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Eldorado Canyon State Park
Eldorado Canyon State Park in Eldorado Springs.

Eldorado Canyon State Park – Eldorado Springs

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Located just southwest of Boulder, Eldorado Canyon is known for its towering sandstone cliffs and world class rock climbing. Boulder Creek carves through the canyon creating a variety of day use recreation. Hiking, fishing, and picnicking are fun park activities.

Just as the name implies, Eldorado Canyon sits in a high and narrow canyon. The park offers exceptional hiking opportunities, as well as bait, fly and lure fishing.

Rock Climbing, Fishing and Hiking near Boulder

Eldorado Canyon State Park
Parking near the entrance of Eldorado Canyon.

Fishing in the South Boulder Creek provides scenic scenic to catch trout and smaller fish. The main attraction at the park may be the rock climbing. Eldorado Canyon is renowned in the U.S. for it’s more than 500 climbing routes. Hiking is also popular on a number of outstanding trails.

Fowler Trail: This trek goes through the main drag of the canyon. It’s nearly a mile and a half round trip along a relatively flat section of the park. It’s a fairly quick hike at about a half hour. The trail leads to just out of the main canyon and then connects with a Boulder Open Space Park trail. Head back here or continue for however long before turning back. Some people park cars at both parking lots and hike the whole trail. It’s not so far. Before heading out, pick up an trail guide offering you info at each of the numbered stations.

Rattlesnake Gulch Trail: Starting from the same parking lot as the Fowler Trail, take the Fowler Trail east out of the canyon. After only a little bit the trail takes a right for Rattlesnake Gulch. This trail rewards you with amazing views of the Continental Divide and an old ruin site for the Crags Hotel. In it’s heyday in the early 1900’s the Crags Hotel was a big deal. For a $1 you could hop aboard the Moffat Railroad in downtown Denver and enjoy a round trip to and from the hotel high above the Eldorado Canyon.

In addition to the railroad, back in the day you could take a wicked wagon trail up the current Rattler Gulch Trail or take the funicular up the side of the mountain. People drank, danced, ate, played cards and enjoyed shows at the Crags Hotel, which complimented the already existing Eldorado Hot Spring.

Activities

Eldorado Canyon State Park
Beautiful canyon views in Eldorado Springs, Colo.

Biking: Permitted on the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail and the Walker Ranch Loop at Crescent Meadows.

Camping: No, day-use only.

Fishing: The South Boulder Creek runs through the canyon and is renowned for it’s fly fishing. There are no bait restrictions or size limits. The park prefers catch and release, but the limit is 4 to take home.

Hiking: There are three main trails in the central park. There’s also a 4th trail in the Crescent Meadows portion of the park. See trails below.

  • Fowler Trail – 0.7 mile, one-way, along the side of the canyon. It ends at the edge of the park and connects with a Boulder Open Space Trail. Closed to bikes.
  • Rattlesnake Gulch Trail – Gains 800 feet in elevation and leads 1.4 miles, one-way to the historic Crags Hotel ruins. Once at the ruins there is an optional forest loop of about a mile that takes you to a beautiful overlook of the Continental Divide. Open to bikes.
  • Eldorado Canyon Trail – Gains 1000 feet in elevation for 3.5 miles one-way before intersecting with The Walker Ranch Loop Trail (a 7.2 miles loop). Open to hikers and horseback.
  • Walker Ranch Loop – An easy 5 mile trail, round trip.​ This trail is not accessible from the regular section of the park. You must drive west to the Crescent Meadows section of the park.

Hunting: Allowed on the Tuesday after Labor Day through March 31st in the Crescent Meadows section of the park.

Picnicking: 33 picnic tables with grills all line the shore of the South Boulder Creek. Available first-come, first-serve.​

Rock Climbing: Permitted on several rock faces along the canyon with over 500 technical climbing routes. It’s one of the premier rock climbing destinations in the country. See climbing map on right.

Winter Recreation: Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on trails when there is adequate snowfall. Call park to be sure.​

After enjoying the recreation, relax at Eldorado Springs Pool, situated next door.

A rock climber repelling down.
The Visitor Center is open from 9am-5pm, daily.
Fly fishing is exceptional in the South Boulder Creek. Bait fishing is allowed too.
33 picnic tables line the shores of the South Boulder Creek.
There is one main road in and out of the park.
The scenic Fowler Trail.
Hiking along.
The South Boulder Creek runs out of the park and right pass the Eldorado Springs Pool (red roof).
Looking out from Fowler Trail at the Front Range.
The trail ends here and continues around the hill side on the right as part of the Boulder Open Space Park.
Heading back to take the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail.
The Rattlesnake Gulch Trail is leads you up switchbacks through the forest.
Ruins of the Crags Hotel.
Ruins of a kitchen fireplace of the Crags Hotel, which burned probably for insurance money.02-Eldorado-Canyon63
Western view from the Continental Divide overlook.
A train tunnel on the right used to take passengers to the Crags Hotel.
A train tunnel near the Continental Divide Loop trail above the Crags Hotel.
Visitor Center is open daily from 9am-5pm.
Fishing permits both bait and fly
Rock climbing in Eldorado Canyon.
Several climbers make their way to the top.
Picnic sites line the creek near the visitor center.
Fowler Trail leads you along the inside of the canyon.
Falcons and other large birds love the high canyons.
Continental Divide overlook.
There were 3 ways to access the Crags Hotel: by train, by wagon trail and by funicular ride.
Baking oven of the Crags Hotel which burned in 1912.

Details

Address: 9 Kneale Rd, Eldorado Springs, CO (near Boulder)

Phone: 303-494-3943

Season: Year round, sunset to sunrise

Pets: Yes, on leash

Fees: Yes, daily vehicle and walk-in entry fee

Maps: Eldorado Canyon (PDF) | Rock Climbing (PDF)

Website: cpw.state.co.us/…

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