Picayne and Placer Gulch is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area is alive with vivid wildflowers in the peak season of late July/early August, painting a colorful pattern across the green alpine meadows and toweri...Read More
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Highlights of Picayne and Placer Gulches

Altitude Category IconAltitude
Beginner Category IconBeginner
Forest Category IconForest
Ghost Town Category IconGhost Town
Iconic Category IconIconic
Mine Category IconMine
Scenic Category IconScenic
Highest Elevation
12717 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
West
Official Trail Name
San Juan County Road 9
Nearest Town
Silverton
Nearest Services
Silverton
Management Agency
San Juan National Forest
District
Antonito Ranger District

Overview

Picayne and Placer Gulch is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area is alive with vivid wildflowers in the peak season of late July/early August, painting a colorful pattern across the green alpine meadows and towering stone peaks. The Sound Democrat Mill is one of the best-preserved mine structures in Colorado. Restored by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for visitors to tour, it still possesses all of its machinery in place, from the stamp batteries to Wilfley tables. This lets visitors see how precious minerals were processed from the raw ore that entered the mill.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
17 Waypoints
53 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
32 Community Reviews
1 Video
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