Colorado mining camps, ghost towns, boomtowns, mines, mountain sight-seeing tours,
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Colorado
Ghost Towns &
Mining Camps
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1. Columbia City
2. Beaver City,
    Vicksburg,
    Rockdale/Silverdale,     Winfield

    2a)Tasmania Mine
    2b)Swiss Boy Mine
    2c)Fortune Mine
    2d)Banker Mine
    2e)Hamilton
    2f)Clohsey Lake
3. Latchaw Mine
4. St. Elmo
    4a)Romley/Hancock
    4b)Alpine Tunnel
    4c)Mary Murphy
         Mine
5. Midland, Fourmile,
    Free Gold Hill

Tour 1: Columbia City

Colorado mining camps, ghost towns, boomtowns, mines, mountain sight-seeing tours, four wheel drive trips, hiking trails, history videos, booksDestination: Columbia City, Colorado

General Location: West of Granite, CO

How To Get There: Follow CR 398 due west out of Granite approx 2 miles to CR 398A and turn left. Follow CR 398A until the road conditions exceed your 4 wheel drive abilities and hike the remaining distance, although some 4 wheelers have made it all the way to Columbia City without mishap - total trip approx 6.2 miles.

Difficulty: Passenger vehicle is easy for about the first 4 miles, then the road (which is gravel) begins to climb and is somewhat rugged, requiring four wheel drive. The grade continues to get steeper and steeper and only experienced four wheelers should proceed, although the jeep trail does go all the way to Columbia City. For non-experienced four wheelers, it is recommended that you park and hike the remainder of the way from wherever you choose to park. The hike is above timberline, often windy and chilly, but offers spectacular views. The road is NOT maintained during the winter once it turns to four wheel drive conditions.

Private Property & Responsible Recreation: Venturing off of public roads and lands onto private land is trespassing. The surrounding mountains have miles of underground tunnels and shafts. The area is dangerous and a once safe and stable area can suddenly collapse. The buildings also are in various state of decay and are also unsafe. Obey any posted signs, travel & recreate responsibly, and always tread lightly.

History of Columbia City: It was Walter Cameron, working the Hope Mining District area west of present day Granite, CO, who discovered a vein of precious metal on July 15, 1893. Naming it the Josephine Lode, he had no idea of the magnitude of his discovery. Just a couple of weeks later, within acres of his initial find, the A-Z Lode was hit. On October 5, 1901 yet another strike was made which he named the Columbia Lode... Official records show the Columbia Mill Site had "a log cabin and tool house 12 x 16 feet owned by the claimant herein." The area continued to spawn more claims... claims like the Tunnel View Lode, Accidental Lode, Gwendolyn Lode, Tryon Lode, O.A. Brown Lode, Fool Lode, and others. This is a spectacular hike with awesome views in all directions.

Area Photos: Click To Zoom.


Mysterious Grave


Columbia City

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Colorado mining camps, ghost towns, boomtowns, mines, mountain sight-seeing tours,