West Mountain
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Fairview Peak, Pitkin
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 2 FR 879 2.27 9,200 to 10,700 ft. NA 1-2 hours
County:	Gunnison
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Grand Mesa/Uncompahgre/Gunnison National Forest Gunnison Ranger District	216 N. Colorado Gunnison, CO 81230	970-641-0471
Summary:	West Mountain is an easy 4WD road that connects the Gold Link mine to Pitkin. It crosses the sides of Islet Mountain (10,990 ft.) and West Mountain (10,608 ft.).
Attractions:	Mining History
Seasonal Closure:	Natural - closed by heavy snows
Best Time:	June - Best, possible snow drifts at higher elevations July - Best August - Best September - Best, fall colors October - Best
Trail Heads Accessed:
Camping:	There are no campsites along the West Mountain road.
Base Camp:	Not a good area to base camp.
Fall Colors:	Poor - mainly pine forest.
Navigation:	Northwest end From Gunnison, CO head east on US Hwy50 for 11.6 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 76 and go 8.7 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 771 and go 5.2 miles. Turn right onto West Mountain road, FR879. From Sargents, CO head southwest on Hwy50 for 20.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 76 and go 8.7 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 771 and go 5.2 miles. Turn right onto West Mountain road, FR879. Southeast end From Gunnison, CO head east on Hwy50 11.6 miles. Turn left onto County Rd 76 and go 14.6 miles. Turn left onto Chicago Park Rd and go 0.9 miles. Slight left onto Grasshopper Rd and go 0.1 miles. Turn left onto Star Pointer Rd and go 0.5 miles to start the West Mountain road, FR879. From Sargents, CO head southwest on Hwy50 for 20.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 76 and go 14.6 miles. Turn left onto Chicago Park Rd and go 0.9 miles. Slight left onto Grasshopper Rd and go 0.1 miles. Turn left onto Star Pointer Rd and go about 0.5 miles to start the West Mountain road, FR879.
History:	The Raymond Mine produced seven million dollars worth of gold from 1897 to 1917, when it closed. The Gold Links mine, north of the Raymond mine had a 40 stamp mill and two story boarding house for the miners. The Gold Links produced $600,000 in Gold and Silver before it closed in 1913. Al Campbell was one of the founders of Campbell Town, also called Cameltown, in 1880. Its workings were abandoned when the Carter Mine tunnel expanded to its mines.
	Jessen, Kenneth. Ghost Towns Colorado Style, Vol. 2, Central Region Loveland, Colorado: J.V. Publications, 1999. Print. Gunnison County Chamber of Commerce Ghost Towns and 20 Circle Tour trips of the Gunnison County Gunnison, Colorado: B&B printers. Print. Eberhart, Perry. Guide to Colorado Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, 4th Ed. Athens, Ohio: Swallow Press, 1974. Print.
Description:
Starting from the Gold Links Mine on County Rd 771, the West Mountain road will follow the creek up Hill Gulch. Gold Links Mine boarding house, 1999 photo by: Adam M Gold Links Mine mill, 1999 photo by: Adam M The road will be a bit narrow in spots as it passes old prospect holes and cabin remains. Prospect above Gold Links Mine, 1999 photo by: Adam M After crossing Hill Gulch Creek the road will climb up a switch back and onto a ridge of Islet Mountain. The road will continue to climb through the forest to its high point at the intersection with a road to the right that goes to Campbell Town (aka. Cameltown) and then on down Jones Gulch. Campbell Town sign, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Campbell Town sign plaque, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Campbell Town cabin, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Campbell Town cabin, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Campbell Town cabin, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Campbell Town mill remains, 2019 photo by: Gordon H From the intersection West Mountain road will continue southest along a ridge of West mountain. From the ridge the road will head down through the forest along the southwest side of West Mountain and tie into the residential roads outside of Pitkin. The road is actually longer than 2.27 miles due to it crossing many sections of private propery. Raymond Mine, below Gold Links Mine, 1999 photo by: Adam M Raymond Mine, below Gold Links Mine, 1999 photo by: Adam M Raymond Mine, below Gold Links Mine, 1999 photo by: Adam M Raymond Mine, below Gold Links Mine, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Raymond Mine, below Gold Links Mine, 2019 photo by: Gordon H Raymond Mine, below Gold Links Mine, 2019 photo by: Gordon H
Data updated - August 24, 2019    4WD Road driven - August 8, 1999    Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2019