Placerville is a tiny, unincorporated community on the road to Telluride. Situated in San Miguel County at the junction of Highway 62 and 145, the elevation is 7,320 feet.
History
Named after the placer gold mines situated the San Miguel River and Leopard Creek, Placerville got its start as a mining camp in the late 1800s. By 1919 there there were at least five mines in the town, which produced 30% of the world’s vanadium. The mines produced over 3 million pounds of vanadium through 1940.
Recreation
Read about the camping near Telluride, Ophir and Rico.
Accommodations
Activities near Placerville
Federal Lands:
Hot Springs:
- Orvis Hot Springs (25mi)
- Ouray Hot Springs Pool (33mi)
- Rico Hot Springs (closed) (36mi)
Scenic Drives:
Ski Areas:
- Telluride Ski Resort (16mi)
State Parks:
- Ridgway State Park (29mi)
Towns:
- Gateway
- Montrose (50mi)
- Mountain Village (7mi)
- Naturita (36mi)
- Norwood (17mi)
- Nucla (41mi)
- Ophir (21mi)
- Ouray (34mi)
- Redvale (26mi)
- Rico (36mi)
- Ridgway (23mi)
- Sawpit (3mi)
- Telluride (15mi)
- Uravan (54mi)
Transportation:
Waterfalls:
- Bridal Veil Falls (18mi)
- Mystic Falls (16mi)
Whitewater Rafting:
Latest in Placerville
Camping near Telluride, Ophir and Rico
Telluride is one of Colorado’s most beloved mountain towns and most secluded. Throughout the warmer spring,…
