Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

Rattlesnake Gulch Trail

On a spectacular rock promontory, slowly succumbing to the forces of wind, snow, and sun, the brick skeleton of an oven overlooks the red rock walls of Eldorado Canyon. The oven, once mediocre amidst luxury, now lords over the remains of the Crags Hotel, which for a brief time was host to Colorado’s wealthy and beautiful. The Crags Hotel stood on this spot for only four years before it was destroyed by fire; an interpretive sign at the end of the trail describes its grandeur and demise. Metal and brick, potsherds that shine on one side with white or brown glazes, the foundations of the old funicular—these lonely remnants remain on the site, witnessing year-round views of the Continental Divide and Eldorado Canyon that once drew visitors by the hundreds to this site. Please leave all artifacts in place for the next hiker to enjoy. The route follows the old “Crags Boulevard,” which once led to the hotel. The grade, though steady, is relatively easy. This trail is shady and cool even on the warmest summer days, and it is spectacular in the afternoon and evening, when the setting sun stains the rocks of the canyon in shades of gold, red, and slate.

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