Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: During the summer, when the parking restrictions are in place, you can’t park at the McCullough Gulch trailhead. There is a pull-off before the gate at the end of the road but it’s for the shuttles to turn around. You’ll need to use the shuttle system to get to the trailhead so you can hike the McCullough Gulch Trail. | ||||
Posted By: EMan Info: If you don’t feel like paying $20-$50 for a reservation (July 30-Oct 31), or taking a shuttle from Breck, park for FREE at Blue Lakes Dam and follow Quandary’s West Ridge Route to the summit. (Class 3). No snow on route. | ||||
Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: NOTICE: Starting July 30, 2021 you will need to reserve a parking spot for this trailhead or use the new free shuttle service from Breckenridge. https://www.summitcountyco.gov/1446/Quandary | ||||
Posted By: 9patrickmurphy Info: It seems thi might be a recent development so figured I’d post here: Parking is available for this trailhead just before a Y intersection with a dead-end forest road. There is a sign saying "no parking from here to gate". There is a gate at the north portal of the Quandary water tunnel, but the true trailhead is a bit further up. The road is perfect condition 2WD from the Y to the main trailhead, so it beats me why they have it gated as far down as they do. The 4WD trail from the main trailhead is probably permanently shut - even if the gate by the Quandary tunnel was open, there is basically nowhere to park along this road before you come upon a footbridge that wouldn’t allow any car to go up. Kind of a pity to me, as the 4WD road is in pretty good shape and you could knock off at least a mile one-way if it was open. However, this trailhead does get overrun with tourists every day of the week so it is understandable. | ||||
Posted By: kingshimmers Info: Because this is not obvious to all... the McCullough Gulch 851 Road mentioned in the driving directions is open for the summer. If you are hiking from the McCullough Gulch Trailhead, drive down the road for ~1.7 miles until you reach a Y road junction. This junction has a sign pointing to the left for the McCullough Gulch trailhead. Currently, there is also a small vehicle gate blocking the left branch of the road. The gate has an intentional gap to allow hikers to walk through. You will need to park here along the side of the road to access the McCullough Gulch trailhead. Note: Make sure you don’t park where there are "No Parking" signs, and don’t block gates or driveways. | ||||
Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The McCullough Gulch is mostly dry because it’s been plowed to the end but the USFS recently installed a gate at the start of the road, so the road can only be walked right now. We planned on skinning to the TH but we had to boot the 2 miles of road instead. | ||||
Posted By: Jim Davies Info: From White River NF: closed weekdays for until October 1. 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. The McCullough Gulch Road (#851) and McCullough Gulch Trail (#43) will be closed at the intersection of Blue Lakes Road (#850). The closure will be in effect from September 6 through October 1, 2016, Monday through Friday, for both motorized and non-motorized users. Hikers will be allowed on the road and trail on weekends. Access to Quandary Peak Trail will remain open during this time. | ||||
Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: The main Quandary TH is now accessible on the McCullough Gulch (851) road but the road is then blocked by snow about 1/2 mile up from there. | ||||
Posted By: WillRobnett Info: McCullough Gulch (851) Road has manageable snow drifts up to 1.1 miles from the Quandary summer TH. Deeper/tracked snow drifts continue further. | ||||
Posted By: WillRobnett Info: Snow covered at the entrance of the road. Some dry patches at the beginning as I passed Quandary’s lower standard route | ||||
Posted By: Faust Info: Some ice and snow on the road but still good for most cars. Hard packed snow on 75% of the trail, brought snowshoes but not needed. Brought poles which were a huge help. | ||||
Posted By: tmathews Info: Wet, but clearable to the gate at the end. There were a couple of small snow drifts in the road. Adventurous people in cars can probably make it. The road will likely be snow-free by mid-week in the first week of June 2010. | ||||
Posted By: RestlessLegSyndrome Info: The trailhead is in fact closed for the winter. Parking at the Quandary Peak TH adds approximately 4 miles round trip (I think), but the road is well packed down, which would allow for easy hiking or snowmobiling to the TH. | ||||
Posted By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Probably closed for the winter. I‘ll be going there in the next few days to determine the current closure location. | ||||
Posted By: sdkeil Info: Road is mostly clear to the TH. There are a couple drifts that have been driven through. It was passable to the TH for a Forester. |
