サンフアン郡周辺の簡単なハイキングとウォーキング

Mid-August the meadows and trail sides were a-bloom with Mountain Gentian, Fringed Gentian, and Agueweed (a species of dwarf gentian. Fireweed, lilac Fleabane, white Achillea were also in bloom. Views to the west include Engineer Mountain, Grand Turk, Bear Mountain, Sultan Mountain and more. Beautiful!

Two information boards and a medium sized parking lot are located at the American Basin Trailhead. This is a great starting point to summit Handies Peak since you are already pretty high up in elevation. To get here though, you should have a car with high-clearance and 4x4.

Andrews Lake is located just a few hundred feet down the trail from the trailhead parking area. The 13,077-foot Snowdon Peak looms in the background and often is reflected off the water. There is a nature trail that circles the lake, or you can just cross over the bridge/dam and continue towards the wilderness trails.

The upper trailhead requires a capable vehicle to access, usually a high clearance 4WD vehicle but you may make it in an SUV if the conditions are good. From here you can hike up stunning American Basin to Handies Peak and the Hardrock 100 route.

Castle Rock is part of a long line of cliffs, known as Hermosa Cliffs, near Purgatory Ski Resort. Castle Rock sits at an elevation of 10,441 feet and offers great views of the Needle Mountains from the summit.

Castle Rock is part of a long line of cliffs, known as Hermosa Cliffs, near Purgatory Ski Resort. Castle Rock sits at an elevation of 10,441 feet and offers great views of the Needle Mountains from the summit.

Silvercloud Mine (also written Silver Cloud Mine) rests upon a hydrothermal ore deposit that colors the mountainsides in rusty hues. Ruins of the mining site lay all around the trail.

The trail up to the Silvercloud Mine is an easy hike along an OHV track that takes you up the canyon past a stunning waterfall to the old mine. The Upper portion of the trail may be snowed in through mid-summer.