| Difficulty: | Number: | Miles: | Altitude: | Obstacles: | Time: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy 2 | FR892 | 6.20 | 10,010 to 12,162 ft. | NA | 1-2 hours |
Saguache Ranger District
Saguache, CO 81149
Closure:
July - May still hit snow and softer road beds early in July
August - Best
September - Best, fall colors
October - Early snows will close the upper part of the road
Accessed:
"Kerber Creek was explored during the late 1870's by San Juan prospectors, and in 1880 the Exchequer mine was located. Just below it, the Bonanza Mine also struck rich ores, and the rush was on. The towns of Bonanza and Sedgwick sprang up along Kerber Creek in 1880, as did Exchequer, Bonito, and Spook City during 1882. These places were truly boom towns, complete with hotels, saloons, schools, churches and the famous brewery at Sedgwick. This "city" was so "civilized" that it boasted a bowling alley, a billiard hall and two dance halls. Bonanza kept up with the times through two newspapers, while stage and wagon roads connected the town with the Rio Grande Railway at Villa Grove. From the boom came the Kerber Creek Mining District, founded in 1881. These little places lasted into the 1890's, when silver prices fell. West of Kerber Creek, mining settlements, such as Sky City, Bowenton, and Biedell arose and died within a ten-year period. These places, unlike Kerber Creek, were not as rich or accessible as that mining district; therefore, they were not major mining centers in the valley."
In July of 1880 the Bonanza Mine was located, just after the Exchequer was discovered. The discoverer was cited as saying "Boys, she's a Bonanza!" Not far below this new mine, the small town of Bonanza started. Sedgwick and Kerber City were further down the valley, having started a few months earlier, and Exchequerville (Exchequer) was up the valley, believed to be the first town in the area, followed by Sedgwick. Word got out that this new strike was the "New Leadville" due to the similarity of the ore. It started a migration prospectors to the area. By 1881 the new town had saloons, false front stores, four hotels, and a house of ill repute on a hill above town. By 1882 Bonanza was at its peak with 1,300 residents. Even General Grant visited Bonanza on one of his tours of Colorado. The smaller surrounding towns faded as people moved to Bonanza.
With the Bonanza, Cocomongo, Rawley, and Superior mines producing good ore, four smelters and nineteen mills were busily at work creating concentrate to be shipped out by wagon to Villa Grove and then by rail to Durango, Leadville, and Colorado Springs for processing. At one time the Denver and Rio Grande considered a short line up Kerber Creek from Villa Grove to Bonanza. In the late 1880's silver prices started to decline. Then, in 1893 the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was repealed, removing the requirement of the US Government to purchase Silver to back it's currency. This hasened the decline of Bonanza. By 1896 the town had dwindled to 100 residents.
In 1912 the Rawley mine group ran a tunnel over a mile long beneath its mine holdings to facilitate drainage and continue mining silver ore. The tunnel was 1,200 feet below the surface and 600 feet below the lowest mine shafts. This drained the mines and by 1917 the Rawley was back mining ore with a mill and a tram to haul the out. Bonanza grew to 600 people and gained a movie theater and two schools by 1920. The post office had hung on from its start in 1881, but by 1938, the population fell below the minimum requirement and was closed. In 1947 the Empress Josephine Mine was reopened and operated for a few years before it closed for good. The Bonanza operated continuously from 1880 to 1898 when it closed for two years before reopening. It was worked off and on after 1900. The Rawley Mine was opened again in 1959, by the Superior Mining Company which owns most of the properties in the area, to process lead and zinc ore.
Eberhart, Perry. Guide to Colorado Ghost Towns and Mining Camps, 4th Ed. Athens, Ohio: Swallow Press, 1974. Print.
Leaving the Chicago Mine site at the switchback, you will continue to climb up away from Spring Creek. The road will be rocky in some places as it stays a two track through the trees. There will be a broad switchback, followed by two short switchbacks. The trees will start to thin out as you reach timberline.
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From the east side, climbing up photo by: Adam M |
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There will be one more wide switchback that will bring you out of the trees for the final climb up to the top of Whale Hill.
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Above timberline photo by: Adam M |
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You will come to an intersection at the top of Whale Hill. Stay to the left. The tailings pile on your left is the Gladstone Mine. The right hand road is and old road that goes across Mount Manitou, but is no longer shown on the Forest Service MVUMs.
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| Panoramic from the Gladstone Mine photo by: Adam M |
After leaving the Gladstone Mine you will drive across the wide expanse of Whale Hill.
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Wide Whale Hill photo by: Adam M |
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You will come to an intersection, take the right and climb up to the highest point on Whale Hill at 12,162 feet. This is also shown as Rawley on the topographic maps. After coming down the other side, you will come to another intersection. Stay to the left and head down. The right will dead end at another hump on Whale Hill. As you drop down into the trees again you will come to a sharp switchback, continue down hill.
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West side of Whale Hill photo by: Adam M |
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The road will now head down following the contours of the short gulches. After a sharp switchback you will come to another intersection. There will be a roofless cabin on the drivers side. This is the area of the Superior Mine. Take the left and start down the switchbacks. After driving five switchbacks you will come to the Superior Mine buildings.
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Superior Mine photo by: Adam M |
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Superior Mine photo by: Adam M |
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Superior Mine ore bins photo by: Adam M |
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After seven more switchbacks you will come to an intersection with a better maintained road. take the right turn and head down to the crossing of the creek in Rawley Gulch. You will then intersect with a switchback. Head down hill on County road CR47Qq toward Exchequer. Past the cabin you will come to County road CRLl56. Head left, down hill, to go to Bonanza.