GO HIKE COLORADO
Get in Touch:
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • HIKES BY REGION
    • DENVER AREA >
      • Denver Mountain Parks
      • Jefferson County Open Space
      • Lakewood Parks
      • Denver Area Greenways
    • BOULDER AREA
    • DOUGLAS COUNTY
    • FORT COLLINS AREA
    • COLORADO SPRINGS AREA
    • FRONT RANGE
    • TENMILE & MOSQUITO RANGES
    • GORE RANGE
    • SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS
    • PARK RANGE
    • SAWATCH RANGE
    • ELK MOUNTAINS
    • SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS
    • THE FLAT TOPS
    • GRAND MESA
    • COLORADO PLATEAU
    • EASTERN PLAINS
  • NATIONAL PARK HIKES
    • BENT'S OLD FORT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
    • BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
    • COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
    • DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
    • ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
    • GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
    • HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • SAND CREEK MASSACRE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
    • YUCCA HOUSE NATIONAL MONUMENT
  • HIKES BY CATEGORY
    • HIKES TO ALPINE LAKES
    • HIKES TO PEAKS & PASSES
    • HIKES THROUGH CANYONS
    • HIKES WITH FALL COLORS
    • HIKES ALONG THE I-70 CORRIDOR
    • HIKES ON PAVED TRAILS
    • HIKES FOR KIDS
    • HIKES TO WATERFALLS
    • HIKES ALONG RIVERS
    • HIKES WITH ROCK FORMATIONS
    • HIKES WITH WILDFLOWERS
    • WINTER HIKES
  • NEWS
  • WEBCAMS
  • $UPPORT GHC
  • INTERACTIVE MAP

Mayhem Gulch Trail
Clear Creek Canyon Park

Date Hiked: September 19, 2012

Distance: 5 mi (RT)

  • Elevation Gain: 800ft
  • Elevation Min/Max: 6,785 to 7,515ft
  • Managing Agency: Jefferson County Open Space
  • Fee: None

Clear Creek Canyon Park Website
Picture

Directions:  The main trailhead is located in Clear Creek Canyon Park.  From Denver take I-70 to Hwy 58 west to Golden.  Continue straight onto Hwy 6 through Clear Creek Canyon.  Go almost to the end of the Canyon and you'll see the large parking area on the right (north). 


Mayhem Gulch is a very popular trail with both hikers and mountain bikers and it is a classic Front Range Foothills hike.  It is the only major hike in Clear Creek Canyon Park and connects to Centennial Cone Park.  The trail offers a wonderful view of Clear Creek Canyon as it climbs up and out of the canyon onto the flat(er) area that comprises Centennial Cone Park.  The hike is not difficult but has enough elevation gain and distance to constitute a good workout.

From the trailhead the hike ramps up through the canyon and the desert scrub and spruce trees.  As you switchback keep an eye out to the east for the cascading waterfall in the spring and early summer.  At the 1.5 mile mark you'll come to a trail junction with the Juniper Trail.  I prefer to continue on with the Mahyem Gulch trail by turning right and taking the Juniper trail back to make a loop out of the upper portion.  Shortly after this junction you will enter into Centennial Cone Park and as the landscape becomes more and more forested you'll soon get a good view of the Cone before you meet up with the Travois Trail.  Continue on the Mayhem Gulch trail for another .1 mi to the Junction with the Juniper Trail.  Turn left and take this trail back to the Mayhem Gulch Trail and back down into Clear Creek Canyon. 

If you want to hike the upper part from Centennial Cone Park, then head to the Centennial Cone Road Trailhead and take the Juniper Trail .3 miles to the upper loop.  This makes for a nice quick and easy 1.9 mile loop or an add-on to a longer hike in Centennial Cone.  To get to the trailhead, continue through Clear Creek Canyon, turn right onto 119 and right onto Centennial Cone Road, follow the signs to the parking area.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.