Trail Map | Photo Gallery Dogs are also able to use this trail. Absolutely no way we would have found the trail around 3 miles in. Would love to do this in the summer. 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'). Tracey Jarrell added Recording - Jul 30, 02:32 PM. But absolutely gorgeous. about 1 year ago. 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. 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. more, Recommended experiences in and around Breckenridge. It’s quite spectacular and is very crowded during peak season. The McCullough Gulch Trail is located 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 on the north side of Quandary Peak. 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". 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. Parking can be a bit difficult so drive as far as you can - it saves a long walk. The end is well worth the sweat. The effort is worth it for the waterfall and lake at the summit! It was about 2 miles in and 2 miles out, and took us about 3 hours to complete, stopping for lots of pictures. Lakes, waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain goats, and views of iconic 13,000 and 14,000 foot peaks are your reward and well worth the effort. Then you being to ascend the mountain. Overall we saw children under 5yrs old and folks over 70yrs old along the way. We had heard we should go early because it gets crowded so we got out there about 8:15 a.m. Like 8 groups on the way down. Distance: 2.9 miles Elevation Gain: 892 feet Route Type: Out & Back Difficulty: Moderate Best Time to Hike: April – October Dogs OK? Bring a camera or a GoPro for good pictures. Spruce Creek Road to Mohawk Lake and Continental Falls, Mohawk Lake to Pacific Peak and Crystal Peak. This post contains affiliate links. The lake and waterfall views are absolutely incredible during a sunset. Take lots of water and maybe a snack to enjoy at the top when you reach the falls. I also highly suggest taking water with you and possibly a snack to eat. 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. 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 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. You may choose to continue upward another 1.2 miles above the timberline. Road to trailhead is closed for winter. Go early and avoid the crowds 4. Take home tips: 1. The McCullough Gulch Trail is a popular hiking destination for locals and Breckenridge tourists alike. To access: this is actually past Breckenridge and right outside of Blue River. 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. You'll reach the single track trailhead about 2.1 miles into the hike. Breckenridge Reminds Residents and Guests to Follow the Five Commitments of Wildfire Containment 8/28/2020 Town of Breckenridge Enacts Stage 2 Fire Restrictions Holoikauaua (literally, Hawaiian monk seal that swims in the rough) is an atoll now known as Pearl and Hermes. There is a gate to enter the area, and then a walk down a wide dirt road until you reach the actual trailhead. The trail completely disappears, so you must traverse the rocks to continue on your journey. A little challenging but well worth the views! I hiked on 11/3, got there at 9:30. 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. Not only is the trail surrounded by tall pines and trickling waterfalls, but it’s nestled in between massive, snow covered mountains. Take Highway 9 south from I-70 through Breckenridge and Blue River. 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. I recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds. Highly recommend it. The top is so rewarding though. The path has a slow incline which is easy to manage and also gives you great views of the gulch … Breathtaking views! Recorded Trips. Went to the lower lake..mostly frozen now. Also a lesson for the wise. Near Breckenridge, Colorado. Its fairly gentle for the most part, but the middle section the climb is on and steep. 9, and hike up McCullough Gulch Road. OR. Near Breckenridge, Colorado. I like the variation of terrain, never gets boring ;). Beautiful. One of my favorite hikes in the US! Their are some exceptional views from the highest lakes on this trail, appears to be lots of wildlife as well. It starts on an old … About 2 miles to McCullough trailhead. Would recommend anyone hiking this trail right now at least bring some spikes. 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. The first part has rocks underfoot primarily the consistency of crushed gravel. . According to my Garmin..4.7 miles from car to car, elevation 1079 to the first lake.. Your FREE account works with all Adventure Projects sites . McCullough Gulch Trail is known for its waterfalls and above timberline lakes. This is a must do for active folks when visiting Breckenridge. We wanted to snowshoe and wore our shoes. The service road will take a left turn just over a half mile into the hike.