Colorado Ghost Towns and Silver Mines

 Depart from Ouray, Colorado. Head up the Million Dollar Highway and exit onto Corkscrew Pass. Look for the Guston turntable ruins while climbing to an elevation of 12,400 feet with never-ending mountaintop views in every direction. Continue on down to Hurricane Pass and connect with California Pass overlooking the entrance to Poughkeepsie Gulch and Lake Como. Then, descend to the little known Picayune and Placer Gulch, home to the Sound Democrat and ghost town of Treasure Mountain. Lunch stop in Silverton, and start back via 550 to the trail entrance of the scenic and spectacular 4wd trail known as Skyline Drive, or as time permits, a jaunt into Red Mountain Loop for an introduction to the remnants of the National Belle and Yankee Girl mining districts.  This trip includes five distinct passes above 12,000 feet! The dramatic mountaintop scenery make this trip a photographer’s favorite.