Entry No. 76 — the Boulder file — filed under: mine
7:30 Mine
The 7:30 Mine was one of the premier silver producers in the Silver Plume area during the Colorado Silver Boom of the late 19th century. Named for its late-starting 7:30 AM work shift, the site is famously associated with mine manager Clifford Griffin, who serenaded the town with his violin before tragically taking his own life here in 1887. Today, hikers can follow the steep 7:30 Mine Trail to view barred-off mine portals, tailing piles, and the 10-foot granite Griffin Monument erected in his honor.
The story
Most 19th-century silver operations dragged miners underground before dawn, but this place gave its crew an extra hour of sleep. That civilized 7:30 AM shift gave the 7:30 Mine its name, but make no mistake—this was an industrial monster. During the late-1800s Colorado Silver Boom, it became one of Silver Plume's premier producers, eventually carving out nearly 20 miles of subterranean workings beneath the mountain.
The real reason people still talk about the site in muted tones, though, isn't the ore—it's Clifford Griffin. Griffin was the mine manager in the 1880s, an eccentric figure who spent summer evenings sitting on a massive boulder on the cliff face high above town, playing his violin so the music bounced down into the valley. The nightly concerts ended abruptly in 1887 when Griffin took his own life at the mine. A ten-foot granite monument was later erected right on the cliff edge in his honor, standing guard over the canyon where his music used to echo.
What it's like
The hike up the 7:30 Mine Trail is a steep, heart-pumping climb that follows a public right-of-way through heavy industrial decay. You'll pass heavily eroded tailing piles, barred-off mine portals, and historical QR code signs detailing the area's boom-town lore. Keep an eye on the trail underfoot for glints of quartz crystals and small pyrite, but keep your hands to yourself and stay on the path—the surrounding land is private, and the mine shafts themselves are strictly off-limits. The trail culminates at the dramatic cliffside rock outcrop where Griffin played, offering a dizzying view down into Silver Plume.
The move: Hike the steep 7:30 Mine Trail together, stopping to read the historical QR codes along the way, and enjoy panoramic views of Silver Plume from the Griffin Monument.
📍 Before you go The 7:30 Mine Trail is a public right-of-way, but the surrounding properties are private, and the mine shafts and tunnels themselves are dangerous, barred off, and strictly off-limits to entry.
- 📍 Silver Plume
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 7:30 Mine Road, Silver Plume, CO 80476, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Santiago Mine — Double down on high-altitude mining ruins by heading up to this preserved 1930s gold flotation mill perched in the Waldorf Basin.
- Old Town Mine — Trade Silver Plume's tragic silver history for the deep gold and pyrite shafts of the historic Russell Mining District.
- Moffat Tunnel East Portal — Swap nineteenth-century mine shafts for the grim industrial backstory of Colorado's most infamous railroad tunnel.
Good to know
Why is it called the 7:30 Mine?
It was named for its unusually late 7:30 AM work shift, giving miners a slightly later start than the dawn shifts typical of other camps.
Can you go inside the mine shafts or tunnels?
No. The portals and tunnels are barred off, structurally dangerous, and strictly illegal to enter. Surrounding properties off the trail are private.
Who was Clifford Griffin?
He was the mine manager who serenaded the town of Silver Plume with his violin from the cliffs above before taking his own life at the mine in 1887.
What will I see along the hike?
You'll see historical QR codes, eroded tailing piles, iron-barred mine portals, small quartz and pyrite rocks along the trail, and the 10-foot granite Griffin Monument.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: clearcreekcounty.us · coloradostories.online · Facebook · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20