5 reasons to snowshoe Mayflower Gulch this winter. Number 4 is for badasses.

Mayflower Gulch near the Copper Mountain Ski Resort is by far one of the best snowshoes in Colorado and it is within an easy drive of five major ski resorts. Here are five reasons you should not pass up this phenomenal adventure:

Heavy snow years means an "up the gut" exploit

While most people get to Mayflower Gulch by snowshoeing up the well traveled road through the trees, in years when there is plenty of snow, you can travel up the open valley to the left of the road. This adventure will take you over buried willow shrubs and around rock formations with a never ending view of the mountains ahead. Going "up the gut" will make you grin. People pay big bucks for this sort of thing.

A close up of the ridgeline

Mayflower is free, accessible, and close to what matters

Unlike Vail Pass with its ridiculous winter fees, Mayflower Gulch is totally free. There is a large parking lot at the trailhead that can hold a hundred Subaru Outbacks plus the odd RV. Only seven miles up Hwy 91 from Copper Mountain, it is also close to Frisco, Silverthorne, Keystone and Breckenridge. Talk about bang for the buck!

Whipped cream snow, crenelated peaks, and post card blue skies

The snow in Mayflower Gulch is special. I don't know if it is the wind, the sun, or just magic but the snow always seems to drape the surrounding features like globs of Cool Whip. You will want to eat it, wear it, and otherwise frolic in it. It is just so damned precious. Add to this an amphitheater with jagged peaks beneath high-altitude darkened blue skies and you have a winter tableau worth a million bucks!

Whipped cream anyone?

"Cornice of the buried dead"

On the right hand side of the bowl is a large snowfield over which hangs a cornice formed by the persistent winds blowing north from Leadville and Colorado's highest peak, Mt. Elbert. This cornice is big, bad, and nasty. It persists well into the spring but in winter creates the ultimate skiers challenge. I have observed the hearty stomping on it before launching themselves, their screams of joy only mildly dampened by the surrounding peaks. I have slogged up and over this cornice to wonder and the layers of mountains in the distance. Are you bad ass enough to try it.

The cornice

Passing skiers about to tempt the cornice

Climbing along the cornice

A back bowl of waist deep snow will make your cardiologist proud

It is only a short two miles from the parking lot to the ruins of the old Boston mine, which sits at the bottom of the gulch. Most folks stop here and sip spiked drinks from steaming thermoses. The fit can continue on towards the back bowl, however and earn bragging rights. There is trail around the right...a road in summer, that ends at a two-story mining ruin. Skiers often take that route. I am fond of slogging straight up the hill to the left. The snow is deep...which is great for return tumbles and face plants. On the way up however, you might just exhibit a gasp or two. The Boston Mine sits at 11,500 ft, after all, an altitude likely to remind you that doing turns at Keystone is not the same as conquering this mountaineering StairMaster.  

The back bowl

Vital Statistics

Distance: 3.4 miles round trip to the Boston Mine, 6 miles round trip to Gold Hill
Elevation: 10,996 ft -11,520 ft (Boston Mine) – 11,980 ft (Gold Hill).
Elevation Gain: 580 ft to the Boston Mine, 1,040 ft total to Gold Hill
Dogs: Off leash
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Tags: #snowshoe #winterwonderland #BYO2 #photographersparadise #yehsnow

Mining ruins and the crenelated spires of Mayflower Gulch.

Wheeler Lakes

Distance: 6 miles round trip
Elevation: 9, 700 ft - 11,095 ft
Elevation Gain: 1, 486 ft (cumulative)
Date Hiked:19 July 2015
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Dogs: Off leash until the Wilderness Boundary
Tags: #coloradooutdoors #nature #lake #summitcounty #coppermountain

Second Wheeler Lake near Copper Mountain Colorado

Wheeler Lakes, near the Copper Mountain Ski Resort, are two shallow lakes nestled in a large meadow surrounded by towering Spruce and Fir trees. In summer the route is damp, muddy, and filled with wall-to-wall wildflowers. Occasional views of Copper Mountain and the western side of the Ten Mile Range add an additional flair.  The route follows the Gore Range Trail until a turn off to Wheeler Lakes.

Parking at exit 196

Start of the Gore Range Trail

There are three places to park near Wheeler Lakes, each resulting in a slightly different round trip distance. The official trailhead is located at a scenic overlook (exit 196) 0.8 miles west of Copper Mountain. The advantage of this location is plenty of parking. The downside is an extra slog along the less than scenic I-70. The second option is right at exit 195 (north side). There is room along the side of the road for 10 or so cars. Finally, you can always park in one of Copper's parking lots and cross I-70 over the bridge. On this trip I scored a spot right on the exit. Measured from my parking spot, the turn off to Wheeler Lakes was at 2.6 miles.

Sagebrush hillside filled with wildflowers

Looking down on the Copper Mountain ski resort

The first 0.5 miles of the route follows I-70 along a Sagebrush hillside dotted with drier climate wildflowers. Once the trail reaches the wilderness boundary at 1 mile, the trail becomes more shaded and damp. Rivulets may run down the trail until late in the season creating tiny bogs. Good water proof shoes will entice you to trod through the mud and not expand the trail to avoid it.

Heading away from the highway and into the trees

Lupine grace the forest floor

At 2.0 miles, the trail skirts the edge of a very large meadow. The ridge leading to Uneva Pass is visible in the distance. Hang out until September and you might glimpse Elk congregating for the annual rut. At 2.5 miles is a shelf with expansive views of the western side of the Ten Mile Range including the craggy peaks of Mayflower Gulch, one of the best destinations in the area.

Large meadow

View of the west side of the Ten Mile Range

Shortly past the plateau is the well marked turn off to Wheeler Lakes. The first lake, at 11,085 ft, will come into view almost immediately. It is surrounded by verdant marsh grasses and towering Fir trees. On this trip the water was still as glass and the only sound was the continuous chirping of forest birds. Due to the marshy ground, there are only a few place that you can approach the water and it may be best to continue on to the second lake, at 11,065 ft, which is 0.4 miles further on and off to the left.

Trail sign for the Wheeler Lakes turn off

First Wheeler Lake

A small, drier hillside dotted with Pine and carpeted with wildflowers borders the second lake on is northern side. You can explore the lake from either the southern or northern sides, but a large marsh to the west prevents a total circumnavigation.

Rosy pink paintbrush

View of Uneva Pass

Instead, climb the hillside (11,095 ft) and wander a short distance for unexpected views of Uneva Pass and Officers Gulch/I-70. On this trip, wildflowers graced every inch of the area. There are numerous rocky outcropping suitable for a private lunch.

Wildflower collage

Wheeler Lakes is one of the wetter destinations in the area even in the heat of summer. Despite this, parking along the exit can get crowded particularly at the peak of wildflower season. Continue 1.8miles further on the Gore Range Trail to Lost Lake for a longer hike.

Once last glimpse of the first lake

Mayflower Gulch Hike: Fall

Fall has arrived to the high country!

Looking down Mayflower Gulch on a beautiful fall day

On 19 September I went with a friend to spread the ashes of her dog in Mayflower Gulch near Copper Mountain, his favorite place to get lost in the Willows. Mayflower is one of my favorite places to hike too. I have snowshoed it many times and ogled at its summer wildflowers, but I have never been in the fall. True to form, it turns out to be gorgeous then too. Below are a series of photos from the trip.