When I first arrived in Telluride, the clouds were so thick and low I couldn’t see the mountaintops above the town. Same goes for the historic hydro-electric power plant at Bridal Veil Falls.
Thanks to old mining operations in the mountains surrounding Telluride (and most of Colorado, for that matter), there are plenty of good 4wd Jeep roads to travel, and several interesting ghost towns. I chose Tomboy because it wasn’t terribly far from town, but still presented a challenge to reach.
As you ascend Tomboy Road, you’ll quickly gain elevation, driving past thick vegetation and an occasional waterfall. In the lower corner of the picture above, you can see the wood planks that formed a very basic bridge, over this creek.
I took this shot through the windshield, as the commercial 4wd jeep tried to slowly pass a road crew. Yes, they do repair these roads, and with all the rain that had fallen on the day of my visit, they had plenty of work.
Here’s one reason these roads need so much repair. There are very few drainage ditches, so when water pours down the mountainside, it runs across the dirt road, creating washouts. This part of the road was still passable, but a bit frightening, since water was rushing past my tires as I splashed through.
About halfway between the start of Tomboy Road and the ghost town, the road narrows, and suddenly there’s nothing between you and the valley below. It’s probably the last place you should ever take your eyes off of the road, but you will, as you check out the view of Bridal Veil Falls. Here, you’re at roughly the same altitude as the falls and the old hydropower plant.
Traveling further, you reach this short tunnel, blasted out of the rock. Reach this point, and you’re near timberline.
Finally, after an intense uphill drive, you reach a few old buildings, and a wide parking area. Hop out and explore a bit, keeping in mind that everything you step on may be unstable.
At this stop, you’re slightly above the tree line, so views of the surrounding peaks are unobstructed (except for those clouds, which were finally starting to break a bit!)
I’m not sure if this cascading stream is visible year-round, or just during rainy days.
This mine shaft is next to the main road. It has been locked, to keep curious idiots from becoming trapped inside.
The ruins of old mining buildings provide a great foreground for some creative pictures.
Tomboy Ghost Town & Mine
When you arrive at Tomboy, you’ll find plenty of room to park. The remnants of the town are nestled in between high mountain peaks, but surprisingly, the landscape is wide open. Imogene Pass is only a little more than a mile away, so you’re not at the top, but you’re near it.
Piles of rock, splintered wood, machinery, glass, rusted metal, concrete foundations, and murky puddles are everywhere.
More equipment left to rust in the middle of nowhere.
This structure is one of the few that are still standing, however unstable it is.
Only the solid concrete core remains here, of what must have been a large building.
I’m not sure how many of these puddles will be around on a dry day. During my visit, streams of runoff (below) were rushing through the middle of the debris.
Driving back down Tomboy Road is an unanticipated treat. For the return trip, the driver’s side is facing the valley, giving you the chance to appreciate the view all over again.
You may notice a few more shacks on the trip downhill. These were near the first ruins, below the town site.
Plenty of puddles.
There it is, the view that made Telluride famous.
Note: This trip was first published in 2005.
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