Picayne and Placer Gulches

Picayne and Placer Gulches 4wd trail is a gorgeous route offering scenic vistas of the San Juan Mountains and traverses an area rich with mining history. This area provides gorgeous wild flowers in the peak season of late July/ early August which enhances the already spectacular vistas found in all directions. Some of the best preserved mine structures in Colorado can be found along this trail. The Sound Democrat Mill is one of the finest examples and still possesses all of its machinery in place, from its stamp batteries to its Wilfley tables. This allows visitors the ability to see step by step how precious minerals were processes out of the raw ore that entered the mill. More information on the process of gold mining can be found here.