Town Profiles: Tincup
Visit Tincup: In this series of town profiles, we’ll highlight the history and current stories of several smaller towns around the valley. Some still exist with year-round residents, while others only existed for a few brief years during the mining boom of the late 1800s.
Tincup, Colorado
Just up the road from the Taylor Park Trading Post is the little town of Tincup, Colorado. Originally incorporated under the name Virginia City, the residents reincorporated the town as Tincup in 1882 after confusion with Virginia City, Nevada, and Virginia City, Montana, popping up during the mining boom. Placer gold was first found in 1859, and in 1879 the first big strike occurred leading to the formation of the town as it’s known today.
Today, Tincup only boasts a handful of year-round residents, with snowmobiles being the only means of access during the winter months. In the early 1800s, the town had over 1,400 residents who scoured the hills above Taylor Park looking for gold and silver.
History
Tincup’s past is tainted with old Wild West violence and tragedy. In 1882 and 1883, both the marshal – and the marshal who replaced him – were gunned down while enforcing the law. By 1918, the town had so few people that the post office closed and the last town elections were held.
Tincup today isn’t too different from how it was in 1918. Almost all the cabins and structures in town are original.
As far as businesses in town go, there is a general store and one restaurant, Frenchy’s Cafe, that are open for a few months in the summer. Enjoy the view of the Collegiate Peaks while munching on a burger or sipping a milkshake.
Where is Tincup?
Tincup lies at the nexus of several backcountry Forest Service roads. It’s 16 miles from Pitkin over Cumberland Pass. The route from Taylor Park via Forest Road 765 spans 10 miles. The drive over scenic Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista is a 41-mile trip chock-full of panoramic mountain scenery—plus, now it is paved. These roads are all passable with a two-wheel drive vehicle. All dirt roads in this area allow side-by-sides and other OHVs.
Things to do
Most of the visitors to Tincup come for the world-class motorized recreation in the area around Taylor Park and Pitkin. ATVs, side-by-sides and dirt bikes are frequently found parked along the streets of Tincup. There are hundreds of OHV routes in this area that traverse mountain passes and breathtaking scenery. Plus, the vestiges of railroad and mining history remain, with the west portal of the Alpine Tunnel just 19 miles southeast of Tincup. Mineshafts dot the landscape.
Outside of a tour of town, several fantastic recreation opportunities exist in this area. Driving the passes between St. Elmo, Cumberland Pass, Pitkin and Union Park are popular endeavors. Hiking, biking and riding dirt bikes on the Timberline Trail are also excellent options. Mirror Lake, located on the Tincup Pass Road, is a great place to spend the afternoon picnicking and fishing. If you’re bringing along a history buff, the town cemetery is a good place to start. Mining tours up the Hillerton Road or in Union Park are also great ways to enjoy your time in Tincup.
Camping in Taylor Park is probably the most popular activity of all, but in 2017 the Forest Service placed a ban on camping in some of the areas directly around Tincup to cut down on the traffic in town. This camping ban is prominently marked and well-signed. You can also view more information on it here. Accommodations are available in nearby Pitkin for those seeking traditional lodging.
Other tiny towns in the Gunnison Valley
Read about the other small towns tucked throughout the mountains of Gunnison County:
Agency Tourism Marketing