Gold was discovered in Turret in 1897, leading to a small gold rush and a booming mining town. The mines were massively productive for several years, but the post office in Turret eventually closed in 1939, signaling the end of the town’s significance.

These days, you can pedal around the town of Turret and check out the old ruins of cabins and town buildings. The property is all privately owned, so please stay on the main streets. Some of the buildings have been renovated and are still lived in, and some of the cabins are newer construction.

To reach Turret, pedal out of Salida on the stiff climb up CR 175. Follow the route mapped here, along with the signs for Turret, to turn left and left again to head toward the ghost town. At one point, there is a split in the road where either direction will bring you to Turret, but as shown in the route here, one of the roads is better for climbing, and one makes for a rocky descent.

As you pedal along the side of the ridge while traversing toward Turret, views of the Sawatch mountain range open up before you. The vistas from a couple thousand feet above the valley floor are absolutely breathtaking! Be sure to pause and savor the spectacular views at the high point before the descent into Turret.

The descent to Turret is fast and flowy, but realize that you’ll have to pedal back the way you came to return to Salida. All of the other roads leaving Turret eventually dead-end, and even if you think you can make a connection to a different road… it’s ultimately not possible. This ride is a mandatory out-and-back, so just be sure to plan accordingly.

For additional mileage, consider connecting a visit to Turret with Aspen Ridge.

Sources: https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/turret/