Animas Forks Ghost Town Jeep Tour

Adventure #1 yesterday: We took a Jeep tour up to the ghost town of Animas Forks. By 1876, Animas Forks had become a thriving mining town with 30 cabins, a hotel, saloon, post office, and general store. By 1883, around 450 people lived there.

The town’s growth was driven by mining, but most mining activity had ceased by 1910. By the 1920s, Animas Forks had become a ghost town.

In 1884, a 23-day blizzard buried the town under 25 feet of snow, forcing people to dig tunnels to move between buildings. I cannot even imagine!

Silverton, Colorado

Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour

Adventure #2 yesterday: We went on a tour of the old Hundred Gold Mine that starts with a train cart ride that takes you 1/3 mile into the 13,000 foot Galena Mountain. Our tour guide demonstrated various tools over time used to set dynamite and explained how they blasted sections of the cave to expose veins. Definitely some tough and scary work!

They also had a fun panning area where you could pan for silver, and other fun minerals and stones.

Ironton, Colorado Ghost Town

Adventure #3 yesterday: We saw two moose on our way to the ghost town of Ironton! Erin and I visited Ironton last year, and loved it so much we decided to go back. Most everything looks the same…I know these places won’t last forever, so I’m grateful we got to experience this place again.

Founded in 1893, during its peak in the late 19th century, the town’s population hovered around 1,000 residents. Ironton had its own mines, two daily trains from Silverton, chain stores from both Ouray and Silverton, along with hotels, saloons.

Once mining in the area slowed down by the early part of the twentieth century, the population slowly dwindled. The last official town local, Milton Larson, passed away in the mid 1960s.

Ouray, Colorado

Night-time view of our favorite mountain town of Ouray, Colorado, and our home for the next few days.