Picayune Gulch
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| Maps: |
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| USGS 7.5' Map: |
Handies Peak |
| Statistics: |
| Difficulty: |
Number: |
Miles: |
Altitude: |
Obstacles: |
Time: |
| Easy 2 |
Cnty 9 |
1.30 |
11,560 to 11,800 ft. |
NA |
1-2 hours |
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| County: |
San Juan |
| Adopted by: |
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| Managed by: |
San Juan County |
1557 Greene St, Silverton, CO 81433 |
(970)387-5766 |
| Summary: |
Picayune Gulch, also spelled Picayne on topo maps, is a high gulch above the road to Animas Forks from Eureka. The Treasure Mountain Mine is the main attraction.
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| Attractions: |
History, Mining
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Seasonal
Closure: |
Natural - Closed by heavy snows.
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| Best Time: |
June - May still be snowed in
July - Best
August - Best
September - Best
October - Early snows possible |
Trail Heads
Accessed: |
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| Camping: |
There are no dispersed campsites.
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| Base Camp: |
This area would be a good place to base camp. There are many scenic 4WD roads and ghost towns in the area.
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| Fall Colors: |
Poor - The area is high alpine.
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| Navigation: |
From Silverton, CO. head northeast on Greene Street toward E 13th Street for 0.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 2 and go 7.7 miles. Turn left onto Animas Forks Rd and go 0.4 miles. Take a slight left onto County Rd 2 and go 2.5 miles. Take a sharp left onto County Rd 9, the Picayne Gulch 4WD road.
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| History: |
In 1881, several new companies began work in Picayune Gulch. Chicago investors established the Treasure Mountain Mining & Milling Company and developed the Pacific mine on Treasure Mountain. New York capitalists organized the Great Animas Gold & Silver Mining Company with two purposes. One was to speculate with hardrock claims and the other was to operate what may have been the first large-scale placer mine in the county. In particular, the company began processing the gold-bearing gravel of Picayune Gulch with hydraulic placer methods.
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Tom Moore Boarding House, at the mouth of Picayune Gulch
Silverton Miner, 1907 |
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| Description: |
Picayune Gulch begins as a steep climb up from County Road 2 south of Animas Forks. You will climb up and around the mouth of Picayune Gulch on a narrow ledge road before coming to an intersection. Take the upper road to the right to continue up the gulch.
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Coming up from County Road 2
photo by:
Adam M |
Shortly you will come to the Treasure Mountain Mine. There is very little parking here and the mine bunk house is right along the road. Besides the bunk house there is the small mill that has the collapsed ore car rails going to its upper ore loading bin and two older log cabins.
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Treasue Mountain Mine - 2015
photo by:
Adam M |
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Treasure Mountain Mine - 2015
photo by:
Adam M |
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Treasure Mountain Mine - 2000
photo by:
Adam M |
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Treasure Mountain Mine - 2015
photo by:
Adam M |
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Treasure Mountain Mine - 2015
photo by:
Adam M |
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Treasure Mountain Mine - 1988
photo by:
Adam M |
Past the mine is an intersection. The right goes to Placer Gulch, Cnty9. The left goes around the south side of Picayune Gulch.
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Intersection to Placer Gulch. Picayune Gulch extends to back center of picture.
photo by:
Adam M |
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Road on top of the ridge, part of Placer Gulch 4WD road.
photo by:
Adam M |
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Data updated - March 26, 2016
4WD Road driven - August 11, 2015
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