Ouray/Silverton, CO – Placer Gulch & Picayune Gulch 4-Wheel-Drive Roads form a loop with California Gulch Road and CR 2/Forest Service 586 near Silverton and the Animas Forks area. This loop offers scenic high alpine vistas and a drive through historic mining areas with many buildings and remnants. We use Charles A. Wells and Matt Peterson’s “Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel -Drive Trails” to find routes and their trip descriptions with valuable waypoint information. On our Jeep GPS the entire route (Placer & Picayune) was labeled “Picane Road”. The National Geographic Trails Illustrated # 141: Telluride/Silverton/Ouray/Lake City Map labels it “Picayne Gulch”. The routes are in the San Juan National Forest who lists them online as “Placer Gulch and Picayune Gulch”, which is the name I am using.
Mining structure remnant in Placer Gulch
We opted to drive Placer Gulch first and return via Picayune Gulch, but they can be driven in either direction. Together these sections are about 8.5 miles in length. Going this direction (Placer then Picayune) meant a very steep descent down the last part of Picayune Gulch on loose rock. We used 4 low on this descent and did not have any traction or control problems. These trails are both rated moderate. Both have steep, narrow sections that do not have room for passing and are rough and rocky.
Dark clouds gather over Placer Gulch Route
Heading up Placer Gulch, we had dark clouds gathering but did not get any rain or lightning, though we could see it in the distance. Throughout Placer Gulch, which climbs between Treasure Mountain and California Mountain, are many historic mining buildings, equipment and mine shafts. These are the remains of Gold Prince Mine and Evening Star Mine. As you reach the switchbacks and begin to climb you will be climbing near Hanson Peak. After you reach the top of the switchbacks there’s a good parking area on the left to look back into the entirety of Placer Gulch. A little further ahead, take the short side trip to the right for an expansive view with an alpine lake.
Climbing Placer Gulch
Placer Gulch
Mining remnants in Placer Gulch
There are numerous mine shafts, which are blocked off
I’ve circled some of the mine openings on one hill section in Placer Gulch
Looking back into Placer Gulch
West side from top of switchbacks of Placer Gulch
High alpine vistas west of Placer Gulch switchback crest
As you head down Picayune Gulch, there is an optional side trip on CR 99 into the Eureka Mountain area. We returned to Picayune Gulch Road after checking out Eureka Mountain. As you begin to descend Picayune Gulch, you will see buildings on the right from Treasure Mountain Gold Mining Company. The structures date to the early 1900’s and are very well preserved. From here the route descends steeply, you’ll want to use low range. After this descent, arrive back at CR 2/FS 586. To the right is Silverton and to the left is Animas Forks.
Looking down into Picayune Gulch
From Picayune Gulch Road
Descending Picayune Gulch
Another view from the Picayune Gulch Route
Eureka Mountain from Picayune Gulch
Burns Gulch from Picayune Gulch
Descending Picayune Gulch
To reach the beginning of Placer Gulch, from Ouray, travel south on US 550 to Silverton, turning on Highway 110. Follow 110 through town for about a mile and bear right onto County Road 2 (also still 110) and follow signs for the Alpine Loop. Travel about 11.5 miles to reach Animas Forks, only the first 2 miles are paved. Turn left onto California Gulch and pass Columbus Mill and Bagley Mill. Make the first left into Placer Gulch (which our GPS called “Picane Road”). You can also travel Corkscrew Gulch/Hurricane Pass/California Gulch and then take a right onto Placer & Picayune to CR 2 for a bigger loop.
Reaching the junction of Picayune Gulch and CR 2
During this trip to Ouray we also traveled on Last Dollar Road, Porphyry Gulch, Ophir Pass Road, Alta Lakes Road, and Corkscrew Gulch/Hurricane Pass/California Gulch. We hiked the Ouray Perimeter Loop, Wetterhorn Basin Trail in the Uncompahgre Wilderness and Blue Lakes Trail in Mount Sneffels Wilderness, a section of the Colorado Trail/Continental Divide Trail at Stony Pass, and the Highland Mary Lakes Loop in the Weminuche Wilderness. We stayed at the Ouray KOA but there are some other RV camping options in the region. During earlier trips we have driven Engineer, Cinnamon, and Imogene Passes.
