Mina Gulch Spur

Total Miles
0.8

Elevation

2,009.30 ft

Duration

0.5 Hours

Technical Rating

2

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

This Mina Gulch Spur takes you from the Bluebird Mine Loop past the Mina Mine and to an overlook of the lake on Montana Tunnels Mining. It's just under a mile, and your elevation is about 6600 feet. All private property crossings are allowed if you stay on the trail. The scenery is beautiful. The views are amazing. This forest is home to deer, elk, and bears. If you are here in the early springtime, you may encounter snow and/or mud. After heavy rain, it will be muddy. Plan ahead by bringing extra fuel and plenty of water and snacks. Traveling with recovery equipment, including a saw, a snatch block, and a tow rope, is a good idea. You may encounter downed trees that need to be removed.

Photos of Mina Gulch Spur

Mina Gulch Spur
Mina Gulch Spur

Difficulty

If you're in this area in the early springtime, you may encounter snow and/or mud on the trail. Otherwise, it's an easy trail.

History

Wickes, MT, was a booming mining camp in the early 1880s, but in '82 a fire destroyed the Alta Company Mill. The Wickes Tunnel is an abandoned railroad tunnel that's over a mile long. The first train through the tunnel was in 1888. It was made up of six coaches, and it carried prominent citizens from Helena, Boulder, and Butte. As late as the 4th of July, it's not uncommon to find the tunnel with snow and ice still present.

Technical Rating

2

Status Reports

There are no status reports yet for this trail.

Access Description

From Corbin, you follow Corbin Road, which turns into the Wickes Tunnel: Basin to Corbin Trail. You will take a right on Wood Chute Cr to Bluebird Mine, as opposed to going through the tunnel. Then take a right on Flynn Gulch Road and follow it to Bluebird Mine Loop. Take a right on Bluebird Mine Loop and a right onto this trail. From Basin, you take the Wickes Tunnel: Basin to Corbin Trail and either go through the tunnel to Wood Chute Cr to Bluebird Mine Trail or use Wickes Road Trail to get to Wood Chute Cr to Bluebird Mine Trail. Take Wood Chute to Flynn Gulch Road. Follow Flynn Gulch Trail to Bluebird Mine Loop, take a right on Bluebird Mine Loop, and follow this trail.

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