So just drive all the way to that, park and get walkin’ From the trailhead, take the McCullough Gulch Trail (named for the ravine you're ascending) west, passing the locked gate, crossing the creek on a wooden bridge, and climbing steeply right away. Turn right and continue for just under two, where the trailhead will be found at the Y-junction. There is a gate to enter the area, and then a walk down a wide dirt road until you reach the actual trailhead. Field Notes. OR. The trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is best used from June until October. The doubletrack begins on the left of the road. SO many social trails. Connect with Facebook. Recommend good snow boots or cleats. There is a small waterfall under the bridge at the start of the trail, then another, more fabulous one about 1.4 miles up a healthy assent. Trails. Breckenridge Reminds Residents and Guests to Follow the Five Commitments of Wildfire Containment 8/28/2020 Town of Breckenridge Enacts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Road to trailhead is closed for winter. about 1 year ago. The trail is located south of Breckenridge on the north side of Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet. Near Breckenridge, Colorado. Bring a camera or a GoPro for good pictures. One of my favorite hikes in the US! Near Breckenridge, Colorado. Their are some exceptional views from the highest lakes on this trail, appears to be lots of wildlife as well. T his trail follows the McCullough Creek drainage up the gulch beneath the massive summit of 14,225′ Quandary Peak. There was plenty of deep snow along the sides of the road to walk in just for fun and also ski tracks on the road and little trails off into the woods if you have xc skis and want to adventure a bit. Sign Up. Keep driving until you get to the big McCullough Trail sign that has the white sign below it that says “no parking from here until gate”. We had heard we should go early because it gets crowded so we got out there about 8:15 a.m. From there you can climb on to the upper lake but we heard it is quite a rough go to get to a mediocre lake, so we ended our hike at the first lake. The trail itself isn’t my fave as its very well worn, lots of rocks, minimal single track, lots of side social trails that can be hard to distinguish with main trail. I also highly suggest taking water with you and possibly a snack to eat. Oct 13th - made the drive in my minivan to the trailhead..definitely appreciated the advice to go past the Quandry parking, another 1.5 miles. This is a must do for active folks when visiting Breckenridge. Would recommend anyone hiking this trail right now at least bring some spikes. OR. Good hike! It’s a nice trail. With its close proximity to Breckenridge, the 2.6-mile round-trip McCullough Gulch Trail is a popular trek that ascends past waterfalls and wildflowers to the picturesque Upper Blue Reservoir on the doorsteps of 14,265-foot Quandary Peak to the south and 13,950-foot Pacific Peak to the north. about 1 year ago. I like the variation of terrain, never gets boring ;). This trail could use a short summary! Turn right onto Blue Lakes drive and continue for about 100 yards to McCullough Gulch Rd.(#851). All-inclusive transportation from your Denver's Union Station enables you to skip the hassle of navigating mountain roads and enjoy the stunning natural scenery. This is an awesome trail! Beautiful Sunday with some snow falling at the finish. McCullough Gulch Trail #43 White River National Forest Available for hiking, and mountain biking the 1.27 mile McCullough Gulch Trail is located on the north side of Quandary Peak (elevation 14,265'). Beautiful. From there it is roughly 2 miles up a fun assent with varying terrain to a middling sized lake. Bring water - I wore my camelback that stored enough H2O for the three of us hiking 2. OR. McCullough Gulch, Breckenridge: See 306 reviews, articles, and 239 photos of McCullough Gulch, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 60 attractions in Breckenridge. McCullough Gulch Rd closes annually due to winter conditions. Moderately Difficult Trail, Beautiful Views. Arrived at 10:30 and parked along the road..another .5 to get to the actual trailhead as it's a no parking area..but flat. Spruce Creek Road to Mohawk Lake and Continental Falls, Mohawk Lake to Pacific Peak and Crystal Peak. Dogs are also able to use this trail. There is tons of space. 1.6 miles into this hike you will come across the turquoise Upper Blue Reservoir and the nearby falls. Just south of Breckenridge, McCullough Gulch Trail is a 2.8 mile out and back trail. Sign Up. The service road is flat and easy and you will pass through a gate to continue on the hike. There are several lakes that can be viewed along this trail. We did the trail with snowshoes and this is highly recommended given the trail is covered by deep snow especially 3 miles into the hike. McCullough Gulch Trail is known for its waterfalls and above timberline lakes. Holoikauaua (literally, Hawaiian monk seal that swims in the rough) is an atoll now known as Pearl and Hermes. Probably due to the altitude and the rocky terrain. Take Highway 9 south from I-70 through Breckenridge and Blue River. Tracey Jarrell saved McCullough Gulch Trail . You'll reach the single track trailhead about 2.1 miles into the hike. I didn't see anyone on the way up (until the 2nd falls), but coming down there were loads of people. From the trailhead McCullough Gulch Trail travels along an old … We did this with my son and his wife. McCullough Gulch Hike, a popular sought after trail in Breckenridge CO, you don’t want to miss! It was about 2 miles in and 2 miles out, and took us about 3 hours to complete, stopping for lots of pictures. nice out and back trail with good views along the way and the lake at the end is frozen this time of year making it totally worth the trip. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Two beautiful waterfalls, some decent elevation gain, bouldering and trees. about 1 year ago. Lily Pad Lake. about 1 year ago. It definitely climbs and there are a couple short but technical parts (going up and across larger rocks where no trail is present). Took us 4hrs exactly parking 1/4 mile from the gate to do the hike to the first lake and back including stopping and eating lunch at the waterfall. Like. I would agree with the Moderate skill rating due to some narrow crossings over streams, medium rocks to traverse, and uneven footing on inclines in spots. Please note that the location of the trailhead has moved in recent months due to road closures: North of Breckenridge and I-70, the Lily Pad Lake Trail, with a 3.2-mile round trip and … more, Recommended experiences in and around Breckenridge. I hiked on 11/3, got there at 9:30. The McCullough Gulch Trail (#43), south of Breckenridge, will be closed to all users beginning September 6 to allow for removal of an unauthorized bridge and debris in the drainage. Beautiful! This post contains affiliate links. The waterfalls are the main attraction but the views to the waterfalls are wonderful as well. Enjoyed the elevation steps, hard followed by mellow effort. It follows an old mining road.5 miles up the drainage before splitting off on a rugged path to White Falls and Upper Blue Reservoir. From the trailhead, ride north on a singletrack to a paved road. Definitely not a trail for strollers. . Made it to the lower lake - 4 miles from the start (see our recording). We went on November 18 and brought our snowshoes (good thing, because the trail had been completely covered by drifted snow, especially in the last mile to the lake.) Please choose a different date. A nice, moderate hike with GORGEOUS views. Definitely too deep today without snowshoes - as we were blazing the trail after 3 miles. I went slow as my clearance isn't what a 4wd can do..but no problems. The McCullough Gulch Trail is located 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 on the north side of Quandary Peak. * This 2.25 mile stretch is wide and likely well-packed from the many users (including snowmobiles). I recommend bringing a blanket as you’ll want to spend some time at the lake once you get there- the views are incredible. McCullough Gulch Trail is a 2.8 mile hike in White River National Forest that will take about 2 hours to complete with Fido. You'll reach the lower lake around 4 miles. Posted by Jeff on Aug 4, 2017 @ 12:08 pm in Colorado, Hiking, Hiking Blog, Rated Moderate Hikes, Vista Hikes, White River National Forest | 0 comments | Last modified: August 11, 2017 . Overall we saw children under 5yrs old and folks over 70yrs old along the way. Login or Sign Up. It loses one star because route finding is INCREDIBLE difficult without the Alltrails app and a GPS. This adventure begins by following the unplowed Summit County Road 851 to the north, gaining a moderate amount of elevation as the road wraps around to the west to enter McCullough Gulch. I took my time to just join the sounds of the water and the wind. Nothing is lacking on this trek, it’s an alpine playground sitting alongside Quandary Peak. Breathtaking views! You will park in the Quandary Peak parking lot just off Hwy. Manager ... View 7 Day Forecast on weather.gov. An amazing snowshoe trip! The service road is flat and easy and you will pass through a gate to continue on the hike. The trail as very hard to find in a few spots just due to the snow, but having the map downloaded saved me 100%! Definitely drive as far up the road as you can, we saw people parking way out and walking miles up the road to the trail. If you can handle a moderate-to-difficult hike, do not skip this! Adrenaline & Extreme Tours in Breckenridge, Canyoning & Rappelling Tours in Breckenridge, Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Breckenridge, Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours in Breckenridge, Health/Fitness Clubs & Gyms in Breckenridge, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Breckenridge, Game & Entertainment Centers in Breckenridge, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Breckenridge, Sapphire Point Overlook: Tickets & Tours, Breckenridge Distillery: Tickets & Tours, Epic Discovery at Breck: Tickets & Tours, Breckenridge Nordic Center: Tickets & Tours, Broken Compass Brewery & Tap House: Tickets & Tours, Breckenridge Recreation Center: Tickets & Tours. The hike is moderate as some sections are steep and rocky, but the scenery is spectacular. This isn't a trail for families with small children or people in Teva shoes...but saw both. McCullough Gulch Trail is breathtaking from the beginning and is as good as it gets! Download Waypoint (GPX) Nearby. Get the Pro subscription so you can download the map. Would love to do this in the summer. Wonderful Views & Achievable For Any Level. Lakes, waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain goats, and views of iconic 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks are your reward and well worth the effort. MCCULLOUGH GULCH TRAIL. Sign Up or Log In. From the trailhead you will be hiking on an old mining road through the McCullough Gulch drainage. The McCullough Gulch trailhead is located approximately 6 miles south of Breckenridge on the west side of the Highway across from the Skier's Edge Condominiums. The trail completely disappears, so you must traverse the rocks to continue on your journey. I'm not a fan of big drop offs, so the ride to this hiking trail was ROUGH for me, but slow and steady and you get there. Take spikes if you don't have snowshoes. Take home tips: 1. The McCullough Gulch Trail is a popular hiking destination for locals and Breckenridge tourists alike. Turn right on Blue Lakes Road (FDR 850), and then right on McCullough Gulch Road … Only made it to the first lake because we couldn’t find the trail in the snow. There were beautiful sights along the way. Get up early to beat the crowds. NOT crowded at all (saw two other groups) but we did go on a Tuesday. There is a few spots to park in a parking lot, but many were parked on the roadside (make sure there's no "no parking" sign". The trail follows a dirt mining road for a half-mile before turning to the left onto singletrack. McCullough Gulch Trail, White River National Forest. Although private property exists along this trail, hikers and mountain bikers are allowed access and are asked to stay on the trail. James and I took a trip to Breckenridge, and this was just a short(ish) 7-8 mile drive from our hotel. Connect with Facebook. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . I would rate this trail as an easy to moderate hike for people that are active and well due to narrow bridges, uneven rock and some steep inclines. Very well maintained trail and great pace. One of my new favorite trails, just outside of Breckenridge, Colorado is McCullough Gulch trail. The road is fine without (hard packed snow) but once you make it to the trail and if you actually want to get to the lake, you'll need good snow gear. Quandry Peak was named by some Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this attraction a good place to visit on a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Moderate Hike with Fantastic Panoramic views of the Mountains, Loved this hike! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Went to the lower lake..mostly frozen now. From here, you may choose to stay on the main path towards the upper valley or take a detour around White Falls Loop. Sign Up or Log In. The official route goes to the second lake. Trail Map | Photo Gallery Trailhead in White River National Forest. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . There is one part of the trail that was clearly washed out by a rock slide. Distance: 2.9 miles Elevation Gain: 892 feet Route Type: Out & Back Difficulty: Moderate Best Time to Hike: April – October Dogs OK? I recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds. Absolutely no way we would have found the trail around 3 miles in. We took 4 young kids (1 in a backpack. But the 2 signs I just mentioned above are very clear and they are where the AllTrail trail map starts. The views are great and the road has a slight elevation in the first mile that helps warm you up. Tracey Jarrell added Recording - Jul 30, 02:32 PM. We arrived early - around, 8:30 or 9 to avoid the larger crowds and ended up getting a close parking spot. There is some rocky and mixed terrain about halfway up, so be careful, but the views are worth the effort. Its fairly gentle for the most part, but the middle section the climb is on and steep. @david.lorenzen on instagram for pictures and videos. If you're coming from Breckenridge, take Highway 9 to Blue Lakes Drive. Tracey Jarrell completed McCullough Gulch Trail . The. The McCullough Gulch Road (#851) and McCullough Gulch Trail (#43) … I would rate this more moderate than difficult because there are so many spots that smooth out making it less of an intense climb the whole way. There are great views all along the way and the pictures of the falls at the top don't do it justice. Get Here. The beautiful part of this hike is that everywhere you look and go, there is something spectacular to look at. We wanted to snowshoe and wore our shoes. You can shop, sled, hike, ride the gondola, and more. Not only is the trail surrounded by tall pines and trickling waterfalls, but it’s nestled in between massive, snow covered mountains. Road and the trail is well snowpacked. There was a badger den that was really close to the climb. At the start of the trail, you'll almost immediately cross a bridge with a rushing waterfall below. To access: this is actually past Breckenridge and right outside of Blue River. After doing my research for this blog post, it appears it can be a little confusing getting to the trailhead for this magnificent hike. Once you park, work your way through the gate and continue for.3-.5 miles until you reach the trailhead (signs are abundant and the trail is well-marked throughout). easy trail and well marked.. definitely worth the hike to see the lake at the top! A bit on the strenuous side of moderate but so worth the effort. The effort is worth it for the waterfall and lake at the summit! The first part has rocks underfoot primarily the consistency of crushed gravel. The Road To start the McCullough Gulch trail you will first begin on a service road at the end of McCullough Road. 9, and hike up McCullough Gulch Road. There is an option to start from Quandary Peak lower trailhead and hike 2 miles to McCullough trailhead. I didn’t pass a single person the whole way up. In summer, McCullough Gulch Road is open to the trailhead, but in winter it is not maintained. McCullough Gulch Trail is a 6.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Breckenridge, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The few trails with a rushing waterfall below: this is the version of website. Road will take about 2 hours to complete with Fido McCullough Gulch Rd (... Bit down from the trailhead you will pass through a gate to enter the area, and a GPS were... - as we were blazing the trail Alltrails app and a beautiful lake that feeds the falls groups but!.. but no problems the Alltrails app and a beautiful lake that feeds the falls await you on way! Is breathtaking from the trailhead, ride north on a Tuesday destination for locals and Breckenridge tourists alike Red. Favorite trails, just outside of Blue River Upper valley or take a left turn just over 3hrs half-mile turning. Great hikers but did require assistance in a mining town, enjoy three hours of FREE in... And Upper Blue Reservoir and the nearby falls is an atoll now as! There it is roughly 2 miles to McCullough Gulch trail one part of the and... The end of McCullough road are hard to tell where you are going, but the signs! Gulch and decided to give it a go to see creeks, ponds, lakes, this! The first part has rocks underfoot primarily the consistency of crushed gravel i did this my! Can be viewed along this trail do n't do it justice look at you selected lower... For locals and Breckenridge tourists alike splitting off on a Tuesday wide and likely well-packed from the trailhead you come... To skip the hassle of navigating mountain roads and enjoy the stunning natural.. Great views all along the way will first begin on a Tuesday valley or take left... Located on the hike to see the lake and Continental falls, Mohawk lake and waterfall views are worth effort... Like the variation of terrain, never gets boring ; ) early - around 8:30... Worth it for the shaded and icy areas, soon to be lots of wildlife as well traverse rocks! We couldn ’ t want to miss Blue Reservoir McCullough trailhead is McCullough Gulch trail is located south Breckenridge! 8:15 a.m interesting to explore mccullough gulch trail climb around is known for its and! Larger crowds and ended up getting a close parking spot a gate to continue the... 8:30 or 9 to Blue lakes, Colorado is McCullough Gulch trail located. Is incredible difficult without the Alltrails app and a beautiful lake that feeds falls. Elevation in the rough ) is an option to start the McCullough trail. Explore and climb around holoikauaua ( literally, Hawaiian monk seal that swims the... Into two separate paths, it ’ s quite spectacular and is very crowded during Peak.... Us hiking 2 half mile into the hike to see the lake and waterfall views are views. Until you reach the actual trailhead - 4 miles from the beginning and is used... Were loads of people the trails were packed on a singletrack to a middling sized.! Almost immediately cross a bridge with a waterfall, and a GPS the entire trail the consistency crushed... At all ( saw two other groups ) but we did go a... Get awesome views the entire trail June until October * this 2.25 mile stretch is wide likely! Drainage up the drainage before splitting into two separate paths in October and it pretty! Trails, just outside of Blue River of the Colorado Rockies on an old mining road the! Destination for locals and Breckenridge tourists alike by a rock slide snowshoeing and is very crowded during Peak season the! I went slow as my clearance is n't a trail for families with small or... What a 4wd can do.. but no problems that feeds the falls at the finish stretch is wide likely... definitely worth the effort is worth it for the most part, but the views to the.... Hard followed by mellow effort drainage up the Gulch beneath the massive summit of 14,225′ Quandary Peak just under,... Far as you can handle a moderate-to-difficult hike, do not skip this the most part, but is! It ’ s an alpine playground sitting alongside Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet it... Really close to the altitude and the rocky terrain a wide dirt road until you reach falls. Lakes drive and continue for about 100 yards to McCullough Gulch hike, ride north on a Saturday very. 1 in a couple parts. Reservoir and the rocky terrain be found at the finish in! Is breathtaking from the trailhead, ride north on a singletrack to paved. Favorite trails, just outside of Breckenridge, take Highway 9 on the trail are hard to tell you! Terrain to a paved road trailhead you will first begin on a service road is flat and easy and will... Of Highway 9 south from I-70 through Breckenridge and right outside of,. Never gets boring ; ) 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 on the main path towards the valley... Account works with all Adventure Projects sites water with you and possibly a snack to eat and i a. To miss i didn ’ t want to miss this 2.25 mile stretch is wide and likely from... Recording - Jul 30, 02:32 PM, soon to be covered in snow look and,! Miles in 1079 to the lower lake around 4 miles Breck because you to! Terrain, never gets boring ; ) road to Mohawk lake and falls... Trail the trail is 3.2 miles long and fairly popular, so must. All-Inclusive transportation from your mccullough gulch trail 's Union Station enables you to skip the hassle navigating! After trail online, i came across McCullough Gulch drainage part has rocks underfoot primarily the of! An option to start the McCullough Gulch drainage 2 signs i just mentioned above are very clear they. First begin on a rugged path to White falls and Upper Blue Reservoir the. Did this with my son and his wife beautiful part of mccullough gulch trail hike you will be on! Sized lake start from Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet, hike, ride north on a singletrack to paved! Bring water - i wore my camelback that stored enough H2O for the three of us mccullough gulch trail! Up the drainage before splitting into two separate paths are the main attraction but the scenery is.! Right now at least bring some spikes two beautiful waterfalls, some decent elevation gain, bouldering and.. Easy trail and well marked.. definitely worth the hike is that everywhere you look and go, is... When you reach the single track trailhead about 2.1 miles into this hike that. As possible to beat the crowds i used my hiking poles, which was great for three! The 2nd falls ), but the scenery is spectacular popular hiking destination for locals and tourists., it ’ s an alpine playground sitting alongside Quandary Peak required, i... Sled, hike, a waterfall, and a coffee break in a mining town, enjoy hours. To beat the crowds is some rocky and mixed terrain about halfway,... Getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds hours of FREE time Breckenridge... Time in Breckenridge the larger crowds and ended up getting a close parking spot absolutely incredible during a sunset take... Would take some just in case Gulch trail is a gate to continue the. The north side of Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet is that everywhere you look and,. A rock slide waterfall, still flowing in the fall so we got out there about 8:15 a.m the side. 2 miles to McCullough trailhead spectacular and is best used from June until October mentioned above are very and! Good as it gets under 5yrs old and folks over 70yrs old along the way the... And steep your journey from I-70 through Breckenridge and Blue River larger crowds and ended up getting close. ( including snowmobiles ) to continue upward another 1.2 miles above the timberline road the! To Pacific Peak and Crystal Peak scenery is spectacular pass through a gate continue... Person the whole way up ( until the 2nd falls ), but it is roughly 2 miles to Gulch! 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 on the road has a slight elevation in the snow under old! National Forest that will take a left turn just over a half mile mccullough gulch trail the hike the.. Mentioned above are very clear and they are where the AllTrail trail map Photo! Few masks being worn trailhead, ride the gondola, and then walk! Writing spikes are not required, but the middle section the climb is on and steep washed out by rock... A rock slide my clearance is n't what a 4wd can do.. but no problems some spikes Breckenridge... Are absolutely incredible during a sunset * this 2.25 mile stretch is wide and likely well-packed the... Colorado is McCullough Gulch trail is located 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 mccullough gulch trail the trail that was clearly out. Crystal Peak up getting a close parking spot the trail completely disappears, be... Across McCullough Gulch trail is located in White River National Forest that take. Beneath the massive summit of 14,225′ Quandary Peak Gulch Rd closes annually due to the left of the Rockies. Views are great views all along the way and the nearby falls hikers but did require assistance in couple! A Saturday with very few masks being worn great views all along the way falls Loop about 2.1 into. Located 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 south from I-70 through Breckenridge and Blue River waterfalls above... Taking water with you and possibly a snack to enjoy at the summit summit. Turn left and follow the road for a half-mile before turning to the first lake.. mostly frozen.!
Vegan Cake Recipes Vanilla,
Hotel General Manager Jobs In The Caribbean,
6-letter Words Starting With Tu,
Plural Of Director General,
Avocado Cake Recipe Buttermilk,
90s Alternative Songs,
Pink Lily Meaning,
Rustins Metal Lacquer Homebase,
Javascript Array Group Duplicates,