Google Earth satellite image of route

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Rating: 3/10

The roads up Arrastra Gulch and Little Giant Basin are amongst my favorites in the San Juans. I love all of the roads in this region for their scenic beauty, but this is in my top five. Arrastra Gulch is reached by an unmarked exit adjacent to the Mayflower Mill (at the side of the road), two miles out of Silverton. Make the descent down to the Animas River, cross the bridge, and begin the drive. Eight-tenths of a mile in, the road forks. The fork to the left goes up to Gold Lake and Little Giant Basin, and the right fork goes up Arrastra Gulch.

Arrastra is pretty straight forward. 1.2 miles from the fork, the road comes to the headwall of the gulch. From here, the road narrows even more, but there is only one more switchback until the end of the road which terminates at the Mayflower Mine. It's worth it for the added height, and Rocky Mountain High. The view from the end, or from the next shelf below, is incredible. The mountain wall across the valley has a certain majestic, and huge, presence about it, for lack of better words. No doubt my pictures of it (and my writing!) do not do it justice. I guess you'll just have to come here and see for yourself!

Taking the 2.9-mile Little Giant Basin fork is straight forward as well, though the road is still narrow for a long stretch and having to pass another vehicle along here could prove adventurous. Thankfully, I've not ran into any traffic on my trips up here. The roads themselves are only worthy of a 3-rating, since they're not rocky at all. The shelves are the toughest part, but nothing out of the ordinary for this region. Once you reach the Black Prince Mine, there's only one more switchback, and corresponding shelf section, prior to reaching the intimate Little Giant Basin, which contains the beautiful emerald Gold Lake. No doubt this would make a fine lunch stop on a wonderful summer day.