The Frontenac Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Cave · Fall Colors · Geological Significance · Historical Significance · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The hand built trail includes an abundance of well placed big rocks serving as steps to resist erosion on this steep terrain

This well built trail was completed in 2019 and is a thorough tour of the Historic Druid Mine site.

"The Frontenac trail connects several features of the Frontenac, Aduddell, and Druid mines of Russell Gulch, which were active between 1880 and 1980. Like most mines in the area, they produced gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc.
In 1983 the environmental protection agency (EPA) identify the clear Creek watershed as a national priority due to contamination from historical mining and milling activities.

The EPA worked with Colorado Department of Public health and Environment (CDPHE) and the division of reclamation, mining, & safety (DRMS) to reclaim and safeguard abandoned mine sites located within Russell Gulch, including those on the Young Ranch property. Those reclamation efforts were completed in 2010, and the trails installed by Young Ranch in 2019.

Interpretive and wayfinding signs were created and is installed as part of a partnership between the Colorado division of reclamation, mining, & safety and the Young Ranch.

The tale takes visitors to some obstacle features that show historic, cultural, and reclamation features on the property. The Druid mine adit sits below the parking lot, access from the trail fork going downhill. A miners cabin, the Frontenac shaft house, and an overlook of the mountains to the west can be accessed from the trail fork heading uphill. Other points of interest are also visible as you walk on the trail, such as stacked rock walls that mark the locations of the Gilpin Tram bed."

Lodgepole and Ponderosa pine, Aspen