Cucumber Gulch Trail

Located below the Peak 8 gondola of the Breckenridge ski area is the 77-acre wetlands and wildlife preserve known as Cucumber Gulch. This easy two-mile trail makes a loop around the edges of the gulch, one of the most treasured yet threatened in Breckenridge. Beavers, moose, elk, deer, mountain lions and 47 bird species – all call this area home at least part of the year, despite being surrounded by the sprawl and ski-in ski-out condos of a major resort town. Development is a constant threat to these animals, but an even bigger threat may be off-leash dogs, which in the past have disturbed beavers and chased birds, to the point where dogs are not allowed on this trail. In winter, Cucumber Gulch is part of the trail network of the Breckenridge Nordic Center.

Pro Tips

Recommended season(s): Mid-summer – mid-fall.

–R. Scott Rappold