Wolcott is a small community just off I-70 on the banks of the Eagle River. It’s a census-designated place (CDP) with its own U.S. Post Office opened in 1889 and the zip code 81655.
Edward O. Wolcott, a U.S. Senator from Colorado, is who the town is named after. It lies at an elevation of 6,990 feet at the junction of the interstate and Highway 131, which continues 72 miles north to Steamboat Springs. As of 2020, the Eagle County community’s population was only 20.
Main Attractions
Mountain Musher – Offering dog sledding tours along beautiful private trails, Mountain Musher is a bucket list activity for the whole family. Each tour lasts 1.5 hours and they offer homemade pumpkin bread and hot cocoa at the turnaround point. Sleds are pulled by a mighty team of about 10 huskies, and up to 6 sleds are on each tour making for an exciting scene.
Sage Outdoor Adventures – As Vail’s first guiding company, Sage has perfected their tours for a variety of outdoor activities year-round. In the summer, head out rafting, fishing, horseback riding, or try your hand at a side-by-side ATV. In the winter, they offer guided snowmobile rides on the largest private riding area in the state.
Recreation
Camping –
- Wolcott BLM campground is right in town on the banks of the Eagle River. There are a few non-reservable spots that are very popular with fishermen due to the proximity to the river. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring and there are non-gendered vault toilets for guests.
- Yeoman Park campground sits within a spruce forest near Brush Creek. There are 24 total sites, 18 of which can accommodate RVs. The campground has made several improvements to be more accessible, including 2 modified campsites and restrooms as well as a fishing platform on the creek.
- Sylvan Lake campground is surrounded by the White River National Forest and offers spectacular wildlife spotting, hiking, fishing, and boating on a small, serene lake. There are 44 total campsites suitable for RVs and tent camping. No individual hookups are available, but there is a seasonal service building with coin showers and flushing toilets.
- Read about the camping near Wolcott, around Eagle County.
Fishing – There are plenty of public access points to the Eagle River near Wolcott, making it easy to cast your line for brown and rainbow trout. The river can be fished year-round, with the best conditions coming around April to July.
Golfing –
- Eagle Springs Golf Club is a private championship course set on the property of a historic ranch. Because of its exclusive nature, there are only 300 invite-only members at this club, and guests must be accompanied.
- Red Sky Golf Club is another private golf club but is more welcoming to guests. There are two separate courses that alternate play daily. The guest clubhouse features a locker room, pro shop, restaurant, and lunch cafe to relax and recharge after your game.
Hiking –
- Stag Gulch trail wanders through aspen forests and wildflower-filled meadows for 6.7 miles. You’ll get plenty of views of the Gore Range and once you reach the top meadow, you can opt to continue on for a loop that adds about 1.5 miles to the total distance.
- Berry Creek Loop is an easy 2.5-mile trail with nice views at the peak and a lot of birdwatching throughout. It only takes about an hour to complete and has 550 feet of elevation gain.
Accommodations
Collective Vail – A Retreat at 4 Eagle Ranch – Surrounded by 1,000 acres of ranchland in the Eagle River Basin, the Collective is perfectly positioned for a relaxing retreat into nature. Two outdoor tents are outfitted with luxury amenities, including an in-tent spa bathroom. A cooked-to-order breakfast is included in each stay as well as access to the 4 Eagle Ranch’s endless outdoor activities.
Collective Vail is the only true accommodation option you’ll find in Wolcott. If you want more choices closer to the ski towns, check neighboring the best hotels in Edwards to the east, as well as the hotels in Beaver Creek further east.
Or head west on I-70 and stay in Eagle, which puts you closer to Glenwood Springs if that’s on your itinerary.
Activities near Wolcott
Federal Lands:
Sleigh Rides:
Snow Tubing/Snowmobiling:
Towns:
- Avon (11mi)
- Beaver Creek (13mi)
- Bond (16mi)
- Dotsero (23mi)
- Eagle (9mi)
- Eagle-Vail (13mi)
- Gypsum (17mi)
- Glenwood Springs (41mi)
- Minturn (17mi)
- McCoy (20mi)
- Oak Creek (51mi)
- Phippsburg (48mi)
- Red Cliff (26mi)
- Steamboat Springs (72mi)
- Toponas (33mi)
- Vail (20mi)
- Yampa (42mi)
Transportation: