Trip
Bobcats trip – Butler Gulch
Abandoned Sites Hike: This EXPLORATORY HIKE ventures deep into Butler Gulch to investigate the remains of the historic Jean Mine and other scattered relics from Colorado’s mining era. Traveling through a landscape shaped by more than a century of mineral exploration, we will search for abandoned structures, mine workings, equipment remnants, and evidence of the boom-and-bust communities that once occupied these high mountain valleys. The route combines moderate hiking with off-trail exploration and historical interpretation, offering a unique opportunity to examine how mining transformed the Front Range while enjoying the dramatic alpine scenery surrounding Butler Gulch.
Contacts
- Wed, Sep 2, 2026
- Bobcats Section
- Hiking
- Adults
- Challenging
- Mileage: 6.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 170 ft
- High Point Elevation: 12,184 ft
- Pace: 1.5 - 2.0 MPH
- 9 (9 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
This EXPLORATORY HIKE into Butler Gulch focuses on the discovery and examination of the historic Jean Mine and the numerous mining remnants that remain scattered throughout this mineral-rich valley. Rather than simply following a trail to a destination, participants will investigate the landscape in search of abandoned structures, collapsed adits, waste-rock piles, machinery fragments, cabin foundations, and other evidence of the intensive mining activity that once defined the area. Along the way, we will analyze how geology, transportation challenges, and evolving mining technologies influenced the development and eventual abandonment of these operations, using the surviving ruins to reconstruct the story of life and work in Colorado’s high-country mining districts. The combination of historical exploration, route-finding, and close examination of mining artifacts provides a unique opportunity to experience Butler Gulch as both an alpine environment and an outdoor museum of Colorado’s mining heritage. We'll find a comfortable spot for lunch/snack. Our pace will be consistent with completing this hike in a reasonable amount of time. Overall ~6 miles and ~1700 ft elevation gain. (Butler Gulch - CalTopo)
Carpool Place & Time: Meet at the Wooly Mammoth PnR (Section BB) at 6:30AM, for a 6:45AM departure (Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride - Google Maps)
We'll carpool to the Butler Gulch TH parking (Butler Gulch Trailhead - Google Maps)
Required Equipment
This is a CMC Bobcats Trip. The Bobcats’ mission is to ensure a variety of adventurous CMC trips, mostly on weekdays, all year long. Our trips tend to be faster paced, on more challenging routes, and with fewer stops. We foster a strong community of hikers seeking challenges, discovery, and camaraderie. We don’t have dues and we invite ALL CMC members to sign up for any Bobcat trip that is within their ability level.
Be sure to bring the 10 essentials. Trekking poles are recommended.