Mayflower Gulch

The Mayflower Gulch hike is off our favorite stretch of highway in Colorado. You can see some of this from the road, but something about this hike is special.

The trail is approximately 6.1 miles roundtrip. The first half is straight uphill. It’s actually almost completely uphill until you reach the bowl. The elevation gain is about 1,550 feet. The hardest part for me was the starting elevation of 11,082 feet and the ending up around 12,300 feet. That’s about my limit with my lungs, so I had to stop frequently to catch my breath.

However, the views are worth it. The way the clouds rolled in over the rocks, the wildflower meadows and the rushing creeks made the whole experience worth it. If you are inclined, you can drive straight to the bowl with a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle.

Overall, a beautiful hike with a great workout and spectacular views at the end. Worth it!