Snowshoeing In May
How To Make Winter Stretch a Little Bit Further
Story and photos by Reid Neureiter
For the GPHN
Spring has fully sprung down here in Denver. But for those looking to prolong their snow experience into middle or late May, the Mayflower Gulch trail just south of Copper Mountain provides a great opportunity to stretch the white stuff of winter just a little further.
A relatively short two-mile, one-way hike, the Mayflower Gulch trail makes its way from a trailhead parking lot on the east side of Colorado State Highway 91 six miles beyond the I-70 Copper Mountain exit.
The gentle climb rises through pine forest to reveal a spectacular open bowl-shaped cirque surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks. The highlights are three abandoned miners’ cabins in various states of decay, located at 11,600 feet in altitude. The broken windows of the old cabins line up to frame perfectly the surrounding peaks.
Hoofing it to the cabins takes between 45 minutes and an hour depending on your level of fitness. Explorers with snowshoes or skis can go beyond the cabins to the steep slopes above. Given the deep snowpack in the mountains this year, the trail will likely hold snow until June, making Mayflower Gulch a perfect spot for a spring snowshoe adventure.
