DIRECTIONS:

From Lyons, head west on Hwy 36 towards Estes Park. After about 9 1/2 miles, turn left onto Big Elk Road, a good dirt road. After 3 mi bear left onto a Forest Service road and park near the gate just before the trailhead. This part of the road gets a bit more rocky but shouldn’t be a problem for most vehicles.

HIKE DESCRIPTION:

The Coulson Gulch Trail in the Roosevelt National Forest is a lightly traveled forest hike and drops down to a wide open meadow and merges with Longmont’s Button Rock Preserve. The hike is pleasant and the elevation drop is gradual and mild. There are towering rock formations on the west slopes of the gulch that make the hike more scenic than it would otherwise be.

The trailhead is just up the road from the parking area, bear to the left after the gate to find the official trailhead sign. The trail starts with wonderful views as you look down Coulson Gulch. The first portion of the hike descends the gulch into the pine forest. As you near the bottom of the trail you’ll pop out of the dense forest for a few minutes providing some nice views across the gulch to the rocky western edge. Just before you reach Higgins Park, there is an old historic cabin and some other structures that are interesting to explore.

When you reach the southern terminus of the trail you’ll be standing in Higgins Park, a beautiful meadow with alpine grasses stretching out down the gulch. There are various rock outcroppings and flat boulders for relaxing. Just remember that you still need to climb out of the gulch so save up some energy.