Gold Run
Maps/GPS:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Frisco, Breckenridge
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 1 CR 300 2.18 9,480 to 10,200 ft. NA 1-2 hours
County:	Summit
Adopted by:
Managed by:	Summit County	208 Lincoln Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424	970-453-3403
Summary:	Gold Run road connects between Gibson Hill and Gold Run Gulch, passing the old site of Preston.
Attractions:	Mines, Historic, Ghost Town
Seasonal Closure:	Natural - Closed by heavy snow.
Best Time:	June - May be snowed in July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Possible early snows
Trail Heads Accessed:	Fall Classic, GH10 - Hiking, Equestrian, Mountain Bike Slalom Single Track, GH3 - Hiking, Equestrian, Mountain Bike Little Corporal, GH11 - Hiking, Equestrian, Mountain Bike Dry Gulch, GH19 - Hiking, Equestrian, Mountain Bike
Camping:	There are no dispersed sites along the road.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp and explore the other 4WD roads in the Golden Horseshoe area.
Fall Colors:	Poor - Mostly pine forest.
Navigation:	From Breckenridge, CO head north on S French Street toward Lincoln Ave for 0.4 miles. Turn right onto N Main Street and go 0.3 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto CO-9 N and go 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Huron Road and go 0.4 miles. Continue straight onto Forest Hills Drirve for 1.6 miles. Continue onto Gold Run Road/Gold Run Gulch Road and go 0.2 miles. Sharp left to stay on Gold Run Road/Gold Run Gulch Road and start the 4WD road. From Frisco, CO head south on Summit Blvd toward Granite Street for 0.1 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto CO-9/Summit Blvd and go 0.4 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto CO-9 and go 4.7 miles. Turn left onto Tiger Road and go 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Gold Run Road/Gold Run Gulch Road and go 1.3 miles. Turn left and drive through the parking area to start the 4WD road.
History:	Preston was a small mining town between Breckenridge and Gold Run Gulch on the north side of Gibson Hill. The town existed by at least 1875, when the first post office was moved there from the nearby Delaware Flats. The post office was briefly closed in January 1884, reopening after a month, before its 1889 move back towards Delaware Flats to the town of Braddockville, where in 1881 there had been an ore discovery. In 1893-1894, the Jessie mine was constructed to extract gold, silver, zinc, and lead. The Jumbo Mine was northwest of town within a short walk. At its peak, the town was home to roughly 150 miners and their families, as well as a millinery and boarding house. The town hosted the offices of three mining companies and two stamp mills. By 1888 it was down to 50 residents, and by 1890 just 10. It was depopulated completely by the late 1930s.
	Jessen, Kenneth Ghost Towns Colorado Style Vol 1, 1st ed. Loveland, Colorado: JV Publications LLC, 1998. Print.
Description:
Starting from the north end, Delaware Flats area, which is now a golf course, you will start from where the pavement ends and a small parking area is. The dirt road will continue south along Gold Run Gulch through the pines. You will come to an intersection with a road coming in on your left. This is the Peabody Placer, GH21, which is part of the Golden Horshoe network. Across the gulch from this intersection are the remains of the Jessie Mine stamp mill. Jessie Mine and Mill (2000) photo by: Adam M Continue up the gulch, passing under some power lines, and then making a large curve and leaving the gulch. You will come out into a open area as you head toward Gibson Hill. Just after heading back into the trees you will come to the remains of the Extension Mill on your left. Extension Mill (2000) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2000) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2000) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2000) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Extension Mill (2022) photo by: Adam M Just past the mill is a road on the left that is part of the Golden Horseshoe network. Stay straight here and go a short distance to come to a sign on the left side of the road. This is the site of Preston. Sign at Preston photo by: Adam M Remains of building in picture on sign above photo by: Adam M Cabin near Preston photo by: Adam M Cabin near Preston photo by: Adam M Just past the sign is another road on the left that is part of the Golden Horseshoe network. On the right is the road to the Jumbo Mine, which had a gate on it. Stay straight and you will pass another road on the left that heads back to intersec the first two roads on the left. Stay right and the road runs along the edge of an open meadow. Just after you head back into the trees you will come to the top of a saddle on the northwest side of Gibson Hill. This is also parking for a couple of non-motorized trails. The road will head back into the trees for a short distance and then you will come to pavement. Make a sharp righ turn down hill to head to Breckenridge.
Data updated - September 16, 2022     4WD Road driven - August 4, 2022     Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2022