Creede is just up the road from South Fork and is interesting for it’s ties to silver mining.  In fact, I did not realize but from South Fork north to near Gunnison is a scenic highway called the Silver Thread.  While in Creede we decided to go up Willow Creek Canyon which is where most of the silver mining around Creede was located.  At one time there were 1,000 men employed in the mines in Willow Creek Canyon and mining continued until 1976. Most of the pictures below are to give you an idea of the steepness of the canyon.  Try to imagine working in this area, driving wagons up and down, etc.  Wow!