| Baker Gulch Trail #29 heads west up Baker Gulch into the Never Summer Wilderness from the trailhead. Baker Gulch is a beautiful valley consisting of mixed coniferous forests and alpine meadows. The valley is paralleled to the north and south by high, mountain peaks.The trail climbs steadily to what is commonly known as the Grand Ditch, a canal built in the early 1900s to transfer water from the west slope of the continental divide to the east slope via gravity. At the Grand Ditch there are views of the surrounding mountains and the Kawaneechee valley. The climb from the Grand Ditch to the top of Baker Mountain is steep and arduous. For those willing to put forth the effort the rewards are panoramic views of Grand County. The vantage includes all of the mountain ranges in a 50-mile radius, the entire continental divide section passing through Rocky Mountain National Park, the Indian Peak Wilderness, Winter Park Ski Resort, and the Gore Mountain Range.This trail has been rated "moderate" and has receives moderate use. Elevation ranges from 8,835 to 12,269 feet on this 5.41-mile (one way) trail. |
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