After leaving Animas forks it was time to head up California Gulch, this is a great trail that usually holds snow late into the summer. If the county did not plow it out with bulldozers, it may not open until August most years. At the Animas Forks end of the trail, there is a large old mill still standing, it is private property, but it is very close to the trail, allowing a very up close look into this massive old structure.

A little further up the trail the snow fields become more apparent.

Driving into  to the snow tunnel.

Up near the top of the gulch.

The views are just amazing. As we continued up and over the top of California Gulch and Hurricane pass, on our way over to Cork screw gulch.  Where California Gulch meets Hurricane  pass, Poughkeepsie gulch also meets up there as well, giving multiple options of routes and more Challenges.