Colorado Escapes

AAA Colorado has partnered with the Mornings at 9News television program to produce a monthly "Colorado Escapes" vignette featuring exceptional places to explore and visit in Colorado. Some will be off the beaten path and not well known, while other destinations are more widely recognized. Either way, Colorado Escapes are places that contribute to making our state a special place to live and discover.

This month takes us to the Crystal Mill near Marble, Colorado

The Crystal Mill near Marble, Colorado, is one of the state's most photographed sites. It rests just above the Crystal River. Framed by beautiful aspens and with a backdrop of stunning mountains, the ruined building has amazing visual appeal. The mill was originally constructed in 1893 and once powered an air compressor to operate mining equipment. The mill closed in 1917, but there have been continuous efforts to preserve it by local historical societies, residents of Crystal and Marble and interested individuals caught by the spectacle of the old mill.

The Crystal Mill is located 6 miles east of Marble in Gunnison County, just before the ghost town of Crystal. It is reachable only in the summer and fall months by a rough, one-lane, 4-wheel-drive road. If your vehicle does not have enough ground clearance, the mill can be reached on horseback, foot, mountain bike, or a guided jeep tour. The route is very rocky and visitors should be aware that on a busy summer or fall day, walkers and riders will encounter many vehicles.

Jeep tours take between three and five hours roundtrip on average to travel between Marble and the Crystal Mill. Many visitors stop along the way for pictures of the scenery that includes mountains, the Crystal River, wildlife and meadows full of wildflowers.

To get to the Crystal Mill, go through Marble just past Beaver Lake where the Lead King Loop trail to the mill begins. The trail forks about a mile into the journey. Visitors who go right get to the Crystal Mill in about one-and-a-half hours. Visitors who go left on the trail see more scenery, but the trip is about double the amount of time and distance. It's that same trail used by prospectors in the late 1800's.

Many visitors to the Crystal Mill also enjoy visiting the adjacent ghost town of Crystal, which at its peak had an estimated population of 400 people. Nowadays, there are only a few structures left, with residents only present during the summer travel season.

The city of Marble, where the trail to the mill begins, is also a popular destination for visitors. Marble is the home of one of the largest marble deposits ever found. The marble found there was used in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Lincoln Memorial. Marble is approximately 200 miles west of Denver. For direction click here: AAA TripTik. For more information on the Crystal Mill, visit the Marble tourism association website at www.MarbleTourismAssociation.org.

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