Gothic (East River / Crested Butte)
A silver-boom ghost town turned mountain research station, tucked beneath Gothic Mountain's spires above the East River.
About Gothic
Gothic is a small cluster of weathered cabins along the East River north of Crested Butte, beneath the dark, fluted face of Gothic Mountain in the Elk Mountains. Once a silver boomtown, it is now home to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, a high-altitude field station where scientists study wildflowers, marmots, snow and climate each summer.
Gothic Road runs up the valley from Mount Crested Butte past Gothic and on toward Emerald Lake and Schofield Pass. The drive is lined with wildflower meadows in July, aspen in late September, and big views of the East River winding through willows below.
It is one of the most photogenic valleys in Colorado, and the town itself adds an old-West foreground to the peaks.
The East River winds through open meadowland north of Crested Butte, with Gothic Mountain's distinctive spires rising directly behind it — the wildflower displays here in July are some of the best in the entire Elk Mountains. Shoot low with a wide lens to get the river's curve leading into the peaks, or come back in September when the willows along the banks turn a deep red-orange against the first snow on the high peaks.
History
Gothic was founded in 1879 after word of rich 'wire silver' ore at the nearby Sylvanite Mine set off a rush; a town clerk counted about 300 residents that June, and the town was incorporated on July 17, 1879. It took its name from Gothic Mountain. When the ore ran out the miners left, and by the 1920s Gothic was a ghost town; only the old saloon, now the Town Hall, survives from the boom.
In 1928 Dr. John C. Johnson and colleagues founded the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory here. The lab now owns the townsite and its buildings and restored the Town Hall as a visitor center.
Photographing Gothic
Best light: Morning light hits the east faces of Gothic Mountain and lights the valley meadows; evenings put the townsite cabins in warm side light. July is peak wildflower season in the Crested Butte area, and the aspens along Gothic Road usually turn in late September.
Shots to look for
- Gothic Mountain's fluted cliffs over the old Town Hall and cabins, wide to normal lens from the road
- East River meanders through willows from the Gothic Road pullouts, telephoto at sunrise
- Wildflower fields of lupine and sunflowers along the road with peaks behind in July
- Aspen-lined bends of Gothic Road in late September
- Emerald Lake farther up the road with reflections of the surrounding peaks on a calm morning
Photo tips
- Gothic is an active research station: stay on roads and trails and avoid marked study plots.
- Parking is limited; use designated pullouts and do not block the road.
- Gothic Road is seasonal and the upper road toward Schofield Pass is usually open only a month or two in late summer; check current status.
- Marmots and other study animals are common; do not feed or disturb them.
Know before you go
- The townsite and buildings are owned by RMBL; respect private property and research areas.
- Gothic Road is gravel and narrow in places; drive slowly and watch for cyclists.
- Beyond Schofield Pass the road becomes one of Colorado's most dangerous jeep roads; do not continue in a passenger car.
- Dispersed camping along Gothic Road is limited to designated sites.
Prints from Gothic
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Gothic, Colorado?
Yes. You can drive Gothic Road through town in summer and visit the restored Town Hall, but the site is an active research station, so stay on roads and trails.
Is Gothic a ghost town?
It was a silver boomtown in 1879 and largely abandoned by the 1920s. Today it is home to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, founded there in 1928.
When can you drive to Gothic?
Gothic Road is a summer and fall route; snow closes it for much of the year, and the upper road toward Schofield Pass is often open only a month or two in late summer. Check current conditions.
Featured in: Best Fall Color Spots in Colorado · Best Wildflower Hikes in Colorado
Combine it with
Crested Butte · Emerald Lake (Crested Butte) · Schofield Pass · Kebler Pass
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: en.wikipedia.org · historycolorado.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.