Goulding Creek Trail

Looking for a hike that offers seclusion and beautiful high-alpine meadows? Are you willing to work hard for those rewards? If so, the Goulding Creek Trail is for you. Located just off Highway 550, north of Durango, it is easy to get to but seldom crowded.

Directions: From Historic Downtown Durango, head north on Main Ave., which will turn into Highway 550 as you head north out of town an up the Animas Valley. Travel approximately 16 miles and keep an eye out for the entrance to the Glacier Club (a private club and golf course), which will be on the right (east) side of of 550. The Glacier Club entrance is also Tamarron Drive. Just over a mile from the Glacier Club entrance, be on the look out for a small, dirt road on the left (west) side of 550. It is very easy to miss! I did and had to do a U-turn.  After you turn on this dirt road, you will see a small wood sign for Goulding Trail.  You will shortly come to a "T" in the road.  Take a left and head downhill to the parking lot, where you will find the trailhead.

Climbing the switch backs.

Trail: The trail starts out nice and easy first heading west and then curves around to the south for about a 1/4 of a mile. The trail then turns back west and the climb begins. Be warned, the next mile to mile and a half will get your heart beating.  You will climb approximately 1400 vertical feet through what seems like an endless stream of switchbacks. I didn't count but I would guess there are around thirty switchbacks that climb at a pretty steep rate. This trail is not for the faint of heart.

Waterfall along Goulding Creek.

As you climb, you will receive wonderful views of the Animas Valley and the Hermosa Cliffs, which you are climbing in between. After a mile of climbing through a pine and aspen forest, you will come into a more open area signalling that you are coming close to the end of the switchbacks. You will also begin to hear Goulding Creek off to your left. When I hiked the trail at the end of May, there was plenty of water flowing in the creek and numerous waterfalls to enjoy, if you are brave enough to climb down the steep slopes to see them.

You will climb through this open area to a green gate. Congrats, the switchbacks are over!! Unhook the chain around the uphill side of the gate, go through and re-hook the gate. The trail now levels off and meanders through pine and aspen groves as well as beautiful high alpine meadows.

High alpine meadow.

The trail continues for about another two miles where it intersects with the Pinkerton-Flagstaff trail, which runs north-south. Just before the this intersection, you will come across a log cabin and a horse corral. This is a nice place to stop and have lunch, which is exactly what I did before heading back down to the trailhead parking lot. My mileage for this out and back hike was just over six miles and it took me about a 3.5 hours, but I took a couple of detours to photograph a few waterfalls. I came across very few people while hiking and most of the time it was just me, the wind through the trees and the call of birds through the trees. Do be prepared for any kind of weather. It snowed on me off and on during my hike, and during the summer, pop up thunderstorms are the norm.

Cabin and horse corral.

Elevation Profile.

Route Map.