Crystal Mill
A wooden water-powered mill built in 1892, perched above a cliff and rushing river. It is one of the most photographed scenes in Colorado.
The Crystal Mill was built in 1892 as an air compressor station supplying a nearby silver mine. Its wooden structure hangs above the rocky walls of the Crystal River. Together with a waterfall and aspen forest, it forms a classic Colorado postcard view. From Glenwood Springs, it takes about 1.5 hours via Highway 133 through Carbondale to the town of Marble. From there, a rough 4WD dirt road of about 9 km leads to the mill. Ordinary cars cannot manage this road. You can hike or bike the route, which takes 4–5 hours round trip, or join a jeep tour from Marble. The mill is privately owned, so visitors can only photograph it from the roadside. The Yule Marble Quarry near Marble supplied marble for the Lincoln Memorial.
Opening hours
About June–Oct (depending on road conditions); mill viewable from outside only
Nearby sights
- Sunlight Mountain Resort
- Colorado River Rafting (Shoshone)
- Doc Holliday's Grave (Linwood Cemetery)
- Glenwood Canyon & Recreation Trail
- Yampah Spa & Vapor Caves
- Glenwood Hot Springs Pool
- Hotel Colorado
- Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park