Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant

The Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant is an early twentieth-century power station in Colorado that generated electricity through turbines driven by water from mountain sources. The structure features solid stone walls and straightforward machinery positioned on a hillside to take advantage of significant water flow.

The plant was built over 115 years ago and was among the first to use alternating current for power generation. It played a key role in electrifying nearby mining towns and contributed to the industrialization of the region.

The name reflects the smuggling and mining history tied to the area's past. Visitors can see how the old powerhouse sits within the landscape as a tangible reminder of when water power was a new and vital resource for the local community.

The plant sits at elevation in the mountains next to a large waterfall and is reachable by hiking trails and short drives. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be ready for changing weather conditions in the high-altitude location.

The name stems from local lore about smuggling activities associated with the site. A former operator named Eric Jacobson ran the plant for nearly two decades and helped revive this historic system as an energy source for modern times.