Corkscrew Gulch – Brilliant Color and Never Ending Views

Corkscrew Gulch is aptly named for it’s narrow and winding ascent to the summit of Red Mountain Two. Perhaps the most distinctively colored geology in the San Juan Mountains…deep reds, brilliant orange and soft yellows blanket all three of the Red Mountains. The softer sediment on the trail offers a little smoother climb than some of the other 4 X 4 trails. This increasingly popular, beautiful high mountain 4 wheel drive trail starts just before the old mining town of Ironton. For the train buff, Corkscrew Gulch also features remnants of the Guston turntable, a once productive turnaround point for the red mountain mining district’s railway. This track connected Silverton, Ironton and Lake City while in operation. Turn north, south, east or west and enjoy never-ending views of 4 different mountain ranges, including the distant Imogene Pass! Corkscrew provides one of the most unforgettable and distinctive vantage points in all the San Juans.