Mayflower Gulch Trail is popular for good reason. The wide trail, gradual climb, mining ruins, wildflowers, and dramatic mountain scenery make it one of Colorado’s best hikes for families.
If you want more mileage and elevation, continue beyond Boston Mine Camp toward Boston Mine or take the offshoot trail up Gold Hill to more than 12,000 feet.
Mayflower Gulch Trail Stats:
The trailhead sits at 10,996 feet. The trail follows an old mining road, so it’s wide and relatively easy to navigate. Watch for mining relics along the way.
It’s about three miles round trip if you hike only to the cabins at Boston Mine Camp. You can extend your adventure by continuing toward Boston Mine or climbing the offshoot trail up Gold Hill. I combined the mining camp and Gold Hill trail for a 4.5-mile hike.
There’s little to no cell service along most of the route. I briefly regained service near 12,000 feet on the ridgeline. You may also hear Highway 91 traffic during the first and final quarter mile.
Getting To Mayflower Gulch Trailhead:
Mayflower Gulch Trailhead #1178 is 5.3 miles south of Copper Mountain on Highway 91 toward Leadville. The parking area is on the left near the base of the first large hill.
The trailhead sign can be easy to miss. If you reach Clinton Gulch Reservoir, the large lake on the left side of the highway, you’ve gone too far. Don’t rely entirely on Apple Maps, which may send you farther south on Highway 91.
The parking lot is large, but it fills quickly, especially on summer weekends. Go early if you want a parking spot and a quieter trail.
Hiking to Boston Mine Camp Ghost Town
When I arrived at 9 a.m. on a Friday, the parking lot was already three-quarters full. It was a brisk 52°F as I started hiking.
The trail follows an old ore wagon road dating to the late 1800s. Highway-legal vehicles are permitted, so you may occasionally have a Jeep or high-clearance truck pass you. ATVs and UTVs are not allowed.
The trail heads into the forest and begins a gradual climb toward Boston Mine Camp. At 0.6 miles, there’s a collapsed cabin on the left. An old ore chute appears about a tenth of a mile later. Both sit directly beside the trail and are easy to spot.
Mayflower Creek winds through the willows and occasionally comes into view. I encountered a few muddy areas and one small section with water flowing across the trail, but they were easy to navigate.
Wildflowers lined the trail, but I especially loved the fragrance of the pines. At about one mile, the jagged peaks of the glacially carved Mayflower Amphitheater start coming into view. Around 1.25 miles, the trail emerges from the trees and the scenery really opens up.
Exploring Boston Mine Camp
I reached Boston Mine Camp at 1.5 miles and nearly 11,500 feet in elevation. Three log structures sit beneath a dramatic sawtooth ridgeline at the center of the former mining camp.
Two structures are partially standing, while the roof of the third has collapsed. A fourth has been reduced to little more than a pile of wood.
The camp flourished during the 1890s after gold was discovered near Mayflower Gulch. The largest structure has lost its roof, but three of its four walls remain. Based on its size, I guessed it may have been a boarding house.
The only cabin with an intact roof also has a storage room. I carefully walked to its window and marveled at the view. Another smaller cabin has a collapsed roof, but standing nearby provides a sweeping look across Mayflower Gulch.
The buildings are fragile historic ruins, so enjoy them without climbing on or disturbing the structures.
Go Beyond the Ghost Town
You can continue left beyond the mining camp toward Boston Mine. I wanted more elevation and a panoramic view, so I took the trail up Gold Hill instead.
This trail gains approximately 500 feet in half a mile. The climb is steep at first, then becomes more gradual near a large curve toward the top.
The wind picked up quickly, so I pulled on my puffy jacket. From the tundra ridgeline, I could see Boston Mine and enjoy a different view of Mayflower Amphitheater, including Mount Fletcher, Atlantic Peak, Crystal Peak, and Pacific Peak.
The ridge also offers views across Mayflower Gulch toward the Gore Range, Clinton Gulch, and the Climax Mine tailings ponds. The bluish-silver pond sits near the site of Kokomo, a former mining town in the Tenmile Creek Valley.
I climbed to 12,060 feet before turning around as clouds quickly started building. It was 58°F, but the wind made it feel much colder. High-country weather can change in a hurry, even during summer.
Returning to the Trailhead
I started down at 10:55 a.m. and stopped beside Mayflower Creek for one last view of Boston Mine Camp. From the cabins, it was an easy 1.5-mile descent to the trailhead. I finished my hike at 11:45 a.m.
I skied Mayflower Gulch years ago with my cousins. It’s also a wonderful winter destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, although visitors should be prepared for avalanche terrain beyond the lower gulch.
For other great hikes for families, check out Whipple Trail in Buena Vista, Lily Pad in Silverthorne, Paradise Cove in Guffey Gulch, and Waterton Canyon in Littleton. These are all easier hikes with unique pay-offs. For more ghost town adventures, check out posts on Animas Forks and Independence Ghost Towns in Colorado or Terlingua Ghost Town in Texas.
