Eugenia Mine Hike

The Longas Peak Trailhead is very popular with hikers trying to bag the peak, one of the most famous and iconic of Coloradoas 14ers. The short, fairly easy hike to the Eugenia Mine site forks off the Longas Peak Trail and offers a pleasant walk in the lodgepole pine forest and a mildly interesting historic site. Unfortunately, among the outstanding hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Eugenia Mine suffers by comparison. There are no mountain views from the trail due to the thick forest, and there is not much to see at the mine site itself except a pretty creek and a few artifacts. The most interesting feature of the hike is the outstanding mountaineering exhibit in the ranger station at the trailhead, and the views from the parking lot are better than any on the hike itself. In many other locations the hike to Eugenia Mine would be considered very nice, but in Rocky Mountain National Park there are just too many excellent alternatives.