The Copper Basin
Crested Butte, CO
The Copper Basin
A day hike to Copper Lake, the Sylvanite mine complex, or Triangle Pass. This popular trail follows an old mining road up Copper Creek. At the mouth of the creek is the ghost town of Gothic, which has become incorporated into the privately run Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. The Copper Creek valley was a prime silver producer during the 1880s, when the town of Gothic boasted a population of over 2,000 miners and hangers-on. Within a few months of the initial strike, Gothic had become a thriving boomtown with 170 buildings, including a hotel, 3 general stores, 2 sawmills, a saloon, and a butcher shop. Mines with names like the Iron Duke, Silver Cloud, Great Western, Golden City, and Silver Lining brought forth ore to be smelted at the Avery Smelter in Gothic. Possible day hike destinations along Copper Creek include Copper Lake or the old Sylvanite Mine; East Maroon Pass leads over the divide toward Aspen, and Triangle Pass offers backdoor access to the Conundrum Creek valley for overnight trips.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: The Copper Basin
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Crested Butte |
| Length | 13.2 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 2,850 ft |
| Skill Level | Moderate to Copper Lake; moderately strenuous to Sylvanite Basin; Strenuous to Triangle Pass |
| Season | Early July to mid-October |
| Trailhead Elevation | 9,850 ft |
| Top Elevation | 12,580 ft |
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