Hike the 7:30 Mine Road to the Clifford Griffin Monument

Starting at an elevation of 9,101ft, this 3.7 mile out-and-back hike up a switchback trail has an elevation gain of about 1,180ft. Veering right off of the end of Silver St. Silver Plume, CO, the switchback trail maintains its moderate grade throughout although the trail slightly diminishes about 3/4 of the way up. (The unofficial halfway point is the massive avalanche chute pictured above.) This area was heavily mined in the 1800's and a lot the equipment remains, dispersed all over the mountain after years of avalanches and harsh weather. The majority of these mines have been closed up by the state of Colorado but they did not close all of them, so keep a close eye on your kids! As you're approaching the monument, you will pass two, grated-off mines that are practically touching the trail, and in between them there's a natural arch made of pines (pictured above). Finally, the trail comes around a bend and sits about 50ft above the monument and with the surrounding boulders and trees it can be easy to walk by, so keep your eyes peeled (pictured above is the glimpse of the monument you will get from the trail). Approach the monument with caution, the lookout is quite steep. *The trail is accessible and very possible during the winter months but would not be coined as "Easy" or "Family Friendly", as the snow can get about waste-deep at some points.