During the Summer Butler Gulch is a delightful easy trek...Winter in a foot of snow and subzero temps...not so much. It will test your stamina but it is worth snowshoeing up to the Jean Mine. Look out for Nordic skiers and Snow Mobiles. Awesome views read more

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Are you seeking wildflowers?! ++ COME HERE!! Craving some waterfalls?! ++ COME HERE!! Does old mining equipment intrigue you?! ++ COME HERE!! Do you crave a customizable challenge?! ++ COME HERE!! Having had Butler Gulch on my "must hike" list for what feels like forever, it was one of the first hikes I chose this season. Tiffany N and I made our way there in search of some wildflowers, and we were not disappointed. The trail shape is a lollipop. We, however, chose a slightly less challenging route and treated it as an out and back (by going counterclockwise until just a bit past the old mining equipment) versus a loop. If you plan to do the whole loop, you are going to want to go clockwise once you get to the split in the trail, as there are some intense switchbacks that you don't want to tackle going down hill. There are definitely some steep stretches that we found challenging, but once we passed those we found great rewards - an abundance of wildflowers covering the surrounding mountains. It was glorious! There are several streams and waterfalls along the way too. I highly recommend hiking Butler Gulch early in the season to ensure that you get to take in all that colorful Colorado has to offer! read more

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5mile total hike with 1,500 feet of incline. Difficult but doable! Was recommended to me to hike toward the end of July to see the wildflowers on display. What a magnificent sight! Go! Take water, fuel foods and your dog! Too much for children I believe. I'm 57 and it's my farthest mountain hike yet! I had to stop and catch my breath up newr the end of the tree line as the incline and altitude were playing pretty hard with me. But GO! It's fabulous up there! read more

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I had the most amazing powder day yesterday at Butler Gulch. After the massive snow storm we had last week, there were just so many fresh tracks and GORGEOUS views. The trailhead from the parking lot lead to a fork, to the left is Butler Gulch (access for backcountry skiing/riding, snowshoeing, etc. -- no motorized vehiles). To the right is Jones Pass where the snowmobilers go. The RT distance is about 4-5 miles depending on how far in you go. It was my first time skinning and I had a BLAST. I highly recommend for those who are new to backcountry, just MAKE SURE you go with someone with Avalanche training as some slopes have a tendency to slide in the area. read more

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This was our second hike up Butler Gulch and it was even better than our first time. It's about 2.5 miles gently up but worth the effort. Big views and meadows with pikas, marmots and flowers at the top. On top of the world! read more