Mayflower Hill

The trailhead, at approximately 10940', is only a 20 minutes/17 miles outside of Leadville on HWY 91, or 6.5 miles from Hwy 70/Copper Mountain. It is on the east side of Hwy 91. There is a large parking lot, and although the area is often busy the lot seems to accommodate the crowd. Approximately .15 miles from the parking lot leave Mayflower Gulch Road, veering left onto the remnants of an old road. Climb carefully around a concrete barrier - easy to do but some of the railroad ties are out - and continue on the old dirt road until you come out on the other bank of Mayflower Creek. Turn right and continue on the road (Humbug Creek Irrigation Road on map). Just up the hill a faint trail heads straight, but stay left on the road. Follow it to a fork, and then take a sharp right uphill. The trail carries you around and switchbacks you up to an open knoll before petering out. This is a good place to set a waypoint if you like, to make it easier to find the road on the way back down, but it isn't necessary. There are a couple of cairns but they are not obvious, or necessary. Just keep hiking uphill, and when you come to the rolling, grassy ridge follow it to the end/highest elevation. It is a charming place to flop down for lunch and enjoy yourself. Return the way you came, and if you want to add distance hike up Mayflower Gulch Road to the mine ruins.