Hike the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail
5.3 Miles
1304 Feet
Photography, Hiking
Intermediate
Year Round
Loop
A mere 20 minute drive from Boulder, CO can lead you into a canyon filled with a multitude of outdoor activities ranging from rock climbing, to fly fishing, to hiking etc, don't miss out on this local gem.
Rattlesnake Gulch Trail is located in Eldorado Canyon State Park. It is a short 20 minute drive from Boulder and is one of three hikes in the park. You will need to pay an entrance fee to get inside to the park which costs $8. The trail is approximately 2.8 miles one way and carries a consistent and gradual incline the duration of the hike. There are a couple places to split from the trail, one will take you to Crags Hotel, a hotel that was built in 1908. The other will take you on a longer trail of switchbacks to views of the Continental Divide. You also have the option of heading straight to the viewpoint without hiking the extra switchbacks if you choose. Either way, it's a loop trail that you can easily navigate through. The views of the divide are spectacular and should absolutely be the ultimate goal of this hike. Please note that the trail consist of dirt and rocks, making the terrain uneven in several parts.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Overall rating:
Beautiful
Hike was semi steep, not too strenuous though; its not a long hike. Beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and cliffs. One of my favorite hikes yet. You won't be disappointed with this one!
Quite Day
There are not a lot of views to see on this one until you get to the off-trail outcrop of rocks, but once there you can see for miles on an almost straight-down drop. If there's snow or ice bring spikes part of the trail is very steep. Nice quite trail that's strenuous but easy to navigate.
Short Beautiful Exercise
The hike was a nice quick work out. The end is very rewarding.
