On Saturday morning Amanda and I headed down to Silverton. After setting up camp we made our way down the road that leads from Silverton to Animas Forks that we have traveled many times before. In the past we have explored a bunch of the side trails off of this road (Cunningham Gulch, Eureka Gulch, Picayune Gulch & Placer Gulch), however there were a few that either I have not checked out before, or that were blocked by snow when I attempted them. Our goal for this day was to check out the rest of those trails.

We started off in Arrastra Gulch. This was a quick one, as it appears that the trail now dead ends at private property pretty quickly.

Look up for the tram at the start of Arrastra Gulch


There still are some nice views from this short trail




Before heading back out to the Animas Forks Road, we took the trail up to Little Giant Basin.

Headed up to Little Giant Basin


Tram tower


Sealed up King Solomon Mine portal




Big Giant Mill

 

Gold Lake at the end of the trail




On our way back down, we stopped to check out the Black Prince mining camp.









After making it back down, we headed over to our next destination: Maggie Gulch.

Headed up into Maggie Gulch


Looking back


Some ruins at the end of the trail

 

Stopped by this waterfall on the way back down


Our next destination was the next gulch north; Minnie Gulch. Amanda drove my Jeep on this one, so I could relax.

Caledonia Mine boarding house




Cabins along the trail




Further up Minnie Gulch


Waterfall along the trail


Two-track at the end of the Minnie Gulch trail

 

Burns Gulch was our last side trip before reaching Animas Forks.

The trail up to Burns Gulch




Burns Gulch


The trail passed a few mine shafts


End of the road


Animas Forks off in the distance


Lots of flowing water in this gulch


Headed back down

 

Before heading back towards Silverton to finish the last trail along the Animas Forks Road we hadn't been on, we stopped at Animas Forks again to take some more photos. Here's a few...

 

Before heading back to Silverton, we had one more trail to explore. This one was right outside Silverton and headed up Swansea Gulch. It turns out the most interesting parts of this trail were right at the beginning, but it was still a nice steep drive to the sudden end of the trail.

Much of the trail looked like this. It was steep much of the way and never got above tree line, so there were no good views down onto Silverton.


The one open spot near the end of the trail


Lackawanna Mill with Silverton in the background


Animas River


After having dinner at Romero's we still had a little daylight left, so we headed up to Clear Lake.

 

Amanda took this one








Full photo galleries: http://myxj.net/g2/v/2009_adventures/silverton_animas

 

As always Randy, beautiful shots!! Looking at your pictures makes me want to get out SOOOO bad!! Soon enough I reckon...

 

those are some real great pics

 

Playing around with some of my Animas Forks photos

 

The B&W makes it look great. It looks like it was taken a long time ago!!

 

I love that area. I wish I could have spent more time on the trails up there. Maybe when I am back in Durango helping my father move back to hell....er Oklahoma (has been 105* here the past couple of days) I can convince him to take his Chevy pickup up there, since they aren't really hard but more scenic.
I know he wouldnt take the truck down Black Bear though... which is the trail we ran when I was up there last in his CJ7. We also ran Ophir Pass to get back to the highway.

 

nices wheeling pics where is this at man looks aswome

 

Not meaning to hijack, but ive been thinking about doing Black bear pass.
Some people have told me it's pretty tough, others say it's a cakewalk for even a stock XJ.
Anyone got info or experience as to how bad it REALLLLY is?
Been thinkin maybe do it with the dirtbike first, then the XJ if it's not that bad.
(the xj has the "upcountry" package with factory ls rear and 30" AT's)

I'd hate to get 1/2 way down and end up stuck!


Great pics by the way OP!

 

Black Bear would be fine for a stock XJ. It's not a difficult trail.....it's just a steep and narrow trail with little room for error. There are not really any obstacles on the trail....just some tight/steep switchbacks at the top.

Some photos from my trip last year: http://www.myxj.net/blog/476