Eldorado Canyon State Park is a great hiking spot close to Denver and Boulder. There are only four trails within the park; yet that can be used to your advantage of making the trail choice easy (which I liked). Additionally, you can do multiple trails in one outing. I chose to hike the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail which is a 1.4 mile hike within the canyon to Crags Hotel Ruin where you can continue on making a 0.8 mile loop with a lookout to view the Continental Divide and an up close view of a Railroad track cut into the canyon. After completing the loop you will hike down the same 1.4 mile trail you came up initially for a total hike of 3.6 miles.
There was a $10.00 daily vehicle fee to enter the park; the dirt road will come to an end at the park entrance. You will not be able to continue forward without paying the fee.
Good to Know
Distance: 3.6 mile out-and-back + loop
Elevation Gain: ~1000ft
Terrain: Mostly rocky trail with a few sections of flat dirt
Parking: Available right after paying as well as several spots throughout the park with another large area on the Visitor’s Center + Picnic Area at the end of the park.
Facilities: Available at the park entrance and Visitor’s Center
Fun Facts: Eldorado Canyon is known for great rock climbing; be on the lookout for them on the canyon walls. So impressive!
,
No Comments