California Gulch

Rating: 4/10

From the historic ghost town of Animas Forks, California Gulch extends west between Houghton and Treasure mountains and between California and Tuttle mountains. The trail traverses along the north side of the gulch passing by a mine site and several tailings piles finally climbing up a series of steep, loose switchbacks to reach California Pass and an extremely steep climb on loose, small rocks leading to a grand overlook that gives you a clear view of Lake Como and parts of Poughkeepsie Gulch. Here Corkscrew Gulch trail connects with the trail as does Poughkeepsie Gulch trail both ultimately leading back to Highway 550. The trail is moderate due to the hairy climbs which are quite difficult if the snow has not melted but is otherwise just an incredibly scenic alpine trail. This trail is the second leg in the 2002 FSJ Invasion "Mini Alpine Loop." The route will consist of a trip to Animas Forks first, then a trip through California Gulch and finally back to Ouray by way of Corkscrew Gulch.

If you want to just try this trail on your own (but with a friend in another vehicle of course), from Silverton, take 110 east which curves north to Animas Forks. Follow the Alpine Loop signs. Once you reach Animas Forks and look around and take some photos, head west and you soon enter a beautiful, wide valley, the California Gulch itself. Placer Gulch heads off to the left about one mile into this trail. If you keep going straight, two miles later you reach the approach to California Gulch and at four miles, you reach the summit of the pass. Park, but be very careful to use your emergency brake and be certain the vehicle is stationary, then get out and enjoy the incredible view at the top of this part of the world! You might choose to take a quick but rather challenging drive (about a 5/10 rating) down to Como Lake and enjoy the view of this crystal clear blue alpine lake. This is a great lunch spot!

To return to Silverton or Ouray, return via Poughkeepsie Gulch if you want a lot of excitement, or return via Corkscrew Gulch. Rather than going downhill towards Lake Como, follow the other road towards Hurricane Pass and keep driving. You can take County Road 11 to the left which is an easy way back to Silverton or keep following Corkscrew Gulch to 550 and back to Ouray.

Trail Story by Michael Shimniok

After a brief and entirely failed attempt at panning gold in Animas Forks we headed up California Gulch which kind of dog-legs before it hits California Pass. The sweeping rises of mountain slopes carpeted in the richest greens were interrupted at the oddest points by the ruins of old mine buildings.  Towards the top, at a couple of tight and steep switchbacks, the mountains turned red, covered by millions of sharp, fist-sized rocks making one ponder if the mountain was actually not solid but just a pile of these rocks.

We reached the very high pass, enjoying a spectacular view of other mountains and the gorgeous crystal blue Lake Como below.  We had a clear view of Poughkeepsie Gulch trail but no sign of FSJs, so we headed down to Lake Como for a long, long lunch.

We expected at any minute that our pals would meet up with us, but doubt crept in after an hour passed and we talked to a Wrangler owner who was still white-knuckled and saucer-eyed from the drive up that most infamous of Ouray's trails.  Either the FSJs were stuck or they bagged it and went home.

Well, after a time we gave up waiting and continued down Corkscrew Gulch which was a truly fun 4x4 drive.  It wound through trees, down gulches, and finally led down off the mountain and hooked back up with 550.

California Gulch from California Pass, photo by Michael Shimniok