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© Copyright 2007, Mountain Kids Magazine, LLC

Gunnison and Crested Butte Colorado
Family Activity Guide -- Summer 2006
Kid Friendly Hiking Guide

Perhaps you'd like to take a scenic stroll with the baby jogger. What about a hike that is just a short drive from town? Even the little ones like to get out in the mountains and they can. A list of baby jogger, toddler, and school-aged kid hikes follows.

It's imperative that you prepare for the elements. Our weather can change rapidly, so pack rain ponchos and some fleece, and make sure everyone is dressed in layers. Ultraviolet rays at this elevation are pretty intense, so remember the sunscreen. Take along some water and don't ever drink stream water. And don't forget some healthy snacks.

April to July is tick season so remember to check for ticks after your hike. There can be rapidly progressing thunderstorms especially in the afternoons in July and August. Vigilant supervision along rivers is mandatory.

Beware of snowfields, those large expanses of snow up in the mountains. We highly recommend keeping the kids away.

Remember when you're hiking with kids to let them enjoy playing with rocks, splash in the water, play with sticks, and explore their surroundings. It will be fun whether you reach your planned destination or not!

Maps you'll need
Forest Service Map. Available at Forest Service Office, 216 N. Colorado in Gunnison 641-0471. Also available at most sporting good stores.
Hartman Rocks Trail Map. Available online through the Bureau of Land Management. www.co.blm.gov/gra/gra-hartman.htm. Other maps at sporting good stores.
Hartman Rocks Trail and Bouldering Map Satellite Image 2nd Edition, by Dave Kozlowski. This map has been described as "far and away the best map" and it gives a visual of where you are. Available at most sporting good stores.
Curecanti National Recreation Area Map. Available at Elk Creek Visitor's Center at Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Recommended Books
These books go into detail about hikes and have excellent hiking advice. They compliment each other - What one doesn't have, the other has.
Timber, Talus & Tundra by Mary Anne Tarr
Hiking in Heaven by Dennis B. Hall

Competent adult supervision is mandatory near any water at all. Stay far away from irrigation ditches: The water is extremely cold. Itruns faster than river water and even adults can't swim out of it.

Baby Jogger Hikes: Gunnison

Hartman Rocks
Approximately 1 mile west of Gunnison on Hwy. 50 is County Road 38, Gold Basin Drive. You'll see a large brown sign on the right side of Hwy. 50 indicating Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. Turn left on County road 38 Gold Basin Drive. The road skirts around the Gunnison airport runway. Drive down the road about two miles and on your right you'll see signs indicating a parking lot. You can park there, or head up the road a short distance and on your right is another parking area. The second parking area has easiest access to the baby jogger roads. Stay on the roads with your baby jogger. There are many short hikes that are out and back. Trail maps are available at sporting goods stores, bike shops and online. It's easy to get lost there, so be sure to have a map.

Lost Canyon Road
North from Gunnison on Hwy. 135 approximately 1/2 mile, take a right on County Road 10. Follow County Road 10 to Lost Canyon Rd, Country Road 743. Park on the side of the road. It is on this road that you will take your stroll. It's a very gradual up hill: Great baby jogger road! There are awesome views of Ohio Creek Valley on the downhill.

Mill Creek
Drive north from Gunnison approximately 3 1/2 miles. There will be a green sign on the right indicating Ohio Creek. Turn left on Ohio Creek Road County Road 730. Drive down County Road 730 approximately nine miles until you come to County Road 727. This is Mill Creek Road. You can bring a baby jogger, but stay on the road. There are other kid hikes in this area as well. A forest service map is what you'll need for the Mill Creek Trail.

Baby Jogger Hikes: Crested Butte

The Mt. Crested Butte/Crested Butte Recreation Path
From the Town of Crested Butte, it's best to park in public parking by the Chamber of Commerce at the four-way stop. (Remember the whole town is only eight x nine small blocks). Turn right on Maroon St. Go down one block and turn left on Seventh Street. Go two blocks to Teocalli Ave. At the intersection of Seventh St. and Teocalli Ave., you'll see a small green sign indicating directions to the Recreation Path. Turn right on Teocalli Ave. and continue to the end of the street to where the path begins. This is a nice stroll even if you go out a short way to the Slate River or a little further to enjoy the ducks in the protected Wetlands area. The uphill is gradual and manageable. It is steeper once you cross Gothic Rd. to the base of the ski area.
From Mt. Crested Butte, you can hop on the concrete path anywhere along Gothic Rd. before you are at the water treatment plant. It's best to park in public parking immediately uphill of Treasury Rd. (near the ski area base) on the right off of Gothic Rd. The concrete trail starts there and heads downhill.
You can also take the bus one way and do the walk one way. Baby joggers can go on the bus. This is also a good family biking trail.

Lower Loop
You can stroll from town to First Street and then right to Butte Ave. Head left on Butte Ave. to get to County Road 4. The road turns to dirt at this point. You can also drive out County Road 4 and park in the parking area (It's about 1/4 mile down the road and is marked). Go past "the Gronk"and to your right is Peanut Lake. You can stop there and watch the ducks. There is a bench next to the lake. (Be warned that you must go down a narrow path that is sometimes muddy.) Continue on past the Peanut Lake Mine to the Lower Loop. The trail is marked. Stay on the trail until it turns into a jeep road. Take the road down to the river. Enjoy your time at the river before you turn back and head into town.

Long Lake
From the Town of Crested Butte, drive north on Gothic Rd. towards the ski area. Approximately two miles up the road, you'll see a brown sign on the right
indicating Washington Gulch National Forest. Turn left on this road which is County Road 811, also Washington Gulch Road. It is a paved road that forks off to the left and goes uphill. Drive up the road approximately 1 1/2 miles. You'll see a small green and white sign indicating National Forest and Meridian Lake Parking on your right. There are tennis courts next to the parking lot. Cross the road (Pristine Point Dr.) that goes over the dam with your baby jogger. Keep left until the road ends. There is a closed forest service fence that is tricky to get around, but once you're around it, it's a short and easy uphill stroll to Long Lake. The scenery is beautiful at Long Lake, but your baby jogger trip will end once you get to the top.
County Roads
In either Gunnison or Crested Butte, you can take your baby jogger down dirt County Roads. Be aware of traffic and the times of the day when the roads are busier. If it is a dry summer, the roads can be very dusty when vehicles pass. Be sure not to bring your baby jogger on a steep dirt road because breaking on the downhill is not safe.

Kid Hikes: Gunnison

Hartman Rocks
This is a delightful place for all ages. Remember your map! See baby jogger hikes for directions.

Mill Creek
You can go off the road and do hikes according to the map you have from the Forest Service. See baby jogger hikes for directions.

Beaver Ponds Trail
Approximately 3 1/2 miles north of Gunnison on Hwy. 135, turn left on to County Road 730, Ohio Creek Road. Drive up Ohio Creek Road approximately 19 miles to the Beaver Ponds trail head. This hike through an aspen grove is short and not too steep. The scenery of the Anthracites is spectacular, and there are fish in the beaver ponds.

Neversink Trail
Head west on Hwy. 50 out of Gunnison approximately 5 miles. On your left, you'll see a sign indicating the Neversink Fishing and Picnic Area. Park in the parking lot. A baby jogger is okay on this trail, however, there are some tricky spots. This is a great walking trail along the Gunnison River west of Gunnison. It's part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area. A map can be obtained at the Elk Creek Visitor's Center at Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Dillon Pinnacles
From Gunnison, head west on Hwy. 50 and drive approximately 20 miles. You'll see a forest service public restroom and a parking area on your right just before a bridge. (The restrooms at the parking lot are very clean.) There are signs indicating the Dillon Pinnacles and the trail head is next to the parking lot. It can be windy in the afternoons at the lake. This is also part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area. A map can be obtained at the Elk Creek Visitor's Center at Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Kid Hikes: Crested Butte

Mt.Crested Butte/Crested Butte Recreation Path
If you start from town, you can stay on level ground. Walk out to the river and enjoy it! A little past the river is a protected wetlands area where there are usually ducks. There are benches along the way for you to sit on while the kids explore their surroundings. If you decide to trek to the top, you can take the bus back to town, which the kids love. (Or do this hike in reverse, starting from the top.) See baby jogger section for directions.

Woods Walk
From the Town of Crested Butte, go west to the end of Whiterock Ave. Whiterock Ave. turns into County Road 12 and takes you up to Kebler Pass. Drive up the hill approximately 1/3 mile. You'll see a parking area on your left. Across the street from the parking area, you'll see a log "Trapper's Crossing" sign.
You'll also see a road called Treasury Road. Between these two landmarks is the trail head. As you walk down this narrow path a short way, there will be many trails branching off of the main trail. All trails end up back on the main trail, so don't worry. You're close to town and the trails are very short.

Lake Irwin Waterfalls
Whiterock St. in Crested Butte turns into Kebler Pass and County Road 12. Take Kebler Pass/County Road 12 approximately six miles to the Lake Irwin turnoff. There are signs and the road forks off and up to the right. Drive approximately 2 1/2 miles to Lake Irwin. When you reach the lake, you'll drive over the dam. Park to your immediate right once you pass the dam in the parking area. The path you want to take is to the right of the dam/bridge, across the street from the lake. It is unmarked, but it is easy to see: It is a narrow dirt path. Follow the path over level ground for a little bit and then it will head downhill into the trees. Walk a short distance and there will be two sets of waterfalls on your left. Turn around and come back the way you came.

Lost Lake
Highly Recommended! Drive west on Whiterock Street in Crested Butte until it turns into Kebler Pass/County Road 12. Drive approximately 19 miles. You'll see a sign on your left indicating the Lost Lake Slough Campground. Turn left and drive up this road to the campgrounds. The trail head is near the entrance of the campground. This hike takes you around a lake, past a waterfall, past another lake and over some rock formations. The hike is a total of approximately 2 1/2 miles and you can have all day to do it!

The Caves
Drive south from Crested Butte North from Gunnison to the 21-mile marker on Hwy 135. Turn on to Cement Creek Road/ County Road 740. Drive down this road one mile and it turns to dirt. Drive another half mile and you'll see a pull-off parking area to your right. At the trail head, you'll see a sign indicating Farris Creek Trail #409 and other trails. There will be a big green hunting sign from the DOW at the trail head as well. Up, up, up you'll go. However, the trail switches back and is not too difficult. Walk to the top of the switch-backs, across a small field and you will see "the caves." Competent supervision is required on the rocks/caves. You can turn around and come back down the way you came.

Judd Falls
From the Town of Crested Butte, drive up Gothic Rd. through the town of Mt. Crested Butte. The road will turn to dirt. Continue on the road to the Town of Gothic, approximately 8 miles. Continue through the Town of Gothic and drive approximately one mile. There will be a dirt road to your right and parking up there. The trail is marked "Judd Falls" and "Copper Creek Trail." Walk on this trail approximately one mile. You will reach a short trail on your right that takes you to the Judd Falls overlook. There is a bench there for relaxing and viewing the falls. This is an out and back hike.

Mt. Crested Butte Chairlift Ride and Hike
Drive to Mt. Crested Butte and park in the ski area parking lot, or better yet, take the bus from the Town of Crested Butte to the base area. Hiking maps are available at the lift ticket office and you don't need to ride the chairlift to hike. However, it sure helps out on the uphill!