Chihuahua Gulch

Keystone, Colorado (Summit County)

Last Updated: 12/02/2019

4.8 / 5 ( 6 reviews )

Information

Nearby Trails

Status:	Open
Typically Open:	05/20 - 11/23
Length:	2.1 miles
Highest Elevation:	11263 feet
Duration:	About 1 hour, 30 minutes
Shape of Trail:	Out & Back
Best Direction to Travel:	N/A
Nearest Town:	Keystone
Nearest Town w/ Services:	Dillon
Official Road Name:	263
Management Agency:	United States Forest Service
District:	Dillon Ranger District

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Highlights

One of the more popular trails in the Keystone area, Chihuahua Gulch is used by 4x4’s, hikers and sometimes a little horse traffic will be seen. The first 2.1-miles of this trail is used by all, but the last four are for hiking only. The scenery on this trail does not disappoint and packs a lot into a small trail. After the climb to the marsh, the views of the mountains open up as you look into the valley. With two stream crossings and a little rough rock here and there, this makes for a great trail for beginners and seasoned wheelers. The Forest Service road once went to Chihuahua Lake, but is now blocked off. The hiking trail has been rated as moderate and shouldn’t be taken on by someone with no training. This is a great trail to pair with Warden Gulch (FS 265) for a day of off-roading.

Video

Weather

7 day forecast for Chihuahua Gulch

Route Information

Technical Rating:
(MODERATE )

Waypoints

1. Trailhead Off Peru Creek (0 mi)

Take a sharp left (northwest) here off Peru Creek (FS 260) to begin the trail. Immediately after you start the trail there are some rough rocks and ruts to negotiate as you start to climb up. There are some sizeable rocks to be careful of along the way.

Directions to Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates: 39.600433, -105.838198

Starting Point: Dillon, CO

Take US-6 east for 5.8 miles and take the Montezuma Road exit and continue onto Montezuma Road for 4.4 miles. Turn a sharp left (north) onto CR 260. The trailhead is 2.2 miles into Peru Creek (FS 260).

Camping

Dispersed

Trail Reviews (11)

Author:	Joseph Hackathorne
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	09/13/2020

Rating is spot on at 4. Only a couple of rocky spots that required careful placement in order to prevent scraping. Water crossings are always fun as well. Any high clearance vehicle should be fine. Stocks Jeeps with no lift or bigger tires may scrape. I’d be shocked to see a stock Subaru at the back part of the trail! Hike at the end is worth doing albeit tough. The views from the drive back are amazing and the hike to the lake is even better. Super quiet up there today and had very little traffic. Couple of great dispersed camp spots I’ll be heading back to at some point!

Author:	Dan Z
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	07/18/2020

Beautiful views today. Stock Rubicon (no lift / 33" tires) scraped a bit between waypoints 3 & 4. Otherwise a great trip.

Author:	Josh S
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	07/12/2020
Rating:

First time on this trail today. Took the SxS and found it to be a little technical in a few places. Just had to stop and pick a good line to get around some of the larger rocks. Some areas are pretty rutted out and the rocks are getting exposed more. The lake was really cool to see. Then on my way down there were very few vehicles but a ton of hikers.

Author:	Richard Westra
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	07/11/2020
Rating:

Lots of hikers, ATV's and other 4x4's. Beautiful flowers and vista's. Some tougher areas to navigate thru yet never scraped the skid plates or need to lock the diffs. Upper parking lot for the Grey's and Torrey's trail head was packed. That's what I get for a summer midday Saturday outing.

Author:	Dewie Jones
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	06/21/2020
Rating:

One of my favorite trails near Keystone. Here’s a quick video I made showing the trail from start to finish. Made it easily in my stock Jeep, but required 4low for a few spots.

Author:	Andy Castillo
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	06/20/2020
Rating:

Trail is open all the way to the lake trailhead. Ran it in a lifted Tundra on 35's. Outside of being bumpy (make sure you air down) this trail was a breeze. The camp spot at waypoint 6 is the best! There is a creek running by it, and to the north east is an emergency cabin. Great views, fun trail. Will be back to fish the middle valley lakes.

Author:	Jen & JD Marshall Official Crew
Status:	Seasonal Closure
Offroaded on:	12/02/2019

The trail and area is now closed for the season.

Author:	Jen & JD Marshall Official Crew
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	08/10/2019

Trail is open and there are no major changes to report on it. The start of the trail is now noted as being tougher than in previous years.

Author:	Brandon Mueller
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	08/07/2019
Rating:

First trail ride for the Gladiator. We only went up to waypoint 7 and made camp but it was an excellent trail. Hope to go back and do the hike up to the lake sometime soon.

Author:	Trint Ladd Official Crew
Status:	Seasonal Closure
Offroaded on:	07/09/2019

I talked to Dillon Ranger district today (7/9/2019). Peru Creek is still closed and gated. They said the open date is a "moving target." The road needs some repair before Chihuahua. Just past there, the road is blocked by avalanche debris and will be closed for some time yet.

Author:	Jen & JD Marshall Official Crew
Status:	Open
Offroaded on:	07/23/2017
Rating:

The 2nd trail we did in the area that day and it did not disappoint. We had never been up to this trail before and the scenery and flowers at the top were great.

Questions & Answers (3)

Q: We are planning to head up there this weekend ( early sept 2020) and do some camping in a dispersed camping spot. Any wild life lurking around to be concerned about? Looks beautiful up there!!!

–patrick grooms (08/31/2020)

–Jen & JD Marshall (09/01/2020)

Q: This trail shows seasonal closures. Do we know when it will be open for this season 2020?

–Scott Golubic (04/27/2020)

–Ryan Boudreau (04/30/2020)

–Jen & JD Marshall (04/28/2020)

Q: I have a stock 2003 Nissan Frontier SC Club Cab. Do you foresee any issues with this trail?

–Jesse (06/21/2018)

–Jen & JD Marshall (06/22/2018)

Writer Information

Jen & JD Marshall

Mapping Crew - Colorado

Jen & JD moved to Colorado from Chicago in May of 2015 for work and brought with them a 2001 stock Jeep Wrangler that had been garage bound for two years. Within a month of arrival, all rusty 170,000 miles of it was shaking on Colorado trails and they've never stopped. As time as gone on, their 2001 TJ has been upgraded and a 2015 Jeep JK has been added to the family. JD works as a Systems Engineer for a cable company and Jen runs a business from their home during the week to pay the bills. When the weekend hits, they're almost always hitting the trail. When Sunday night rolls around, the question turns to, 'so what's next week?!'.

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