Bull Gulch
Maps:
USGS 7.5' Map:	Castle Rock Gulch, Cameron Mountain
Statistics:	Difficulty: Number: Miles: Altitude: Obstacles: Time: Easy 1 FR 186 14.27 9,600 to 10,280 ft. NA 1-2 hours
County:	Chaffee
Adopted by:
Managed by:	San Isabel National Forest, Salida Ranger District	5575 Cleora Road Salida, Colorado 81201	(719) 539-3591
Summary:	Bull Gulch is a network of roads south of Bassam Park Pass and north of the private property north of Cameron Mountain.
Attractions:
Seasonal Closure:	Natural - Closed by heavy snows.
Best Time:	June - Possible snow drifts on the higher roads July - Best August - Best September - Best October - Early snows possible
Trail Heads Accessed:
Camping:	There are a few dispersed camp sites at the north end.
Base Camp:	This would be a good area to base camp and explore the roads on Aspen Ridge.
Fall Colors:	Very Good - The area is full of aspen groves.
Navigation:	From Buena Vista, CO. head south on US-24 E toward Cedar Street for 2.4 miles. Turn left onto US-24 E/US-285 N/US Hwy 285 N and go 6.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 307 and go 1.6 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 187 and go 8.0 miles. Slight right onto Bull Gulch 4WD road. From Salida, CO. head northwest on W 3rd Street toward G Street for 0.7 miles. Turn left onto CO-291 N and go 0.3 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 175 and go 0.2 miles. Turn right to stay on County Rd 175 and go 7.3 miles. Slight left onto County Rd 184 and go 1.5 miles. Slight right onto County Rd 185 and go 12.0 miles. Turn right onto County Rd 187 and go 2.3 miles. Slight right onto Bull Gulch 4WD road.
History:
Description:
Starting from the north end at Bassam Park Pass, the Bull Gulch road heads south a short distance to an intersection with the spur road to the Bassam Park Guard Station. The road to the left takes you down to the gate for the guard station. The Bassam Park Guard station is a Forest Service rental that you can enjoy as a way to re-live how the forest service use to manage the forest before roads were developed. The right will continue to the south into Cals Fork Gulch. Bassam Peak will be to the west as you start to climb up to higher elevations. You will pass through small meadows and then about a mile from the Bassam Park Guard Station you will come to an intersection. To the right is the main road. To the left is FR186.B. These two roads are part of a large loop, so either way you go you will come back to this intersection. The loop is about 8 miles long. From this intersection both roads will become more of a two track. I have only been on FR186.B. Taking the left you will continue through the aspens crossing some areas of pine trees. In less than a mile you will come to a side spur to the left that goes to two dispersed camp sites. The main road will continue south to an intersection at the bottom of a gulch. This is Herring Creek. Straight ahead FR186.B will continue around the loop. To the right is FR186.C, which goes less than a mile to end at private property. To the left is the Bull Gulch Cutoff, FR174.A, road. This road is the only way off of the Bull Gulch loop.
Data updated - November 15, 2017      4WD Road driven - September 3, 2017      Copyright 4X4Explore.com - 2000-2017