Driving the wild 4x4 road to Cloverdale Mine in Colorado
Cloverdale Mine is an abandoned gold mine at an elevation of 3,497m (11,473ft) above sea level, located in Custer County, in the US state of Colorado. This trail is truly breathtaking.
Where is Cloverdale Mine?
The mine is located below Silver Lake, in the Cloverdale Basin within San Isabel National Forest, in the southern part of Colorado.
What is Cloverdale Mine?
The Oakwood Mining Company was established in 1922 on National Forest Land, initially seeking copper but primarily mined gold from 1951-1960. Although they found enough gold and silver to remain active through WWII, the veins quickly ran out and mining ceased. While gold is still present in small amounts on the mountain, there are no plans to reopen the mine.
Is the road to Cloverdale Mine unpaved?
The road to the mine is totally unpaved. One mistake can have serious consequences. It’s called Lake Creek Road (Forest Service Road 198). After Rainbow Lake, the trail gets significantly rougher and requires skilled driving. When you pass by an old cabin, the trail climbs through a few switchbacks and becomes very narrow in some sections. There are some narrow parts, and it can be muddy if it has rained recently. It is rocky and bumpy throughout, and there is a large boulder field towards the end of the trail. Before the mining camp, there is a small ledge obstacle where tire placement becomes particularly important.
How long is the road to Cloverdale Mine?
Starting from the paved CO-69 road, the ascent is 16.89km (10.5 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1,207 meters. The average gradient is 7.14%, hitting 12.4% through some of the ramps.
Is the road to Cloverdale Mine open in winter?
Located on the eastern side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, road conditions are always changing. Winter comes early and stays late on this trail, so you may only be able to safely run it in the middle of the summer.
Is Cloverdale Mine worth the drive?
The mine camp is a site worth visiting, and the journey offers stunning views of Eagle Peak. The mine sits at the top of a beautiful valley with a truly unique set of buildings that are mostly still standing. It gives a glimpse into a past that we often only read about.
Pic: Colorado Familyof5