Hike McCullough Gulch to Upper Blue Reservoir

Jeff DLB

Hike McCullough Gulch to Upper Blue Reservoir

11/29/20

Beautiful hike, but this lake is not actually called Upper Blue Reservoir, and at this time has no official name. There was an error in the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which incorrectly put Upper Blue Reservoir on the north flank of Quandary Peak, south of this lake. This reservoir is actually in Monte Cristo gulch south of Quandary. I reported the error, and the coordinates have since been fixed. See https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:3:::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:199759,Upper%20Blue%20Lake

5.0

Explorer

Tiffany Young

Explorer

Hike McCullough Gulch to Upper Blue Reservoir

10/15/20

Go early. It's amazing the number of people that rock up for the hike between 12-1. I was one of the first cars to show up at around 10 am on a Wednesday but by the time I left, there were about 20 more. A good climb and easy to get to from 9. If you're there early, there's a small carpark, otherwise, you park from the fork, back. Walk on an easy and clear service road, though at this time in October it's icy. Basically stick left. This trail was kinda weird because there were clear trails, but at the same time, not. At that the first trailhead, there's a sign that says waterfall 1 mile and lower blue lake in 1.4 miles. I stuck to the left up the trail, came across an old mining cabin, and kept climbing. Then there was a trail that took a turn down. I wasn't sure if that was too the lower lake, but I kept climbing through the treeline and eventually getting to the base of the waterfall. I read the waterfall is an additional mile that reconnects to the main trail. At the waterfall, I saw a "trail" sign that pointed to the base and walked towards another sign that just had me do a quick loop around. I looked around to find a third "trail" sign going up and continued on. There were some clear indicators of the main trail like footbridges and more signs, but as you climbed around rocks and looking for trails, they kind of threw you around everywhere. Eventually at the top of the waterfall, it'll fork off again. Left going to the end of the lake and the right taking you over the lake. The trail on right will continue on past upper blue lake, but the wind was so strong I decided to turn around and head back down. It was a nice walk, but can't say I'd do it again. I rather give this walk a 3.5 rating.

4.0

Jozie Burns

Hike McCullough Gulch to Upper Blue Reservoir

09/12/16

My first, and favorite, hike I've done in Colorado!

5.0