Colorado · Hiking · Uncompahgre Wilderness

Independence Gulch

Independence GulchPhoto: gregmote, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.8 mi
round trip
1,742 ft
climb
10,184 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 5 h ago

Is Independence Gulch open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Independence Gulch, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Independence Gulch is a 5.8-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Uncompahgre Wilderness, within the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail rises from a low point of 8,423 feet to a high of 10,184 feet, a climb of 1,742 feet one way, and is rated moderate. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is at Independence Trailhead, with parking labeled INDEPENDENCE. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, but not bikes. It works well for a day in the wilderness, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake City, which sits about 1,500 feet lower, show July highs around 77°F with lows near 44°F. At the trail's high point, temperatures run cooler. Nearby, Independence Bypass lies about 0.7 miles away, and Little Elk is about 2.4 miles off. For camping, Elkhorn RV Resort is about 4.8 miles away, and Henson Creek RV Park is about 5.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Independence Gulch

    Best months: June–September. 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.

    1. Jan

      31° / -1°

    2. Feb

      36° / 4°

    3. Mar

      43° / 15°

    4. Apr

      51° / 23°

    5. May

      62° / 30°

    6. Jun

      74° / 38°

    7. Jul

      77° / 44°

    8. Aug

      75° / 43°

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

    10. Oct

      57° / 25°

    11. Nov

      43° / 13°

    12. Dec

      31° / 1°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake City 1nne, CO, 3.5 mi away at 8,714 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Independence BypassPhoto: gregmote, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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