Contributed by Jerry Clark
Photos by Jerry Clark and Miles A. Lumbard
| Corkscrew Gulch Road offers some of the most beautiful scenic views in the San Juan region. The road climbs up between the Red Mountains and descends into Ironton Park and intersects Highway 550. A side trip off the Corkscrew Gulch road leads into the top of Gray Copper Gulch with alpine lakes that mirror the Red Mountains. |
| The original route was a rough trail built in 1883 to provide access between the Red Mountain mining district and Gladstone. The current road is steep and rough in spots with several sharp switchbacks. The road is suitable only for 4 wheel drive vehicles. |
| The Corkscrew Gulch Road begins about 2 miles above Gladstone. Take a sharp turn back to the left off San Juan County Road #10. The road climbs steeply up the mountain slope to a junction with a road to the right leading to the head of Gray Copper Gulch. |
| The beginning of the side road to Gray Copper Gulch is steep, but levels out in a short distance. As the road levels out, two small alpine lakes will be seen on the right. The mountain to the right is Brown Mountain. The mountain to the left is Red Mountain #1. |
| The road makes another short steep climb which can be challenging when muddy, and passes several alpine lakes on the left which mirror the Red Mountains. Take time for lunch, photos, or just enjoying the views. This may not be the most beautiful location in the San Juans, but it has to come close. |
| The route continues for a short distance past several mine dumps into the Uncompaghre National Forest but ends at a gate at the Vernon Mine property. From here, backtrack to the Corkscrew Gulch road. |
| At the intersection of the Corkscrew Gulch road continue up the trail. You will be entering the San Juan Forest. Storm Peak will be visible to the left, with the South Fork of Cement Creek in the basin below it. |
| Beyond the switchback the roads climbs above timberline. Looking back to the right you have good views of Minnehaha and Ross Basins, Hurricane Peak and Bonita Peak. |
| Just before reaching the top you can see a mine dump on the right across a small alpine lake which may be dry late in the season. This dump may be from the Sailor Boy operation worked in the early 1900's. Across from the lake a road takes off to the left. I have not taken this route, but I understand it is a short trip following the top of the ridge and providing beautiful views. The road soon reaches a saddle and it is highly recommended that you turn around at this point. The private road descending from here has 2 severely sharp and dangerous switchbacks and dead ends on a ridge providing no better views than were had from the saddle. |
| Returning back to the main Corkscrew road, you will pass another small alpine lake and begin the descent into Corkscrew Gulch. The pass is located at 12,217 feet. Red Mountain #1 is on the right at 12,592 feet. Red Mountain #2 is ahead and to the left at 12,219 feet. Red Mountain #3 is to the left at 12,890 feet. McMillan Peak can be seen with the microwave tower to the left of Red Mountain #3 as you descend the upper switchbacks. |
| As the road reaches the basin, a mine dump is seen on the right. This may be the Iron Horse Claim. A closed road to the left led to the Carbonate King Mine. Just beyond the road to the left are the walls of an old cabin. |
| The road descends into the trees and make several switchbacks passing a rugged section of canyon. At the first switchback is a small dump and a mine and cabin situated in a red gulch across the canyon. This is difficult to see. |
| As the road enters a small lower basin, you will see a large dump to the left of the road. This is the Midnight Mine, first worked in the late 1880's or early 1890's. Other dumps belonging to the same operation can be seen in the area along with the remains of a large mine structure or cabin back in the trees. A boiler sits on top of the dump. |
| The road will cross a small creek twice. The road continues to a junction, with the main Corkscrew Road staying to the left. The road to the right is an alternate if wet weather makes the main road impassable across the clay hillside. Continuing through the clay hills you will have a view of Highway 550. Towards the bottom of the clay hills across the canyon you may notice the timbers of the Silverton Railroad turntable. The turntable is still there, but is difficult to see from this location. |
| After entering the trees again, the raod will cross a right-of -way for a pipeline. The road leaves Corkscrew Gulch and circles around the base of Red Mountain #1 entering the mouth of Gray Copper Gulch. Just past a small meadow a road to the right leads up the face of Brown Mountain to the Albany Mine. The main route continues past the Idarado Mine tailings pond to Highway 550. Take a right to Ouray through the Uncompaghre Gorge, turn left for Silverton through Red Mountain Pass. |
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Grey Copper Gulch, probably one of the most beautiful places on this earth
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Grey Copper Gulch, probably one of the most beautiful places on this earth
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Grey Copper Gulch with view of
one of the alpine lakes (84k) |
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Grey Copper Gulch with view of
Red Mountain Number 1 (103k) |
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Remains of the Mogul Mine above Gladstone, as seen from the Corkscrew trail
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Seasonal lake at the summit of the Corkscrew Gulch trail
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At the summit of Corkscrew Pass
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A view across Ironton Park to the Hayden Range from the Corkscrew trail.
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Stopped to take scenic photos along the Ironton side of the Corkscrew trail. The dude in the hat is Buffalo Bob Query, a buddy of mine from work who tagged along in '86 on my San Juan Oddity
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MUDSLIDE! While trying to get up the Corkscrew trail one day, I encountered this mudslide. The only problem getting through was the file cabinet sized rocks lurking in all that muck! Took an passle of quarters to get it all out of the frame and suspension too!
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A shot of my buddy Tom Caldwell and his ‘Runner heading up to see Moses and get the stone tablets! Shot just above the mudslide on the Corkscrew trail
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Another photo stop on the Corkscrew trail. This is up in the switchbacks near the pass. As you can see it had snowed a few days before. When we got 2 switches further up, I got to experience sliding back down the trail on the ice my tires had just made running over the wet snow. Of course I then got to experience pulling the seat cover out of my butt!
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A study in lighting contrasts. Shot on the Ironton side of the Corkscrew trail in late afternoon.
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A study in lighting contrasts. Shot on the Ironton side of the Corkscrew trail in late afternoon.
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On the Corkscrew Creek Trail!. Dadgone it, I KNOW there's ‘sposed to be a Jeep trail here someplace!
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View from the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Remains of the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Remains of the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Remains of the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Remains of the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Remains of the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Remains of the Corkscrew Gulch Turntable
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Mark L. Evans
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