Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch recreation areas in the Tenmile Range south of Breckenridge, Colorado are slated to see massive improvements to several features at the popular Summit County location as early as summer 2026.

The proposed plan from the White River National Forest and the USDA Forest Service include trailhead infrastructure and trail system improvements, improved signage, and expansion to the Quandary Peak/McCullough Gulch parking reservation and trailhead shuttle system to other trailheads and designated campsites across the project area.

Titled the ‘Tenmile Recreation Access Plan,’ the White River National Forest has been seeking public comments on the proposed plan since Aug. 15, will accept comments through Sept. 15, and is holding a public open house meeting on Aug. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Breckenridge Recreation Center to provide more information and answer questions.

According to national forest, visitation rates have soared recently to approximately 237,000 annual visits occurring within the project area.

The area includes popular fourteener Quandary Peak, which is historically the most visited 14,000-foot peak in Colorado, along with the surrounding valleys of McCullough Gulch, Blue Lakes and Spruce Creek.

The national forest said in addition to Quandary Peak, the area is well known for its hikes to alpine lakes and waterfalls with historic mining ruins, and also serves as a drinking water source for residents of Colorado Springs and communities in Summit County.

“We simply do not currently have the facilities such as bathrooms to adequately manage this level of visitation,” Acting Dillon Ranger Amanda Wheelock said. “Taking steps now to provide more sustainably managed recreation will help us more sustainably manage recreational use and improve visitor experiences.”

The area is being negatively impacted by the combination of high visitation and a lack of facilities and infrastructure necessary to support current levels of use, the national forest said.

Impacts include:

• Parking and traffic congestion through adjacent neighborhoods, at trailheads, and along roads and trails
• An accumulation of trash and human waste at trailheads and popular destinations
• Significant erosion and trampling of native vegetation
• A proliferation of user-created trails
• Graffiti and other damage to historic sites
• Reduced access for emergency services

“Residents and visitors cherish the beautiful peaks, high alpine lakes and waterfalls at the southern end of Summit County,” Summit County Open Space & Trails Coordinator Katherine King said. “This plan aims to adequately manage the existing use — not increase it — so that we can enjoy this special place in its high quality, natural state for generations to come.”

The national forest said in order to address the ‘Purpose and Need’ of the project, it is focused on two broad categories of actions:

1. Recreation infrastructure improvements including:

• Trailhead improvements at four locations: Blue Lakes, Quandary Peak, McCullough Gulch and Spruce Creek
• Improvements to 11.7 miles of existing trails and 0.3 miles of existing road
• Construction of 3.2 miles of new trail connections to create a logical system where trails connect to each other and back to the trailhead

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2. Expanding the Quandary Peak/McCullough Gulch shuttle and parking reservation system to other trailheads and designated campsites within the project area: 

• Reservations would be required for parking lots and designated campsites
• A trailhead shuttle system would operate
• Fees would be charged
• In addition, roadside parking outside of designated areas would be prohibited year-round

Specific proposed actions at the Quandary Peak trailhead area

The Quandary Peak trailhead is located on land jointly owned by Summit County and the Town of Breckenridge. It serves as the primary hub for visitors who want to access the southern Tenmile Range, including Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch.

According to the national forest, Quandary Peak averages around 35,000 annual visitors. Prior to 2021, the high visitation at Quandary, coupled with an additional 30,000 annual visitors to McCullough Gulch, created substantial parking and traffic impacts to nearby roads and neighborhoods.

Due to these impacts, the current Quandary Peak trailhead was constructed in 2021, and visitors have been required to ride a shuttle from Breckenridge or purchase advance parking reservations to access the area during the peak summer season.

The national forest said the Quandary Peak trailhead would be redesigned and improved and would include delineated parking spaces, restrooms, shuttle turn-around, improved directional and interpretive signage, and other ancillary facilities.

The proposed design would increase parking capacity from 67 spaces to a maximum of approximately 135 parking spaces, and the trail system would be improved to connect directly to the trailhead.

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The national forest said to encourage visitors to park at the trailhead without driving through the McDill Placer neighborhood or walking on the county roads, the trails surrounding the Quandary Peak trailhead would be improved to create a logical system where the trail segments connect to each other, and back to the trailhead.

To accomplish this, the lower 1/3 mile of the existing Quandary Peak Trail would be realigned to connect directly to the trailhead and a new 1.9-mile trail would be constructed to connect to the Blue Lakes trailhead.

“As partnering land managers, we have worked diligently to create a plan for the Southern Tenmile component of the Camp Hale National Monument that balances protecting natural resources with preserving a quality user experience,” Duke Barlow, Town of Breckenridge Open Space and Trails Manager said. “Public engagement is a critical next step in the process to ensure all voices are represented in crafting the best plan possible.” 

To read the full proposed action plan from the White River National Forest visit its website here: fs.usda.gov.