Today the road to summitville opened and i want to go hiking up there when the snow melts. Until last year the area was an epa superfund site. Its considered safe but there are warnings about heavy metal contamination mostly mercury. Should i wrap squirts feet or maybe buy her boots or just not bring her. Or is letting her go barefoot ok. Ive taken her places that i knew had potential for heavy metals in old mining areas before but this is the first superfund disaster site i will go hiking at and its dangerous enough they still say dont eat anything you caught or shot for several miles down from the mine and the nearby rivers and creeks. I called the forest service and according to the person i talked too unless i go up there on a regular basis it should be fine. And then he gave me a warning about bubonic plague being carried by prairie dogs up there last year.

So if it was me, i would just go somewhere else to hike. There are plenty of other great places in CO to hike that are not Superfund sites. but then again they have people living near rockyflats that is considered safe but suggested not to grow and eat food there....

when ever we hike near old mine sites i keep them leashed and away from the water. don't need them falling into a mine, stepping on old nails or drinking the yellow water.
I still carry booties with me for the dogs because of the rough rock we hike on, they should be on you regardless of where you are hiking so get some. Dogbooties.com is the best place.

Yeah no yellow water and squirt is always leashed just sometimes i use a 300 foot rope. Im trying to find stuff that isnt really busy, close by (east side of wolf creek pass)and doesnt require 4x4. Last year we went to chimney rock quite a bit and the area between southfork and creede. Penitente canyon is on this years list. Alot of southern Colorado wither burned last year or where i am hasnt bounced back from the west fork fire complex or the small fire at park creek last year

I'm with Jenn. I vaguely remember hearing about those issues when I lived in Colorado, but never had to deal with them directly. I'd choose somewhere else.

The thing with the old mines is i like rock hunting and the same place they found gold or silver is usually a good place to find quartz and other cool rocks and minerals and its my only hobby i can still do after stupidly breaking my back on a pony