Hotel Gulch

4.2/5 (47 reviews)
Hotel Gulch Road is more than just a connector between Highway 67 and Rampart Range Road, it’s a quiet, scenic drive through the heart of one of Colorado’s most unique research forests. Winding beneath tall stands of ponderosa pine, this route passes through the Manitou Experimental Forest, a 16,000...Read More
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Highlights of Hotel Gulch

Beginner Category IconBeginner
Camping Category IconCamping
Forest Category IconForest
Overland Category IconOverland
Snow Wheeling Category IconSnow Wheeling
Highest Elevation
9289 ft
Shape of Trail
Straight Through
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
N/A
Official Trail Name
346
Nearest Town
Woodland Park
Nearest Services
Woodland Park
Management Agency
Pike National Forest
District
Pikes Peak Ranger District

Overview

Hotel Gulch Road is more than just a connector between Highway 67 and Rampart Range Road, it’s a quiet, scenic drive through the heart of one of Colorado’s most unique research forests. Winding beneath tall stands of ponderosa pine, this route passes through the Manitou Experimental Forest, a 16,000-acre living laboratory dedicated to forest and watershed science since the 1930s. If you keep an eye out, you’ll pass by a small cluster of beautiful stone buildings built by the WPA, a reminder of the New Deal era and the deep roots of conservation in this region.

The drive itself is easy and peaceful, with gentle grades and sweeping turns that invite you to take it slow. A few dispersed campsites are tucked along the route, offering a great overnight option for anyone exploring the southern Rampart Range area. It may not have bold obstacles or dramatic overlooks, but Hotel Gulch offers something quieter. An invitation to unwind, explore, and appreciate a corner of the forest where science and solitude go hand in hand.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
7 Waypoints
23 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
47 Community Reviews
1 Video
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