Distance
~5 mi one-way, out & back
Time
1.5–2.5 hours with stops
Difficulty
Easy
Officially U.S. Basin, and known to plenty of people simply as Red Mountain Pass — a beginner-rated out-and-back climbing to 12,126 ft in the heart of the Red Mountain Mining District. The Colorado silver boom of 1882–1893 literally began on this trail, and the mines are still scattered all over it, including the famous Yankee Girl. Big open views of the San Juans across the stretch people call the Switzerland of America. Easy enough for any rig in the group, which is exactly why it works as a Thursday shakedown run.
Highlights
- •12,126-ft high point in the Red Mountain Mining District
- •The Yankee Girl Mine — where the 1882 silver boom started
- •Mine remnants and headframes scattered the length of the trail
- •Beginner-rated — no technical obstacles, good for a mixed group
- •Wide-open San Juan views across the Red Mountain district
Access & Permits
No permit required — San Juan National Forest (Columbine Ranger District), official road 825. Listed as typically open year round, but the high country gates itself with snow: check conditions before you go.