Trip
Hiking – Marion Mine
Hike to Marion Mine to explore near the historic mine ruins in the Wet Mountains by Lake Isabel, 4.5 miles 1000' gain if the road by the lake is open or 7.5 miles 1100' gain, moderate hike when snow covered, 1.5-2 mph pace, roughly a 4 hour trip duration
Contacts
- Sat, Dec 6, 2025
- El Pueblo
- Hiking
- Adults
- Moderate
- Mileage: 4.5 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,000 ft
- High Point Elevation: 9,860 ft
- Pace: 1.5-2.0 mph
- 5 (4 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
The Marion Mine hike either starts at the paved East Cisneros Trailhead parking lot following rolling terrain of the Cisneros Trail #1314 that has areas of moderately steep ascent until it branches to the unmarked trail to the mine OR if the road around the lake is closed the hike starts at the Snowslide Trailhead dirt parking lot then follows the road by the lake that is mostly flat with some areas of mild ascent until reaching the trails beyond the East Cisneros Trailhead parking lot.
Once reaching the unmarked trail to the mine, the trail passes by a restored cabin that is on private property then follows the creek until the mine ruins come into view. We will walk around the ruins with going up to an area above the ruins to explore a newly built memorial and a beautiful likely frozen waterfall at the base of the canyon wall.
If I haven't had the pleasure of hiking with you in the past, I will want to communicate with you by the evening of December 4th to learn of any medical conditions you have and what moderate hikes you have done in the last two months.
Pueblo participants will meet for an 8:30 am departure in the strip mall parking lot west of the Loaf and Jug on the corner of Lake Ave and Pueblo Blvd in Pueblo (1201 W. Pueblo Blvd, 81005) and other participants outside of Pueblo will meet between 9:15-9:30 am for a 9:30-9:45 am hike departure at a TBD location at Lake Isabel depending on if the road by the lake is open or not. Per CMC policy, the hike starts at the trailhead.
Required Equipment
As of November 30th, a review of the NOAA weather forecast for the week prior to the hike for the Marion Mine ruins area shows the likelihood of 3-4 inches of snowfall. The NOAA forecast for the day of the hike shows partially cloudy with very cold ambient temperatures in the 20's-30's with a 15-16 mph wind with single digit windchill temperatures with no new precipitation expected.
To be prepared for the weather and hiking areas of ascent, wear cold weather layers including an outer water/wind resistant jacket and winter pants (e.g. hiking pants lined with fleece or flannel, heavy hiking pants with wool base-layer bottoms or wind resistant shell worn above the hiking pants), winter insulated boots with good traction and ankle support, winter hat and gloves, and sun protection. Bring traction, trekking poles, 2 liters of water or what you need to stay hydrated, snacks for the trail, a lunch that we will likely eat someplace by the mine ruins and the other 10 essentials.