Camping at Winfield Ghost Town

Posted on November 13, 2021November 18, 2021 by jim

My last-minute decision to climb Huron Peak meant that I’d be overnighting at the start of the trailhead in the Winfield Ghost Town area. If you’re going to drive 4+ hours, might as well make it two nights instead of driving back home bone-tired.

Shelby and Tom opted to join me and explore the Clear Creek area while I knocked out Huron.

Once I returned to camp and chowed down some lunch we set out to explore the Winfield Ghost Town and stroll to the Winfield Cemetery. Really not much to see, most of the structures left in the Winfield area are privately owned, but still an interesting piece of history.

It’s very enjoyable to just sit around the campfire and talk while trying to avoid the swirling smoke driven by the crazy mountain winds.

We all learned from the 18 degree temps on Friday night and bundled up a little better in bed on Saturday night. The only thing that got me out of my cozy sleeping bag in 15 degree temps Sunday morning was the amazing artery-clogging bacon egg and cheese skillet breakfast that Tom cooked up, and the promise of another beautiful crisp sunny day in the mountains.

We opted to stop at Twin Lakes on our route home and spend a little time on the Interlaken Trail on the south edge of the lakes – hiking both the Colorado Trail (CT) and the Continential Divide Trail (CDT) in the same day. These kids are beasts!

We won’t have many, if any, more of these weather windows to get out, so it sure is nice to make the most of it when we can.