LION GULCH TRAIL

Lion Gulch Trail: By John Gascoyne A Window to the Past

e Best Estes Park Hikes is the most recent addition to the Colorado Mountain Club Press’ “pack guide” series. Lion Gulch Trail, one of the 20 hikes included in the book, is a moderately di cult trail that o ers an exciting view of two worlds—the natural and the historical. After traversing 3.1 miles, mostly uphill, from the trailhead, you’ll arrive at the Homestead Meadows. is is the world of hardy pioneers who worked the land in order to perfect their claim to a piece of the beautiful high country.

Lion Gulch Trail is extremely popular and attracts a blend of CMCers and other hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. While pedestrians have the right of way over bikes, it’s often easier to step aside as they go whooshing by you. Dogs are also welcome on the trail; though there are many sound reasons to keep them leashed.

As often as not, the soft dirt of the meadows area reveals that mountain lions also favor this trail, which, after all, is named in their honor. (Refer to “keeping your dog leashed” above.)

My personal experience with Lion Gulch Trail began just about ve years ago and with another outdoor organization I belong to. Circumstances had placed me at the trailhead—lacing my boots and preening just a bit in my spi y uniform. ere were four of us that day, members of the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers, all anxious to begin the day’s micro adventure.

As we began hiking, the conversation seemed a bit loopy:

“Just to be clear, you’re the mentor, and we’re the mentees, correct? And you’ve been in the program only since last year?” is was already a case study in rhetorical questions, but I jumped in anyway. “Yep,” I said trying to sound con dent, “yep, to both.”

I knew what was coming next: “And you’ve never hiked this trail before? And you know I’ve been on it lots of times?” ese double questions were a bit disconcerting, but I went along: “Yep”, and “yep”, once more.”

Within a few minutes, however, we were able to negotiate our way to the same page—a mentor hike was about much more than not getting lost in the woods. It was about learning a good many protocols and activities—meeting and greeting the recreating public, being eyes and ears for the Canyon Lakes District Rangers, keeping the trail trash and branch free—those kinds of activities. It was grudgingly conceded that I could continue referring to myself as the mentor.

We had a great hike, we all learned a bit, and I’ve hiked the trail many times since. I can’t think of any bad hikes in northern Colorado, but some deserve top billing; for me this one works.

Don’t be confused by the signage at the trailhead—it spells the name as both Lion Gulch and Lyon Gulch. True, the trailhead is at mile marker 8, on U.S. 36, about 12 miles northwest of the town of Lyons; maintain a mental image of large, snarling mountain lions, however, and you won’t go wrong with the name.

If you’re heading for the trailhead from Fort Collins or Loveland, take Hwy 34 toward Estes Park and turn left on Mall Road, at the east end of Lake Estes. Drive a short mile to Hwy 36, turn left, and proceed about 6.0 miles to mile marker 8, on the right-hand side. From Estes Park, just skirt the south side of Lake Estes and stay on Hwy 36.

Especially at the beginning, the trail takes you more down than up. After that, it is mostly uphill—gradual enough, however, for most hikers. e beginning elevation is a bit over 7,300 feet and you’ll gain about 1,200 feet by the time you arrive at the fairly level meadows area. e hike to the meadows is never boring: the foliage is fairly lush and there are three rustic footbridges and a total of about 10 stream crossings. At some of these, you get to choose between skipping across the rocks or testing yourself on some possibly slippery logs spanning the stream.

Getting lost on the trail is not an option. Until the terrain attens out at the top, there are no side trails to consider. Soon after crossing the second bridge, however, the trail splits into a hiking portion, to the left, and an equestrian option to the right. Just for variety, I’ll usually take one of these fairly short paths on the way out and the other on the way back.

When the landscape nally attens out, watch for a sign on the left, which includes information on the Homestead Act and

Lion Gulch Trail is a moderate 6.2-mile round-trip hike, with an elevation gain of approximately 1,200 feet. Pictured here are Meadows in the Homestead area. Photo by John Gascoyne

the early pioneers of the area. is, more or less, marks the 3.1 miles we’ve been talking about. From here, you have a number of options for further hiking and exploration.

Although the landscape is beautiful on top, chances are that your imagination will have you considering the di cult lives of the folks who homesteaded in the area. ere are the remnants of eight homesteads in this area, but plan for some serious additional hiking to see many of them. Four of the homestead sites are generally northwest of the informational sign and four of them are mostly south on a trail that starts just beyond the sign. e closest homestead to you is that of English immigrant Sarah Walker who single-handedly worked the claim to her land. Her earlier history is a bit fuzzy—she either lost her entire family or, after separating from her husband, sought a life in the mountains. In any event, Sarah’s mountain adventure began in 1908 and lasted until

Relics from the homesteading era. Photo by John Gascoyne she moved to Lyons, more than 15 years later. e only money available to Sarah was that derived from selling cream and eggs. She would have had to hike the three miles to the highway to do this.

To really enjoy the Lion Gulch Trail, plan to explore it, and the adjacent homestead sites, more than once and in more than one season. To return to the trailhead, simply retrace your steps. As suggested, getting lost on this trail would take serious focus.△ Fort Collins Group member John Gascoyne has been developing and editing hiking guides for the Colorado Mountain Club since 2007. He is also a member of the CMC Press Advisory Board.

John wanted to start the present millennium fresh and so retired from his law practice on January 1, 2000. He is an avid hiker and biker and an ardent environmental activist. John’s daughter, Shawn, and her family live in Portland, Oregon

On the Lion Gulch Trail. Photo by John Gascoyne.

Hike Details

Lion Gulch Trail

Maps: Trails Illustrated, Cache La Poudre/Big ompson, Number 101; USGS, Panorama Peak, 7.5 minute Elevation Gain: 1,200 Feet (approx.) Rating: Moderate Round-Trip Distance: 6.2 miles Round-Trip Time: 3.5 hours Nearest Landmark: U.S. 36, mile marker 8

e Best Estes Park Hikes

e newest release in CMC Press’s best-selling pack guide series, e Best Estes Park Hikes includes 20 of the best hikes within an hour or so drive of Estes Park. O ering detailed directions and full-color photos and maps to help you nd your way, this 4 x 7 paperback easily ts in your pack or back pocket. Project manager Ward Luthi and volunteers from the Shining Mountains Group have hiked all of the routes in this pack guide. From the strenuous Signal Mountain Trail, with an elevation gain of 3,869 feet, to the breathtaking views along the more moderate Twin Sisters Trail, to the gently meandering paved path around Lake Estes, the Estes Park area o ers a variety of hikes for all ages and abilities.

Available Now! To order, visit our online store at h p://www.cmc.org/Store.aspx or call 303-279-3080. 108 pages, 4 x 7, 45 color photographs, 21 maps, paperback, $12.95, ISBN 978-1-937052-04-1.