McCullough Gulch Trail - 2.7 Miles Round-Trip

The McCullough Gulch Trail is located 2.2 miles west of Highway 9 on the north side of Quandary Peak.  It follows an old mining road .5 miles up the drainage before splitting off on a rugged path to White Falls and Upper Blue Reservoir.

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This spectacular lake has a long, open shore with many good vantages and nooks to explore.

McCullough Gulch is a deservingly popular trail, especially among anglers and active families. Arrive early to secure parking and avoid crowds.

Upper Blue Reservoir is the first of several accessible lakes in the McCullough Creek drainage. A challenging but reasonably well-defined route continues into the capacious upper valley, where intuitive routing through expansive alpine meadows leads to over six additional lakes and tarns:

The trail begins on a steep mining road that rises along the creek to a fork, where you’ll veer left onto a rocky, rooted path (.5 miles : 11,440’). It shifts frequently and braids in several places, however signs provide ample guidance.

The trail crosses a short talus field at .95 miles (11,580’), just past which are consecutive splits for the White Falls Loop (1.0 miles : 11,597’). This short excursion leads to good views of the falls and returns to the main trail.

Travel continues steeply through treeline to an unmarked fork (1.3 miles); go left to reach the lake’s outlet area, or keep straight to the north shore (1.35 miles : 11,915’). Those with time should explore both access points, as they lead to different views of this deceptively long and shapely lake.

To reach the upper valley, follow the main trail along the north shore. It undulates ruggedly over outcrops and several marshy inlet streams to the far west side (1.6 miles : 12,006’), where you’ll begin a steep, twisting climb that generally traces the lake’s main inlet falls.

Though at first obfuscated by brush, the route clarifies and is well-marked by cairns once you get going. Look for mountain goat along the way, which are fairly common in this area.

The landscape naturally funnels you to the top of the waterfall, where it suddenly levels by a tarn and opens dramatically in the upper valley (2.1 miles : 12,415’).

The path continues west and eventually fades in open tundra, but it’s hardly necessary at this point. The first lake is located straight ahead at about 2.55 miles (12,555’).

It’s fairly easy to navigate by sight up to the lake just behind it, which lies in a deep cirque that's typically iced-over through mid-summer (3.15 miles : 12,785’).