Backcountry Ski or Snowboard at Mayflower Gulch

If you were driving down highway 91 towards Leadville and blinked at just the right moment, you'd drive right past this hidden gem of an area. Located just over 6 miles South of Copper Mountain ski resort on the East side of highway 91, the parking lot for the Mayflower Gulch trail head offers plenty of parking.

Beginning at about 10,980ft, a wide snow covered jeep trail (4wd road in the summer) gently climbs through the pines for a little less than 2 miles, ending at an elevation of just over 11,500ft. Once arriving at the 1.8 mile mark, views open up to an impressive mountain cirque and the abandoned Boston Mine camp, just beneath Mount Fletcher, Northeast, Crystal and Pacific peaks.

From here, depending on skill level - backcountry travelers have their pick of lines ranging from low angle/mellow slopes and trees, to larger expert level lines and chutes. The most popular and generally safest spot in the area is Gold Hill - the open, low angle slope that appears lookers right just after entering the mining camp. This pitch offers many lines in and out of the trees for a few quick laps on your AT or splitboard equipment. Make sure to make sound decisions and choose slopes and terrain wisely.

Once you've fully exhausted your legs from repeated laps, pick your final line wisely and most days you can cruise all the way back to the trail head at a mellow pace.