Colorado · Hiking

Roaring Gulch

19.7 mi
round trip
2,728 ft
climb
11,874 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Roaring Gulch open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Rio Grande National Forest. It doesn't name Roaring Gulch, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Rio Grande National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Roaring Gulch is a hard out-and-back hike in the Conejos Peak Ranger District of Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest. The trail starts at the Lower South Fork Trailhead and stretches about 19.7 miles, rising from a low point of 8,950 feet to a high of 11,874 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open to horses. The climb is a major undertaking. With a one-way elevation gain of 2,728 feet, the trip is long and steep, and the route is not open to bikes. The hike makes a good anchor for a longer trip in this corner of the forest. South Fork lies about half a mile away, and Valdez Trail and Roaring Gulch East are both within a mile and a half. For an overnight base, Trail Creek Camping Area is about 2.3 miles off.

Local outfitters

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