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July 8, 2023
Today's Jeep Ride - 7/8/2023
So today, I went for a little Jeep ride (too much rain in the forecast to ride the motorcycles). I rode up through Central City, then up Gilpin County Road 3 by Chase Gulch Reservoir to Apex Valley Road. Then up Apex Valley Road to 46770 Upper Apex Road. Here, I found my first abandoned mine of the day. The mine is on the east side of the road, but is covered with a locked metal grate.
Continued on up to Gilpin County Road 4N at the ghost town of Apex, CO. This is an old mining town from the 1800's and still has some buildings standing.
Here, I turned left, and went approximately 1 mile west up a dirt road (Gilpin County Road 4N), then turn right going north at Kingston Peak Road (but still on Gilpin County Road 4N). It's about 3-4 miles north down a rocky road. Fairly rough. And eventually T's off at Tolland, Colorado on Gilpin County Road 16. Here, I turned left, going west on Gilpin County Road 16, headed towards the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel.
I crossed the railroad crossing, passed the Tolland School house (built 1902), crossed South Boulder Creek, passed under the railroad trestle, crossed South Boulder Creek again, and then ran into a couple of guys stopped on the side of the road, so I stopped to check on them.
We talked briefly about the condition of Rollins Pass Road, Yankee Doodle Lake, etc. Then, one of the gentlemen points out some mine tailings on the side of the mountain above us. Said that he'd personally been in the mine and it was wide open. So, I made a note to check out this new mine, on the south side of the creek, but I turned back for home as I've got to make sure the cats are indoors before dark.
My ride today looked something like this.
Posted by Rob Kiser on July 8, 2023 at 8:48 PM
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