Managed to get up to the hills with a friend this past Saturday for a most enjoyable hike to Pavilion Point. It’s a mild hike, following along the old grade of the Argentine Central Railroad.

Edward J Wilcox, A pasture turned miner turned railroad owner, built the Argentine Central Railroad to service the mines within the East Argentine Mining District (Argentine Pass). Remnants of the old grade can still be found. In the later years of the railroad, a dance hall and pavilion at the top of Leavenworth Mountain. After staying the night, one could continue on to McClellan Mountain with fine views of Grays and Torys Peaks.

For most of the day, we had the trail to ourselves. An added bonus seeing that it was the 4th of July holiday weekend.

Colorado Columbines. They seemed to be especially happy on this hillside.

One of many old mining structures along the old railroad grade.

A beautiful morning for a hike through the Aspens.

Looking West with I-170 passing by Silver Plume.

What’s left of the old dance hall and pavilion.

Stone work to help keep the grade of the Argentine Central level. Crazy to think that they built this railroad ( from Silver Plume to Waldorf) in one Summer.

More Columbines.

Western Buttercup.

Silver Plume.

4th of July holiday traffic…..