Ute Ulay Mining Complex and Henson Ghost Town

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The Ute Ulay Mining Complex lies directly on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, a short distance south of Lake City in Colorado. Initially discovered in 1871, the Ute Ulay mining claims quickly became one of the largest producers of gold and silver within the San Juan Mountains. To promote heritage tourism, the Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office has formed a partnership with Hinsdale County, resulting in the stabilization and preservation of several structures within the complex. In 2017, Ute Ulay was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mining town of Henson emerged in 1880 to cater to the needs of the 300 miners and their families working at the thriving Ute Ulay Mining Complex. By 1883, the town boasted a schoolhouse, post office, multiple supply stores, and its dirt roads were lined with one-room log cabins. Many of these structures remain standing today, offering an opportunity for visitors to experience an interpreted historic walking tour through the abandoned town.