Major improvements are being planned by the U.S. Forest Service for four of the most popular hiking areas in Summit County to enhance infrastructure and establish “maximum visitation” limitations during peak seasons.
The forest service is soliciting comments regarding its proposed plan for managing Quandary Peak, Blue Lakes, McCullough Gulch and Spruce Creek, which are located along the foot of the Tenmile Range south of Breckenridge. Visitation in those areas is running at about 237,000 annually, according to a forest service document detailing the plan that was released Thursday.
The aim is to improve the visitor experience at those areas, but also to address the negative impacts of high visitation including accumulation of trash and human waste, erosion and trampling of native vegetation, proliferation of social trails, graffiti and vandalism.
Since 2021, visitors to Quandary Peak — historically one of Colorado’s busiest fourteeners — and neighboring McCullough Gulch have been required to reserve trailhead parking in advance or take a shuttle from Breckenridge. That system would be expanded under the proposed plan, which the forest service developed in partnership with Summit County and the Town of Breckenridge.
“Maximum visitation to the project area during peak season would be controlled by establishing formal trailhead parking lots with a defined number of available spaces at each site, prohibiting roadside parking and expanding the Quandary Peak/McCullough Gulch parking reservation and shuttle system to include other trailheads in the project area,” according to the forest service planning document.
The plan includes trailhead improvement at all four areas, improvements to nearly 12 miles of trails and 3.2 miles of new trail connections.
The Quandary Peak trailhead would be redesigned and the parking lot would be expanded from 67 spaces to 135. Quandary Peak averages about 35,000 visits annually and McCullough Gulch accounts for another 30,000.
“Based on overwhelmingly positive responses from the public over the past five years, the existing Quandary Peak/McCullough Gulch parking reservation and shuttle system operated by Summit County and the Town of Breckenridge would continue,” according to the plan.
West of the Quandary Peak trailhead, the Blue Lakes area provides access to two alpine lakes and a waterfall. It sees 72,000 visitors annually, but it has no designated parking area, restrooms, designated trails or signage. Those issues would be addressed and a new 1.9-mile trail would be built between the Blue Lakes and Quandary Peak trailheads.
Parking would be improved at the Spruce Creek trailhead as well. The forest service estimates that the trailhead accounted for more than 108,000 visitors in 2024.
“Hiking the Spruce Creek trail 3.5 miles to Continental Falls and Mohawk Lake may be the most popular hike in the Dillon Ranger District and is the primary reason most visitors drive up Spruce Creek Road,” according to the plan summary. “This high level of visitation occurs despite the fact that the existing Spruce Creek trailhead is essentially a wide spot in the road that holds about 36 vehicles and has no other facilities such as bathrooms.”
A new lot with 78 parking spaces would be built, and it would be designed to accommodate shuttle drop-offs, restrooms, trash cans, signage and picnic tables. It would be included in the parking reservation system and shuttle service that currently serves Quandary Peak. The trail to Continental Falls and Mohawk Lake would be improved as well.
A new trailhead would be created at Upper McCullough Gulch and the Upper McCullough Gulch trail would be improved.
The forest service requests that comments be submitted before Sept. 15. Electronic comments are encouraged. Comments can be submitted by mail or fax to Dan Morris, Dillon Ranger District Recreation Staff Officer. They also can be submitted in person at the Dillon Ranger District office in Silverthorne.
A decision regarding the plan is expected next spring, with implementation beginning next summer.