Hackett Gulch

4.6/5 (55 reviews)
Divide, Colorado (Teller County)
Last Updated: 10/17/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Hackett Gulch is the most well-known of the three trails that make up what is called “The Gulch Trails” in the area known as Wildcat Canyon near Divide, Colorado. While it's an obstacle-heavy trail, Hackett also boasts impressive scenery along the way. When the Hayman Fire of 2002 tore through this area, it wiped away much of the tree cover, opening the landscape to a unique view of the Colorado Mountains. The dense collection of rocky obstacles is a big draw. These large boulder obstacles are not prominent along many trails in Pike National Forest, bringing scores of Wheeler from the Front Range looking for a challenge. You will get rocky ascents that require good tire placement and a rock climb with angles and features reminiscent of climbing rocks in Moab. The obstacles make this a local rite of passage, but the scenery makes it an adventure for everyone.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.6/5 (55 reviews)
2800
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 03/11/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Snow melt to the road to Hackett is one just water/mud puddle. The trail itself was dry and fun. Only 3 actual legal obstacles if you stop at the county line. All of which are easily done. Easy enough for my 17 year old daughter with a JL on stock tires.
Open
Visited: 02/11/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

The rating really needs to be updated. I have been running this trail for a few years, and it is no longer difficult. And even moderate might be a push. The trail had maintenance done to it, took the teeth right out of the major obsticles. In the right conditions this trail might be able to be done in 2wd. As someone else put it, the way the dirt was piled up in spots, pretty much made ramps, to just drive up and over the previous difficult obstacles. The views are still great, but the 2 major obstacles that I used to look forward to are no longer as fun. I would suggest Longwater or Metberry 1st.
1000
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/17/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Much easier than a 6 unless you have an under equipped/stock 4x4 vehicle. Any lifted vehicle with larger tires should not have a problem at all on this trail making it borderline easy. The hill climb/descent is the only section some may have an issue with as it gets to roughly 29 degree incline. There are some great views and plenty of obstacles to make this a trail to repeat for sure though. Only downside is it is heavily trafficked with SxS and most did not know/care enough to practice any sort of trail etiquette.
800
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 07/16/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

This trail was easy. Much easier than a 6. A previous reviewer mentioned that some of the harder parts have been filled in with dirt. This was my first time on this trail, but I'm inclined to believe them because there were no obstacles that were anywhere near 'hard'. That said, it was still fun.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/11/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Wow! This was a fun trail! Started it late in the day. Cool and cloudy but no rain. This thing starts in quick and keeps throwing it at you. My CJ5 short wheelbase made some of the climbs and off camber areas even more interesting. The loose gravel like surface causes some slippage and fun! We got to the river at dusk and did the whole out in the dark! That made it all the more fun picking lines.

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