Entry No. 31 — the Durango file — filed under: ruins
Fort Peabody Ruins (Imogene Pass)
At 13,365 feet on the Ouray–San Miguel county line, a cluster of low stone walls is all that remains of Fort Peabody — a Colorado National Guard sentry post erected in early 1904 to keep union miners from crossing into Telluride during one of the bloodiest labor conflicts in American history. Governor James Peabody had declared martial law, and two or three guardsmen manned this windswept outpost from February through June 1904, connected to town only by a telephone wire. A stone flag mount once cradled a rapid-fire Colt machine gun. The National Register of Historic Places calls it "probably the only remaining structure exclusively representative of Colorado's labor troubles in 1903–04." Partially stabilized in 2010, the ruins sit just southeast of the pass summit with sweeping views of the San Juan peaks in every direction.
The story
In early 1904, Colorado Governor James Peabody decided the best way to break the Western Federation of Miners was to put armed men at 13,365 feet. He declared martial law across the San Juans and ordered the Colorado National Guard onto the ridge line of Imogene Pass to build a stone sentry post. The enemy wasn't a foreign power—it was unionized miners attempting to cross the county line into Telluride during one of the state's most bitter labor conflicts.
From February through June of 1904, two or three guardsmen sat inside a low, dry-laid stone bunker at the edge of the ridge. Their only link to authority down in town was a single telephone wire, and their leverage was a rapid-fire Colt machine gun bolted to a stone flag mount. They stayed up there through the winter melt, watching the gap to ensure no blacklisted striker made it over the pass.
It remains probably the only surviving structure built exclusively to prosecute Colorado's 1903–04 labor troubles. San Miguel County stabilized the surviving guardhouse masonry in 2010, meaning you can still trace the exact footprint where soldiers sat guarding a frozen choke point.
What it's like
Reaching the site requires a true 4WD vehicle with low-range gearing—do not attempt Tomboy Road from Telluride in a standard crossover. You'll crawl past the private holdings of the old Tomboy site before topping out at Imogene Pass. From the summit, a short, unmarked foot trail runs southeast along the ridge to the stone ruins. Expect intense wind, rapid weather changes, zero cell reception, and no amenities whatsoever. Plan a full day for the trip if you are based in Durango, as the pavement drive to the trailhead takes roughly 1.5 hours before you start the 4WD ascent.
The move: Drive the high-clearance Tomboy Road from Telluride together, stop at the ghost ruins of Tomboy Mine en route, then stand inside the stone walls of Fort Peabody at 13,365 feet and talk about which side of the 1904 strike you would have been on.
📍 Before you go The pass is typically open mid-July through early October — snow closes it the rest of the year. A true high-clearance 4WD with low-range gearing is required; the Telluride side via Tomboy Road is steep and rocky. The road passes through the privately-owned Tomboy Townsite — stay on the main track. Durango to Telluride is roughly 1.5 hours each way, so budget a full day. Cell service is nonexistent near the summit. No fees or reservations required.
- 📍 Durango
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Imogene Pass summit ridge, Uncompahgre National Forest — accessed via Tomboy Road (Oak St) from Telluride (approx. 6.9 miles one-way) or from Ouray via the northern approach; GPS near 37.9771° N, 107.6902° W
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Tomboy Mine — You crawl directly past this high-altitude 1880 gold mine on Tomboy Road while ascending to the fort.
- Lone Tree Cemetery — Located down in Telluride, this 1887 burial ground holds many of the miners and locals who lived through the 1903–04 strike era.
- Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge & Noodle Bar — Finish the day in Telluride at a basement bar carved in the 1880s that stood during the exact years Fort Peabody was manned.
Good to know
What vehicle do I need to get to Fort Peabody?
You need a high-clearance, true 4WD vehicle equipped with low-range gearing. The climb up Tomboy Road from Telluride (or the northern route from Ouray) is steep, rough, and unpaved.
When is the site accessible?
The pass is generally open from mid-July through early October. Heavy snowpack closes the road for the rest of the year.
Are there fees or permits required to visit?
No fees, tickets, or permits are required to visit the ruins on the Uncompahgre National Forest land.
Why was the post built at such a high elevation?
Governor James Peabody ordered it built at 13,365 feet to prevent striking union miners from entering Telluride from Ouray County during martial law in 1904.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: coloradoencyclopedia.org · Wikipedia · historycolorado.org · uncovercolorado.com · storymaps.arcgis.com
last checked: 2026-06-11