Hewlett Gulch Trail 954

From Coloradohikingtrails

Hewlett Gulch Trail 954
The hike up Hewlett Gulch offers a little something for everyone: Excellent wildlife viewing, remains of old homesteads from the original Poudre Park townsite, mine tailings, damage from a forest fire, numerous stream crossings and abundant wildflowers (in season). A gentle hike through one of the Poudre Canyon's larger gulches, yet a short drive from Fort Collins, it is a good choice for a less-strenuous outing, a family hike, or an opportunity to commune with nature when you don't have a lot of time.

Fast Facts
Distance(Miles):	3.1 one-way
Trail Surface & Condition:	Dirt
Other Trail Users:	Bicycles, Horses, Dogs
Ownership:	National Forest
Best Seasons:	Year around weather permitting
Type:	Out-and-Back
Beginning Elev (Feet):	5680
Ending Elev (Feet):	6270
Elevation Gain (Feet):	590
Difficulty Rating:	4.3
Hewlett Gulch Trailhead GPS Coordinates:	Latitude: 40.6895 Longitude: -105.31037
End Of Canyon Trail GPS Coordinates:	Latitude: 40.72318 Longitude: -105.31404

Hewlett Gulch

Trailhead Information

Hewlett Gulch Trailhead
Near To: Poudre Park and Fort Collins, Colorado

Driving Directions To Trailhead From Ted's Place north of Fort Collins on US Hwy 287, drive up Poudre Canyon (Highway 14) 10.5 miles. Just past the town of Poudre Park, on the right side of the road is a bridge crossing the Poudre River that leads up a hill to the Hewlett Gulch Trailhead. The trailhead has a large paved parking lot and restroom facilities, but no water. There is no trailer parking in the lot at the trailhead.

Hewlett Gulch Trailhead

Elevation: 5680'

Maps & Images Lat: 40.6895 Long: -105.31037

Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps

Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth

Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

Trail & Hike Description

From the Hewlett Gulch trailhead, the trail proceeds north following an old road up Gordon Creek. After a relatively flat hike of about 1/2 mile and a couple of stream crossings, you will come upon old building foundations scattered along the gulch. These are the remains of old Poudre Park. Most of these homesteads were built between 1911 and 1925. Hewlett Gulch is named for one of the first settlers along the Poudre, Horace Huleatt (the spelling was later changed to Hewlett). Horace made his home in a valley to the north of this area in the late 1870s.

The lower reaches of the gulch are open and broad, providing views of the gulch ahead, and of the surrounding hillsides. Not far beyond the homestead ruins are signs of a forest fire, the trunks of many of these are scorched and blackened. This was the Picnic Rock Fire, that burned through the area (although primarily to the north and east of here) in April 2004.

As you hike on up the gulch, keep an eye out for old mine tailings. Deer, raptors and smaller wildlife can often be seen in the meadows along the way. Further up, the trail enters a narrow canyon, crossing the stream several times. You will come to a spot where the trail branches. Stay to the right. From here the trail will wind through a narrow, rocky canyon, crossing the stream several more times. Eventually the trail will leave the stream and head uphill to your left. This is the point noted as "End Of Canyon Trail" in the GPS coordinates. From here, the trail climbs steeply out of the canyon to a plateau, and makes a large loop, returning to the gulch at the first branch described above. I recommend avoiding the loop, and returning the way you came.

The Hewlett Gulch Trail is a favorite with mountain bikers. Also, because of the good deer forage in Hewlett Gulch, the area is popular with deer hunters, so caution (and an orange vest) are recommended if you hike this trail during the fall hunting season.

There are numerous stream crossings along this trail. You can usually navigate these crossings without getting wet by hopping across strategically-located rocks (and in late summer and during drier periods, the stream is often nothing more than a trickle, or dries up completely). However in the spring or during particularly wet times, some wading may be required.

External Links & References

Hewlett Gulch Trail Description on US Forest Service web site