Fulford Cave
- 1.2 mi
- round trip
- 496 ft
- climb
- 9,973 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Fulford Cave open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Fulford Cave is an easy hike of about 1.2 miles on natural trail in the Eagle Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back that gains about 500 feet, from a low point of about 9,427 feet to a high of about 9,973 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 73°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs stay around 31°F. Lake Charles and Gold Dust Peak both sit about 0.1 mile away, and Brown's Loop is about 1.1 miles off. Yeoman Park Campground is about 1.3 miles away.
Go with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 26 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters25 mi away
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Fulford Cave
Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
31° / 3°
8 wet
Feb
33° / 3°
8 wet
Mar
39° / 9°
8 wet
Apr
44° / 18°
8 wet
May
55° / 27°
9 wet
Jun
68° / 34°
9 wet
Jul
73° / 39°
12 wet
Aug
70° / 38°
12 wet
Sep
62° / 31°
8 wet
Oct
51° / 23°
6 wet
Nov
39° / 14°
7 wet
Dec
31° / 6°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sugarloaf Rsvr, CO, 22.7 mi away at 9,738 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Melissa Johnson — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Old Fulford Trail No 419
~6 min drive
2.86-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Mount Thomas
~9 min drive
4.81-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,300 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Halo Ridge Trail
~16 min drive
5.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,837 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Gold Dust Peak
Next door
Route to the summit of Gold Dust Peak (13,369 ft) from Fulford Cave - Lake Charles Trailhead.
HIKE
Grouse Mountain
~14 min drive
6.00-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado at 11,828 ft elevation.
HIKE
Brown's Loop
~2 min drive
3.76-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 78 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Sneve Gulch
~5 min drive
4.26-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 1,548 ft gain.
HIKE
Sylvan Lake Trail
~7 min drive
1.19-mile loop at Sylvan Lake, 375 ft gain, 8,612 ft max elevation
HIKE
Lake Charles
~2 min drive
9.33-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 1,621 ft gain.
HIKE
Ironedge
~6 min drive
6.25-mile loop trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 3,143 ft gain.
