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SUMMIT COUNTY--Summit County officials have announced an improved Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch parking and shuttle program and new website for Summer 2023, beginning on June 17^th with reservations open on June 1^st at hikequandary.com

Started in Summer 2022 in collaboration with the Town of Breckenridge, the program’s goal is to reduce negative impacts to residents adjacent to the popular trailhead, improve parking, and to expand access while minimizing car trips to the hike.

“Since 2021, we have been working with our partners at the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the US Forest Service, and the Towns of Breckenridge and Blue River to improve the safety and overcrowding concerns  at Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch for users and nearby homeowners,” said Allison Morton, Resource Specialist with Summit County Open Space and Trails. “After our inaugural year, we listened to feedback and have made the program easier and less expensive for locals and more efficient for our guests,” she said.

A new website, hikequandary.com, will open for reservations on June 1st for visits beginning on June 17^th. Parking reservations can be made up to two weeks in advance and will be required until September 17^th for full-day or short-term (4 hours) use until 3pm, at which time parking will be free on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Tickets for the shuttle, which takes guests from the South Gondola parking structure in Breckenridge to the trailhead, can also be reserved up to two weeks in advance on hikequandary.com. Summit County locals, with proof of residency, can reserve a free shuttle ride a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their trip. 

“Over the last several years, illegal parking on county roads blocked access to the trailhead for emergency vehicles, making for a dangerous situation for hikers. We have needed a solution for quite some time,” said Summit County Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence. “We’re pleased to offer an improved program for 2023.”

Hikers are asked to utilize best practices for safe hiking in Summit County and are reminded the out-and-back hike to the summit of Quandary is 6.8 miles long and rated as difficult.  McCullough Gulch is a 2.7 mile out-and-back hike that takes around 2-3 hours to complete and is rated as moderate. Always check weather conditions prior to embarking on any hike and to be prepared for quickly changing conditions and the potential for thunderstorms and lightning.

Quick Facts about the Quandary Peak parking and shuttle program

• Reservations for both the shuttle and trailhead parking are required from June 17^th and September 17^th and can be made up to two weeks in advance beginning June 1.

Parking at the trailhead:

• Full-day parking rates are $50 during peak days (Friday-Sunday and holidays) and $30 for non-peak days (Monday-Thursday excluding holidays)
• Short-term (4 hour) parking rates are $20 on peak days and $10 on non-peak days.
• Parking is free after 3pm (hikers are highly discouraged from attempting to summit Quandary after 3pm due to safety)

Shuttle service to the trailhead:

• Shuttle tickets cost $7 per rider, and $0 for locals with proof of residence (locals must reserve a minimum of 48 hours prior to their trip
• The shuttle will drop riders off at both the Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch trailheads; no extra ticket is necessary.
• The shuttle picks up riders at the South Gondola lot in downtown Breckenridge. 
• The shuttle will operate every 30 minutes between 5am and 5pm, 7 days a week. Note, the McCullough Gulch shuttle runs 8am to 4pm only.
• With the purchase of a shuttle ticket, riders may park free in the South Gondola lot using a one-time code issued with payment confirmation
• The shuttle operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and passengers may board at any time by showing payment confirmation
• Dogs are allowed on the shuttle; users are asked to bring poop bags for their hike and plan to bring used bags with them when they leave.

Note: There is no cell phone service at the trailheads, along the hike, or in the adjacent parking areas

To learn more about the program or make reservations, visit hikequandary.com

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Media Contact:

David Rossi, Director of Policy & Communications
Summit County Government
dave.rossi@summitcountyco.gov
970-453-3428

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Iniciado en el verano de 2022 en colaboración con la ciudad de Breckenridge, el objetivo del programa es reducir los impactos negativos a los residentes adyacentes al popular punto de inicio de la caminata, mejorar el estacionamiento y expandir el acceso minimizando los viajes en automóvil a la caminata.

"Desde 2021, hemos estado trabajando con nuestros socios en la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Summit, el Servicio Forestal de EE. UU. y las ciudades de Breckenridge y Blue River para mejorar la seguridad y los problemas de sobrepoblación en Quandary Peak y McCullough Gulch para los usuarios y los propietarios cercanos", dijo Allison Morton, Especialista en Recursos con Summit County Open Space and Trails. “Después de nuestro primer año, escuchamos los comentarios y hemos hecho que el programa sea más fácil y menos costoso para los locales y más eficiente para nuestros huéspedes”, dijo.

Un nuevo sitio web, hikequandary.com, abrirá para reservas el 1 de junio para visitas que comienzan el 17 de junio. Las reservas de estacionamiento se pueden hacer hasta con dos semanas de anticipación y se requerirán hasta el 17 de septiembre para uso a tiempo completo o a corto plazo (4 horas) hasta las 3 pm, momento en el que el estacionamiento será gratuito por orden de llegada.

Los boletos para el transporte, que lleva a los huéspedes desde la estructura de estacionamiento de South Gondola en Breckenridge hasta el punto de inicio de la caminata, también pueden reservarse hasta con dos semanas de anticipación en hikequandary.com. Los locales del condado de Summit, con prueba de residencia, pueden reservar un viaje en transporte gratuito con un mínimo de 48 horas de anticipación a su viaje.

“Durante los últimos años, el estacionamiento ilegal en las carreteras del condado bloqueó el acceso al punto de inicio de la caminata para los vehículos de emergencia, creando una situación peligrosa para los excursionistas. Hemos necesitado una solución durante bastante tiempo”, dijo la Comisionada del Condado de Summit, Elisabeth Lawrence. “Nos complace ofrecer un programa mejorado para 2023.”

Se pide a los excursionistas que utilicen las mejores prácticas para una caminata segura en el condado de Summit y se les recuerda que la caminata de ida y vuelta a la cumbre de Quandary es de 6.8 millas y está clasificada como difícil. McCullough Gulch es una caminata de ida y vuelta de 2.7 millas que toma alrededor de 2-3 horas para completar y se clasifica como moderada. Siempre verifique las condiciones meteorológicas antes de embarcarse en cualquier caminata y esté preparado para condiciones rápidamente cambiantes y la posibilidad de tormentas eléctricas y relámpagos.

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