Governor Basin 2.5

This trail is a combination of Governor Basin rated 2.0 and Sydney Basin rated 2.5.  Very scenic plus a tippy spot to get your heart rate up a bit.
A building for Mountain Top Mine is visible across the basin.  ​​The jagged ridge around the basin is Saint Sophia's Ridge.
There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.
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Governor Basin
The road into Governor Basin is quite wide as it was improved circa 2015 to allow large vehicles access to renovate Virginius Mine.
 
​Look left as you climb this shelf road and you can see interesting hoodoos formed from San Juan Tuff.
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Shelf road headed in
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Hoodoos in San Juan Tuff
This road is scenic all the way into Governor Basin.
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Tent overlooking Yankee Boy Basin
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Approaching Governor Basin
Virginius Mine is being redeveloped in conjunction with Ouray Silver Mine that you passed on Yankee Boy Basin 2.5.

Patience and a sharp eye might allow you to spot a pica.
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Virginius Mine
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Pica
Go back down Governor Basin a bit then turn onto a loop around Sydney Basin.  

There is a hill a short distance on the loop that gives the trail a 2.5 rating.
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Sydney Basin
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Hill in Sydney Basin
Continue around the loop and cross a large rock field.

The last quarter mile is fairly narrow and has one tippy stretch.  There were no Jeep parts at the bottom, so most people must make it. 
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Road across rock field
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Tippy section
Page updated 2018.
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