Tenderfoot Lodge
	Hiking Tips

    Porcupine Gulch Trail

above heavy timber

Porcupine Gulch is within three miles of Tenderfoot Lodge and makes for good hiking exercise. The thick woods ecology illustrates well why we have "national forests" in the Colorado Rockies.

The lower section proceeds through a thick stand of fir and spruce. Except for a diffuse crossing of the creek, this part of the trail is easy to follow. Higher up the trail becomes a trace. The lefthand (westside) branch proceeds to an open area burned over many years ago. Follow some small cairns. The righthand (eastside) branch requires some bushwhacking, as properly described by Gilliland, and careful attention to "tracker signs". The way eventually emerges into an alpine meadow.

There was a skilift somewhere in Porcupine Gulch 40 years ago. Can you find its location?

The unmarked trailhead is just below the truck runout ramp on US 6 about 2 miles east of the Montezuma Rd toward Loveland Pass. Safer parking is at a piped spring a little lower down on the highway.

gentians unfolding

©2004