While we were there on a hot day, much of the trail is within the trees and provide great shade, especially at the bottom part. Definitely too deep today without snowshoes - as we were blazing the trail after 3 miles. 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). The beautiful part of this hike is that everywhere you look and go, there is something spectacular to look at. Coordinates. There is tons of space. Not great people! McCullough Gulch Trail is breathtaking from the beginning and is as good as it gets! No results. You'll reach the single track trailhead about 2.1 miles into the hike. Although private property exists along this trail, hikers and mountain bikers are allowed access and are asked to stay on the trail and to respect private property. @david.lorenzen on instagram for pictures and videos. After doing my research for this blog post, it appears it can be a little confusing getting to the trailhead for this magnificent hike. One of my favorite hikes in Breck because you get awesome views the entire trail. The McCullough Gulch Trail is located 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 on the north side of Quandary Peak. 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. To start the McCullough Gulch trail you will first begin on a service road at the end of McCullough Road. 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. There are great views all along the way and the pictures of the falls at the top don't do it justice. From the trailhead McCullough Gulch Trail travels along an old … You have to park about a third to a half a mile away from the gated entrance to the area and then you have about another quarter of the mile before you reach the actual trail. Going down the trails were packed on a Saturday with very few masks being worn. This trail could use a short summary! Tracey Jarrell completed McCullough Gulch Trail . The top is so rewarding though. There is an option to start from Quandary Peak lower trailhead and hike 2 miles to McCullough trailhead. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 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. We took 4 young kids (1 in a backpack. about 1 year ago. 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Field Notes. The effort is worth it for the waterfall and lake at the summit! Bring water - I wore my camelback that stored enough H2O for the three of us hiking 2. James and I took a trip to Breckenridge, and this was just a short(ish) 7-8 mile drive from our hotel. I went slow as my clearance isn't what a 4wd can do..but no problems. 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.) Near Breckenridge, Colorado. There was a badger den that was really close to the climb. I also highly suggest taking water with you and possibly a snack to eat. A nice, moderate hike with GORGEOUS views. There had to be a dozen times we lost the trail given the snow and we were blazing at that mile mark so there were no tracks to follow. This isn't a trail for families with small children or people in Teva shoes...but saw both. You may choose to continue upward another 1.2 miles above the timberline. Distance: 2.9 miles Elevation Gain: 892 feet Route Type: Out & Back Difficulty: Moderate Best Time to Hike: April – October Dogs OK? 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 2.25 mile stretch is wide and likely well-packed from the many users (including snowmobiles). From the trailhead you will be hiking on an old mining road through the McCullough Gulch drainage. It loses one star because route finding is INCREDIBLE difficult without the Alltrails app and a GPS. It begins along an old mining road and carries for half a mile before splitting into two separate paths. This post contains affiliate links. Connect with Facebook. Sign Up. Wear shoes with a good grip - hiking boots or trail running shoes are best - some areas are smooth and its very easy to fall 3. about 1 year ago. Sign Up or Log In. Steady climb and you get to see creeks, ponds, lakes, and waterfalls. There is one part of the trail that was clearly washed out by a rock slide. Login or Sign Up. Tracey Jarrell completed Mayflower Gulch Grand Traverse. But absolutely gorgeous. Turn right on Blue Lakes Road (FDR 850), and then right on McCullough Gulch Road … The Road To start the McCullough Gulch trail you will first begin on a service road at the end of McCullough Road. But the 2 signs I just mentioned above are very clear and they are where the AllTrail trail map starts. I recommend bringing a blanket as you’ll want to spend some time at the lake once you get there- the views are incredible. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. McCullough Gulch Rd closes annually due to winter conditions. I took my time to just join the sounds of the water and the wind. 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 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. About 2 miles to McCullough trailhead. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . 9, and hike up McCullough Gulch Road. From the trailhead you will be hiking on an old mining road through the McCullough Gulch drainage. The trail completely disappears, so you must traverse the rocks to continue on your journey. 39.401092°N 106.079°W. Sign Up. Yes. Absolutely no way we would have found the trail around 3 miles in. From Breckenridge head south on route 9 for 7.6 miles to Blue Lakes Drive (#850). 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”. I didn’t pass a single person the whole way up. 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. McCullough Gulch, Breckenridge: See 306 reviews, articles, and 239 photos of McCullough Gulch, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 60 attractions in Breckenridge. Highly recommend it. OR. McCullough Gulch is located in White River National Forest near Blue Lakes, Colorado. Road and the trail is well snowpacked. It was about 2 miles in and 2 miles out, and took us about 3 hours to complete, stopping for lots of pictures. 12/9 Beautiful day! Beautiful Sunday with some snow falling at the finish. Nothing is lacking on this trek, it’s an alpine playground sitting alongside Quandary Peak. Near Breckenridge, Colorado. The trail completely disappears, so you must traverse the rocks to continue on your journey. After a visit to Red Rocks Amphitheater and a coffee break in a mining town, enjoy three hours of free time in Breckenridge. Two beautiful waterfalls, some decent elevation gain, bouldering and trees. 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. 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. At the start of the trail, you'll almost immediately cross a bridge with a rushing waterfall below. Good hike! Would recommend anyone hiking this trail right now at least bring some spikes. Enjoy! There is one part of the trail that was clearly washed out by a rock slide. But definitely wear sunscreen! One of the few trails with a waterfall, still flowing in the fall. Virtual Tour of McCullough Gulch Trail #43. Then you being to ascend the mountain. If you can handle a moderate-to-difficult hike, do not skip this! Turn left and follow the road for a few hundred feet. 1.6 miles into this hike you will come across the turquoise Upper Blue Reservoir and the nearby falls. Views were ridiculous. Like 8 groups on the way down. Also a lesson for the wise. Dogs are also able to use this trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is best used from June until October. The service road is flat and easy and you will pass through a gate to continue on the hike. Tracey Jarrell added Recording - Jul 30, 02:32 PM. Enjoyed the elevation steps, hard followed by mellow effort. This is an awesome trail! Totally worth the difficult hike! It definitely climbs and there are a couple short but technical parts (going up and across larger rocks where no trail is present). Tracey Jarrell saved McCullough Gulch Trail . 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. After browsing trail after trail online, I came across McCullough Gulch and decided to give it a go. McCullough Gulch Trail, White River National Forest. The McCullough Gulch Trail is a popular hiking destination for locals and Breckenridge tourists alike. The lake and waterfall views are absolutely incredible during a sunset. The doubletrack begins on the left of the road. Moderately Difficult Trail, Beautiful Views. Went to the lower lake..mostly frozen now. You start at the Quandary Peak lower trailhead parking lot and as others have stated, the road to the McCullough Gulch trailhead is closed so this adds 2 miles each way but its worth it. Trailhead in White River National Forest. Very well maintained trail and great pace. A bit on the strenuous side of moderate but so worth the effort. OR. Just south of Breckenridge, McCullough Gulch Trail is a 2.8 mile out and back trail. I didn't see anyone on the way up (until the 2nd falls), but coming down there were loads of people. 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. 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. We wanted to snowshoe and wore our shoes. McCullough Gulch Hike, a popular sought after trail in Breckenridge CO, you don’t want to miss! Manager ... View 7 Day Forecast on weather.gov. Take Highway 9 south from I-70 through Breckenridge and Blue River. OR. 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 . This intersection is just beyond a large open meadow with wonderful views of both Quandary and Red Mountain back to the East. Its modern name reflects the twin wrecks of British whalers, the … It’s quite spectacular and is very crowded during peak season. The end is well worth the sweat. There is a gate to enter the area, and then a walk down a wide dirt road until you reach the actual trailhead. One of my new favorite trails, just outside of Breckenridge, Colorado is McCullough Gulch trail. Get Here. Made it to the lower lake - 4 miles from the start (see our recording). Its fairly gentle for the most part, but the middle section the climb is on and steep. 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. We arrived early - around, 8:30 or 9 to avoid the larger crowds and ended up getting a close parking spot. 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. Although private property exists along this trail, hikers and mountain bikers are allowed access and are asked to stay on the trail. 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. Please choose a different date. I hiked on 11/3, got there at 9:30. Only made it to the first lake because we couldn’t find the trail in the snow. Lily Pad Lake. Definitely not a trail for strollers. There are several lakes that can be viewed along this trail. OR. There were beautiful sights along the way. others are great hikers but did require assistance in a couple parts.) Beautiful. McCullough Gulch Trail is known for its waterfalls and above timberline lakes. A little challenging but well worth the views! Like. It is beautiful. I like the variation of terrain, never gets boring ;). Recorded Trips. 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! 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. My own fault, but I got confused by someone else’s post that said they had to park 0.5m away from the trailhead. MCCULLOUGH GULCH TRAIL. This trail could use a short summary! About McCullough Gulch Trail The trail is 3.2 miles long and fairly popular, so expect to pass by a few fellow travelers. In summer, McCullough Gulch Road is open to the trailhead, but in winter it is not maintained. Trail Map | Photo Gallery Turn right and continue for just under two, where the trailhead will be found at the Y-junction. Breckenridge Reminds Residents and Guests to Follow the Five Commitments of Wildfire Containment 8/28/2020 Town of Breckenridge Enacts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions As of this writing spikes are not required, but I would take some just in case. It was a steady climb. about 1 year ago. more, Recommended experiences in and around Breckenridge. Road to trailhead is closed for winter. According to my Garmin..4.7 miles from car to car, elevation 1079 to the first lake.. 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". Dogs are also able to use this trail. 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. Go early and avoid the crowds 4. 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. Connect with Facebook. NOT crowded at all (saw two other groups) but we did go on a Tuesday. The path has a slow incline which is easy to manage and also gives you great views of the gulch … Recommend good snow boots or cleats. about 1 year ago. Please note that the location of the trailhead has moved in recent months due to road closures: It’s a nice trail. The trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is best used from June until October. This hike was incredible. Lakes, waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain goats, and views of iconic 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks are your reward and well worth the effort. The trail is located south of Breckenridge on the north side of Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet. The hike is moderate as some sections are steep and rocky, but the scenery is spectacular. The official route goes to the second lake. You will park in the Quandary Peak parking lot just off Hwy. Get the Pro subscription so you can download the map. I did the round trip in just over 3hrs. Great hike with a little bit of everything. I recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds. An amazing snowshoe trip! 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. On a clear day you can enjoy all the surrounding mountains including 14,265-foot Quandry Peak to the south and 13,950-foot Pacific Peak to the north. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Colorado Rockies on an 8-hour tour to Breckenridge. We had to park a bit down from the trailhead on the road as this trail was busy. Holoikauaua (literally, Hawaiian monk seal that swims in the rough) is an atoll now known as Pearl and Hermes. Take spikes if you don't have snowshoes. Wonderful Views & Achievable For Any Level. The trail follows the slope on the north side of McCullough Gulch across from Quandary and rises gently, passing an old cabin at the .8 mile mark, to the intersection with the Wheeler Trail and McCullough Gulch Road. Turn right onto Blue Lakes drive and continue for about 100 yards to McCullough Gulch Rd.(#851). The trail as very hard to find in a few spots just due to the snow, but having the map downloaded saved me 100%! If you're coming from Breckenridge, take Highway 9 to Blue Lakes Drive. The service road will take a left turn just over a half mile into the hike. The lake is interesting to explore and climb around. Hike McCullough Gulch to Upper Blue Reservoir Rated 4.5 /5 based on 2 customer reviews 2.8 miles 910 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail Have to start from Quandary Peak lower trailhead. From the trailhead you will be hiking on an old mining road through the McCullough Gulch drainage. 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'). Their are some exceptional views from the highest lakes on this trail, appears to be lots of wildlife as well. 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. T his trail follows the McCullough Creek drainage up the gulch beneath the massive summit of 14,225′ Quandary Peak. Although private property exists along this trail, hikers and mountain bikers are allowed access and are asked to stay on the trail. The trail is located south of Breckenridge on the north side of Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet. From the trailhead, ride north on a singletrack to a paved road. There is some rocky and mixed terrain about halfway up, so be careful, but the views are worth the effort. Parking for McCullough Gulch trail The trail was doable for us (mid 50's crowd) but we thought it was more on the difficult side of moderate. McCullough Gulch Trailhead . easy trail and well marked.. definitely worth the hike to see the lake at the top! You'll reach the lower lake around 4 miles. Virtual Tour of McCullough Gulch Trail #43. Breathtaking views! Get up early to beat the crowds. From there it is roughly 2 miles up a fun assent with varying terrain to a middling sized lake. Sign Up or Log In. This is a must do for active folks when visiting Breckenridge. Some spots on the trail are hard to tell where you are going, but it is almost impossible to get lost. You can shop, sled, hike, ride the gondola, and more. Parking can be a bit difficult so drive as far as you can - it saves a long walk. I did this hike in October and it was pretty chilly once you get to the top. Take lots of water and maybe a snack to enjoy at the top when you reach the falls. 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. Spruce Creek Road to Mohawk Lake and Continental Falls, Mohawk Lake to Pacific Peak and Crystal Peak. I used my hiking poles, which was great for the shaded and icy areas, soon to be covered in snow. From here, you may choose to stay on the main path towards the upper valley or take a detour around White Falls Loop. Several waterfalls can be viewed about 1.5 miles into this route. Overall we saw children under 5yrs old and folks over 70yrs old along the way. One of my favorite hikes in the US! We had heard we should go early because it gets crowded so we got out there about 8:15 a.m. The service road is flat and easy and you will pass through a gate to continue on the hike. To access: this is actually past Breckenridge and right outside of Blue River. McCullough Gulch Trail is a 2.8 mile hike in White River National Forest that will take about 2 hours to complete with Fido. Beautiful! Would love to do this in the summer. So just drive all the way to that, park and get walkin’ 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. SO many social trails. It starts on an old … Gorgeous views of the mountains, a waterfall, and a beautiful lake that feeds the falls await you on the glorious hike. 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. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . 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. We did this with my son and his wife. The trail is located on the north side of Quandary Peak, elevation 14,265 feet. The views are great and the road has a slight elevation in the first mile that helps warm you up. Quandry Peak was named by some OR. Probably due to the altitude and the rocky terrain. Tip: if you’re doing this as a day trip from Denver be cautious - we got caught in an unexpected ice storm going back and it took us 6 hours to drive home after a number of huge pile ups and unsafe road conditions on I-70. Pretty much had it all. . North of Breckenridge and I-70, the Lily Pad Lake Trail, with a 3.2-mile round trip and … The. 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. Bring a camera or a GoPro for good pictures. The waterfalls are the main attraction but the views to the waterfalls are wonderful as well. Take home tips: 1. Download Waypoint (GPX) Nearby. The beautiful part of this hike is that everywhere you look and go, there is something spectacular to look at. The first part has rocks underfoot primarily the consistency of crushed gravel. See the lake and Continental falls, Mohawk lake to Pacific Peak and Crystal Peak Gulch trail known. Around 3 miles in out by a rock slide this route trip in just over 3hrs miles in couple.. Three hours of FREE time in Breckenridge to Blue lakes, Colorado is McCullough Gulch Rd closes annually due the. 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