Entry No. 93 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: abandoned-mine
Bangs Canyon Trailhead (Mica Mine)
Located in the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area, this historic site was once the Williamson Mine, which produced mica and quartz until the 1950s. Today, a 1.3-mile trail leads hikers into Ladder Canyon to the abandoned open-cut mine. While the main mine tunnel has collapsed, visitors can still see glittering sheets of mica embedded in the canyon walls and scattered across the ground.
The story
You expect red sandstone and sagebrush in the canyon country south of Grand Junction, but deep inside Ladder Canyon, the ground breaks into thousands of tiny natural mirrors. This was the Williamson Mine—a mid-century open-cut dig that churned out mica and raw quartz until miners walked away in the 1950s. When the earth-moving stopped, they left behind massive tailing piles that seven decades of weathering have ground into a glitter-strewn canyon floor.
The main mine shaft has long since collapsed into a throat of fallen rock and dirt, sealing off whatever lies deeper in the stone. But you don't need to go underground to see what pulled miners into this draw. Book-thick sheets of flaky silver mica are still frozen straight inside the red canyon walls, peeling off in translucent, leaf-thin layers. It creates an unnerving visual trick: classic desert canyon scenery, completely carpeted in industrial-grade sparkle.
What it's like
You'll park off Little Park Court at the Bangs Canyon Trailhead and follow the singletrack 1.3 miles into Ladder Canyon. The 2.7-mile round-trip walk is moderate, but full sun turns the white quartz tailings into a blinding mirror field by mid-day, so bring sunglasses even on winter walks. You’ll know you’ve arrived when the rust-red canyon dirt gives way to pale mine waste and shimmering ground cover. Resisting the urge to claw at the unstable quarry walls or scramble around collapsed timbers is mandatory—the slopes are loose, and the best geological debris is already sitting on the wash floor at your feet.
The move: Hike the scenic 2.6-mile round-trip trail through Ladder Canyon to admire the towering red rock cliffs and photograph the glittering mica and quartz deposits at the historic mine site.
📍 Before you go The mine is located on public BLM land with a well-maintained hiking trail, but entering any remaining mine tunnels or climbing on unstable quarry walls is dangerous and restricted.
- 📍 Grand Junction
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Little Park Ct, Grand Junction, CO 81507, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Kiln Historical Site — Located less than a mile away in the same Bangs Canyon management area, this hand-built settler kiln offers a quick second hit of pioneer stone ruins.
- Atomic Legacy Cabin — Pair a morning spent at an abandoned 1950s mica site with a stop at the secret cabin that managed the Western Slope's wartime uranium rush.
- Manhattan Project — Wash the canyon dust out of your throat at this hidden speakeasy hidden behind two flights of stairs and marked by yellow radiation trefoils.
Good to know
How long is the hike to the Mica Mine?
It's roughly 1.3 miles each way (2.7 miles round trip) following the trail into Ladder Canyon.
Can I go inside the mine tunnels?
No. The main mine tunnel has collapsed, and climbing unstable quarry walls or attempting to enter any rock openings is dangerous and restricted on BLM public land.
Can I take mica or quartz rocks home with you?
The mine sits on public BLM land. While you can pick up and examine the shimmering mineral sheets, everything should be left in place for others to discover.
Where do I park for the trail?
Park at the official Bangs Canyon Trailhead off Little Park Court in Grand Junction.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: roadtripryan.com · spokeandblossom.com · visitgrandjunction.com · everafterinthewoods.com
last checked: 2026-07-20