One of the most common sights to see in Colorado are its old mining towns. If you have never been to an old abandoned mining town it is definitely an eye opener into American history. In some towns, you can actually see or feel the vibe of what happened in the town. You may even feel the deep sense of loss for the time or energy they had put into while making the trek across the country to discover gold. Nevertheless, many of the areas I have seen are quite spectacular and that overshadows these feelings of loss. One of these old mining towns I hiked up to is now on USDA land, and can be seen while hiking on the Caribou Trail. Let us take a look at some of the history of the area.

Caribou History

Caribou is an old silver mining town and is now considered a ghost town. It is quite an eerie experience. The town was founded in 1870 by an old time prospector who had discovered gold downstream. By 1875, the town had a population of 3,000 people. The town was home to a church, three saloons, a brewery, and a newspaper company. The silver mine was bought and sold a couple of times. In 1879, a fire burned the town down and by the 1920’s the population was approximately 50 people. Eventually, the town was inhabited and the USDA took over and created the trail we see today.

Caribou Trail

The trail is approximately 4 miles one way and has moderate traffic. The trail is close to Nederland, Colorado and is said to have been the main meeting place in the area before it burned down. There are still some old stone ruins from an era of a time gone by. While hiking the trail you can see beautiful wildflowers and birds. The trail is best accessed from March through October. You might see some horses, but if not still keep an eye out for the horse poop!

Once you reach the top, near Caribou Hill the view is magnificent at 500 feet above the old ghost town. You can see the mountaintops of Indian Peaks, Arapaho Peaks, Mt. Neva, and Mt. Jasper.

There are lovely Aspen trees and most of all the Continental Divide. Off in the distance a slight view of Mt. Evans and Mt. Bierstadt with a full view of Nederland, Baker Reservoir, and El Dorado Canyon.

If you are ever in this neck of the woods, make sure you come up to this lovely spot. You will not be disappointed. Peace.