Colorado Boy Mine in Ironton, Colorado

The Colorado Boy Mine sits high on a steep hillside, visible from the Million Dollar Highway far below, but almost no one hikes up to see it close-up. It features one of only three intact wooden vertical shaft houses left standing from the 1880s silver and gold rush era out of dozens that once stood. This rare survivor is a powerful symbol of the frontier mining life that once filled these remote San Juan peaks. A short, easy 1.8-mile round-trip walk from Ironton takes you through quiet alpine scenery to this untouched piece of history. The site was stabilized in 2001 and still stands strong after over 140 years. A visit lets you feel the grit and isolation of the prospectors who once chased their dreams here.