Silver Plume : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

This route starts in the town of Silver Plume and ends atop a summit directly north of town. From this summit, a host of Front Range peaks are visible, which is ample reward for your effort.

This is a Class 2 hike with possiblities of Class 3 scrambling available on the summit block of Republican Benchmark. This route makes for a pleasant day's outing and is a good conditioner as well. Steep terrain and a number of stream crossings are encountered.

Stay clear of mining artifacts and do not tresspass on private property located along the route.

This page and route originally developed by Aaron Johnson.

Continental Divide from R & D BM
Digital photo by Aaron Johnson

Getting There

Please refer to these instructions on the main page.

Route Description

Begin your hike by walking north up Silver Street. At a water flume, the closed mining road turns east and contours up the south face of the mountain, then switches back. At the next curve is a road that leads to an old mine. Avoid this option and go back to your right and stay on the main road. The road zig-zags a couple more times then contours due west across the south slopes of the mountain. You will cross an avalanche chute choked with fallen timbers, and along the way you’ll bypass a number of deep mining shafts that have been sealed off.

Just before the road enters Brown Gulch, a spur trail marked with a cairn on your left leads to the Griffin Monument. This gravesite monolith is visible from I-70 below and the view is worth the side trip either on your way up or on your return.

The route becomes a single track trail as it enters Brown Gulch and the site of the 7:30 Mine. There is plenty of wreckage here, no doubt caused by avalanches and spring run-off. Avoid the temptation to dally with these old and potentially dangerous relics. A possibly precarious crossing of the stream must be conducted here, and this crossing could be the crux of your day.

Once on the west side of the stream, scramble up a steep slope of loose tailings and follow the stream northward, staying on the west side. The trail may grow faint in places. When you break out of the trees and the gully widens, find a place to cross the stream and then do an arcing route that climbs steadily through the trees in a northeast to east trending course. You will travel through a sparse forest of pines and evergreens before finally reaching timberline. Republican's summit will be visible to your right.

Hike to the outcrop, winding through willow patches along the way and scramble to the top. In winter conditions, a more direct line is certainly feasible if snow conditions are favorable and avalanche danger is judged nonexistent. Brief scrambling options abound. Democrat Benchmark is a short distance to the east. It’s just a mound of rock, but it offers a surprisingly different view of the Clear Creek and Empire Valleys.

Return the same route.

Elevation: 12, 386
Gain: 3,300 feet
Round Trip Distance: 7 miles

Alternate Approach: A longer hike out of Empire approaches the summit and benchmark from the east utilizing an old access/mining road from Empire Pass. This approach is also used for Bard Peak.

All photos displayed on this page by Aaron Johnson.

Essential Gear

Summer & Fall: Standard dayhike gear will do.
Winter & Spring: Waterproof gear and snow shoes are likely required.

A map, compass and/or GPS device are highly recommended.

Images