Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Wilder Gulch Connect

Wilder Gulch ConnectPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.4 mi
round trip
34 ft
climb
10,591 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Wilder Gulch Connect open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

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

Wilder Gulch Connect is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Dillon Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.4 miles long, with a low point of 10,547 feet and a high of 10,591 feet, so the climb is only about 34 feet one way. The route is on natural surface and is open to both horses and bikes, which makes it a flexible option for riders and pack animals. The Vail Pass Trailhead is the parking for the trail, and it is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F, while winter brings highs in the mid-20s and frequent snow days from December through February. Wilder Gulch is about 0.6 miles away, and the Vail - Frisco Rec Path is about 0.9 miles away. Wheeler Lakes (Gore Range #60) is about 3.9 miles off, and Gore Creek Campground is about 7.5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Frisco Area

    Campground

    Campground · 7.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Sawmill Pizza and Taphouse

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 4 mi
  • If it rainsPlazak, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Matchless Mine

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Plazak, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Wilder Gulch Connect

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    2. Feb

      29° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    3. Mar

      35° / 8°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    4. Apr

      40° / 15°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      49° / 25°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    6. Jun

      61° / 34°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      67° / 40°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      64° / 39°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      58° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      47° / 21°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    11. Nov

      35° / 11°

      12 wet · 12 snow

    12. Dec

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 11.1 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 800 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • I-70: Vail Pass closed

      closed Nov 4, 2026 → reopened Nov 4, 2026 · State DOT

    • I-70: Vail Pass closed

      closed Oct 30, 2026 → reopened Oct 30, 2026 · State DOT

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