About this time a year ago in August I did this hike in Gunnison, CO. It was honestly one of the most surprisingly beautiful trails that I had been on that wasn’t part of a National Park or heavily advertised trail via online or word of mouth. Not only was it a solid hike in terms of just enough physical exertion, but it was incredibly well maintained. From stunning bridges, backpacking sites, to even pit toilets at the end of the trail where there is a divine swimming hole, this hike is a must see.
I found the hike on AllTrails since I was looking for hikes in the area at the time. This hike is about 4 miles total, has about 862 feet of elevation gain, and is an out and back type of hike. Expect this journey to take about 3-4 hours especially if you want a moment to hangout at the swimming hole at the end.
I started my hike a little later than I wanted which is normal for me honestly. It was maybe 1:00pm when I started at the trail head, and there was maybe one other car parked there. The trail starts at a beautiful lookout, then starts on a path down the valley hugging the side of the rock face. It’s moderately steep but not enough to be uncomfortable. It allows you to view the valley as you decent down towards the creek that leads to the body of water at the end. As you get closer to the valley’s floor you begin to enter a well shaded area full of lush trees. Summers in Gunnison can still get quite hot in full sun, but the highs are typically in the 80-89 degree range.
With this being said, bring plenty of water and maybe some snacks if you decide to hangout by the water. Since the hike is so beautiful, it’s really one you don’t want to rush. This journey shouldn’t be taken with the “summit” mentality. I made sure to get in the water, and share my snacks with my dog Zelda when we reached the swimming hole mid way.
Despite how lovely the area was, there are some serious precautions to take. Beware of Giardia with your pets. Zelda suffered a really bad case after drinking the water along the way. There are lots of flowing creeks and the water is clear. She is used to drinking water alongs trails and hasn’t had any issue except in CO that year. This could have been a one off year for CO back country, but I suggest bringing water for your pets too and not encouraging them to drink from the spring or main body of water.
Another thing to be weary of are bears. We did run into a black bear that was near the creek that ran parallel with the trail. Luckily, we scared each other and ran in opposite directions leaving me able to continue on the path back up the trail. Be sure to have bear spray on you, and if you don’t have a pet that can recall or not charge other animals, keep them on a leash. Unfortunately, we were fairly close to this bear before we became aware of each other. Thankfully, I was able to recall Zelda and avoided any issues. Be sure to take precautions and look up appropriate bear etiquette before doing hikes in areas known to inhabit bears.
All in all, a wonderful experience. If you’re in this area and are looking for a fun hike with gorgeous views and a maybe even want to take a quick dip to cool off from the heat, this is a great place to visit! Happy hiking friends!
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