From Silverton, drive east through town and bear right onto road 110. After about 7.5 miles, the trail will be on the right, unmarked Forest Service Road 587. About a mile into the trail is an old mining mill foundation with a couple of cabins nearby. A half-mile later, bear right at the fork and shortly you'll pass another couple cabins. You'll find a water fall just over 2 miles into the trail. After awhile the road condition gets worse to the point that you'll want to stop and hike. Return the way you came.
Trail Story by Michael Shimniok
Amy and I had a slow, quiet day Tuesday. After a failed attempt to fund my FSJ by panning for gold, we headed down Minnie Gulch, encountering only one other vehicle, now that the Labor Day Weekend was over. The gulch was silent. An old cabin invited us to take a picture along the way and then we proceeded towards the very end of the trail. It began to rain a little bit as we peered back the way we came. After a few photo opportunities and staring around dumbfounded at the wide open spaces, we turned back for town.
Sources
Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails, Charles A. Wells
Michael Shimniok, Ouray Recon 2000
Backhoe at the end of Minnie
Gulch, photo by Michael Shimniok