Silverheels

This geocache is part of Colorado's South Park GeoTour, which means you can win prizes by finding 20 or more caches. Visit our website for more information and to download your GeoTour Passport!

Container Type: Lock & Lock
Code Location: Inside container
Access Info: This cache is located on USFS property. 
Winter Access: Not recommended

The legend of the dance hall girl that took the small mining community of Buckskin Joe by storm is well known, though each telling varies widely. The 13,829 ft Mount Silverheels was named in her honor and is one of the most impressive mountains in South Park. The legend says that when a smallpox epidemic hit Buckskin Joe, near Alma, the dance hall girl stayed behind to care for the sick miners at her own peril. Inevitably she also caught the disease and secluded herself in her cabin for the duration of her illness. As the town recovered, they sought out the dance hall favorite but her cabin was empty and Silverheels was never found. The mountain was named in her honor and remains a pervasive part of South Park culture.

Historic postcard view of Mount Silverheels, courtesy of the Park County Local History Archives

Getting to this cache will require a 4WD/high clearance vehicle or a significant hike. From Fairplay, take County Road 659 (Beaver Creek Road) and turn right at the National Forest access sign. This road will eventually take you to the cache but there are parking areas available for 2WD vehicles along the way.