Trail Overview
Arrastra Gulch to Little Giant Basin is an exceptional, moderate high-alpine climb just outside of Silverton, Colorado, perfect for four-wheel-drive enthusiasts seeking dramatic mining history and rugged mountain scenery. Spanning approximately 3.8 miles one way, this trail ascends aggressively from an elevation of 9,461 feet to a breathtaking 12,106 feet, serving up over 2,700 feet of elevation gain along the way. Unlike the softer, grassy meadows of the nearby Million Dollar Highway, this route carves through a starker, rockier landscape dominated by towering peaks like Hazelton Mountain and King Solomon Mountain. Along the route, travelers will encounter impressive, well-preserved mining relics, including massive metal tramway towers that stand as testament to the area's rich mining heritage. The trail is highly accessible to standard four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs, with a technical rating of 3 due to a few rocky steps and minor obstacles that may require careful tire placement.
As the track winds deeper into the gulch, drivers will navigate several narrow shelf road sections where passing is impossible, requiring careful attention to oncoming traffic. While most of the rocky obstacles are located away from steep drop-offs, reducing the overall consequence, utilizing low range can help smooth out the crawl over the larger rock steps. The trail culminates near a scenic high-alpine mountain lake tucked into the basin, where a short extension beyond the water leads to a convenient turnaround point. Beyond this vehicle turnaround, the extremely steep path continuing over the pass is reserved exclusively for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers. The route is typically accessible from late spring through early autumn, depending on seasonal snowpack.
