Yankee Boy Basin Trail Report

Yankee Boy Basin Trail Report
Contributed by Miles A. Lumbard
Photos by Jerry Clark and Miles A. Lumbard

Yankee Boy Basin is an absolutely beautiful 4x4 destination just southwest of Ouray. The road/trail aren't THAT hard, and are a good first trip to get your four wheelin' feet wet. Yankee Boy is beautiful in any season, but the best has got to be late spring and early summer, when the wild flowers are in bloom. The floor of the basin is transformed into a riot of colors almost too vivid to be real. Going up in winter may not be too smart what with the slides and all, but I have been there once and as you can see from the pics, it's an awesome sight.

The Yankee Boy and Governor Basin 4x4 trip starts at the turnoff from Hwy. 550 just south of Ouray. The sign says Box Canyon Falls Park, among other things. After the main turnoff, go passed the right turn to Box Canyon, and continue to the right turn and over the new bridge. This bridge crosses the Uncompahgre River as it snakes through a spectacularly deep and narrow gorge. After crossing the bridge, the road ascends rather steeply as it heads up the southwest side of the canyon. This isn't FWD territory yet, but Granny low is appropriate if you want to slow down and enjoy the sights. There are spectacular views of Ouray to be had all along this section.

After leveling out some (not much, but it ain't vertical anymore) the road traverses through lush forest as it follows Canyon Creek. After a while (I don't know how far, I ain't watchin' the odometer!) you will come to a bridge that takes you across to the west side of the creek. This is a good spot to get out your shovel and gold pan, and hunt for some "color". The large milling operations farther up the canyon were very inefficient in the early days, and a lot of gold just went right out onto the tailings heap, and down the creek! Now gold being heavy as it is, likes to collect in deep pools right up under boulders and such. That's where the shovel comes in. You can tell if you're in the right place if there is a lot of fine black sand in what you got. It's called Magnetite and it's found with the gold flecks ‘cause it's just about as heavy. A word of warning though, the water is COLD and it'll turn you blue in a heartbeat so be careful while play prospector.

Just passed the bridge, on the left, across the creek are the remains of the Thistledown mill. Check out the book Mountain Mysteries to see a picture of it when it was standing. The mine and mill mainly produced Flourospar, which was used as a flux in smelting operations.

On up the road a piece we begin to get into the ledge section. Up here the road is about a Jeep and a half wide, with wider spots here and there for passing. It clings to the side of the canyon several hundred feet (OK so I don't know how far down it really is, but it's a long way!) above Canyon Creek. There are several large turn outs that offer spectacular views up and down the canyon. At one turn out, a spring in the rock face offers a refreshing cool drink. The spring is always covered in a large growth of rock clingin' wild flowers. It's safe to drink, and just as sweet and cold as can be. In the old days, a tin cup was hung on a peg next to the spring, and the spot was known as The Drinking Cup. An avalanche that runs down into the canyon at this point is known as the Tincup Slide.

If you ain't in FWD drive yet, this is a real good time to lock those hubs. Yeah I know - you got autolockers - but did you know they only work goin' forward? Yep, you ain't got but two wheels scratchin' in reverse! Oh well, anyway, after the ledge section things start to get steeper and rougher in a bit of a hurry, that's all.

The large mining complex in the canyon is what's left of the Campbird Mine and mill. The mill is being broken down and shipped to Mongolia so there may not be much left. The Campbird Mine was discovered by Thomas Walsh in 18xx and named for the small birds that were hangin' around his campsite. These little beggars would (and still will) fly off with any food you get out. I've seen ‘em fly off with a piece of Pepperidge Farm 87 grain bread! The bread had to weigh twice as much as the bloody bird! Anyway, the mine was originally located high up in Imogene Basin, up the canyon that goes off south from right behind the mill. (See Imogene Pass Trail)

Rounding the corner, and heading west, we next encounter the overhang section, also known as the automatic mountain Jeepwash. Jeepwash?? Yep, there's usually a lot of water drippin' out of the rocks hangin over your head. Don't worry, it ain't fell down and squashed nobody yet. Now the road really starts to get steep and rough, or as I like to say "interestin'".

Just passed the overhang area, as the canyon narrows, look across to the opposite rock face and see if you can spot the remains of the ladder and ore chute. I don't know if even gold could get me to climb up that thing! On up the hill aways, the trail tends to get washed out a bit, and some careful maneuverin' may be needed to keep all the underneath parts where they belong. This short steep section opens out onto a more level area. On your left will be the remains of the Revenue Tunnel, and on your right, the Torpedo Eclipse mill. Also just before the Revenue Tunnel, the Imogene Pass Trail takes off to the left. On up the trail is the old Sneffels townsite on the right - not much left now - and on your left the remains of the Atlas mill. You can drive down to the base of the mill and poke around, but USE CAUTION! None of this stuff gets any upkeep, and there's nails and rotted wood everywhere. Also PLEASE don't try to take home anything but pictures. Too much souvenir hunting has despoiled many of the old mining sites scattered through the mountains.

A little bit further up the trail you'll come to a fork. The Ruby Trust Mine is located here. To the left is Govenor Basin. Now if you rented a Jeep in town, you can't go up this trail, cause of a steep, narrow, sidehill, rock ledge. If you've got your own wheels, have at ‘er, but do exercise good judgment. There is a switch with a large turnaround/parking area just before the ledge. If you make it across, the trail forks again. Straight ahead takes you around towards the Mountain Top Mine. Left and up takes you over into Sidney Basin - a good place to take pictures and have lunch!

Now the Yankee Boy trial heads off to the right at the Ruby Trust - I should tell you how it got it's name though. The main product of the Ruby Trust is Ruby Silver, so named because when drilling into it with a water cooled drill, the water comes out blood (or Ruby) red. Anyway, heading on up into Yankee Boy, the trail gets narrower, steeper, and more "interestin'" from here. Just take it slow and easy and you'll be fine. Off on your left is an old mine building right at the base of Twin Falls. The trail goin' back to it is still probably gated. Don't know if walkin' in is allowed or not. From this point the trail wanders up through the basin past, a second twin falls, and finally starts a steep narrow climb to the very top of the basin. I've never been able to get up that part as it always was too muddy or too rutted.

Well that's about it. The views from up here are spectacular, and all the way back down too. You should plan at least half a day, especially if this is your first time out 4 wheelin', or if you want to tackle Govenor Basin. The summertime weather can cook up a thunderstorm faster than greased - ‘er - well, lightnin' so be prepared for that. Other than that, please just tread lightly, and be cautious. I ain't never heard of anybody gettin' hurt up there that was bein' careful.

Yankee Boy Basin Photo Gallery