Crystal Mill is hidden in the beautiful White River National Forest. Although not so hidden, this mill is one of the most popular hikes in Colorado. The 100+ year old mill sits along the luminous Crystal Creek. Back in the day, the mill was used to compress air for miners in the local silver mines. Despite the attention the mill gets it’s very well preserved.
Getting There
The dirt road begins on the edge of the town Marble. I highly recommend driving the trail If you have a 4WD. While getting some exercise in and being able to stop when you want is nice, it’s not worth the amount of stops you have to take to allow vehicles to pass. Many of the stops you’ll have to make for vehicles offer little space and we found ourselves hugging the cliff edge a few times. Then again, I don’t know the pros and cons to driving a vehicle so choose what feels best for you.
We started just before 8am and I probably would start earlier next time to avoid the traffic that begins around 10am. (Note: we went during peak foliage week)
The Mill itself is on the other side of the creek, which is probably best to help preserve it. It is roped off so you’ll have to enjoy its beauty from afar. However, if you want to pay $10 and sign a waiver you can take your camera down to the water and get your Instagram-worthy shot. The $10 does go to the Crystal Mill Foundation to help preserve the mill and keep it available to the public.
After enjoying the foliage and beauty of the mill, continue another 1000ft to check out the town of Crystal. Many of the original buildings are still standing and you can even stop inside the General Store for a drink or souvenir.
We parked about a half mile past Beaver Lake and clocked 9.6 miles with 1,428 feet of elevation gain out and back. The trail itself is wide, filled with loose rock and relatively flat after the first few hills. Plan for about 4.5 hours. After, stop by Slow Groovin’ BBQ for some great local tastes!
