Lion Gulch to Kruger Rock

After a trek to the alpine confirmed the snow up high is a wet, heavy, sloppy mess, let’s keep it a bit lower for another week. This is a point-to-point hike we haven’t tried before. We’ll start at Lion Gulch, take the Homestead Meadows Trail to Hermit Park Open Space, and finish by summitting Kruger Rock with an awesome view of Estes Park and RMNP.

MEETING LOCATIONS:

• If you'd like to carpool, we’ll meet at Jax in Loveland (Wilson at US 34) at 7:00 AM, planning to be at the Hermit Park entrance road about 8:00 AM. If you meet us at Hermit Park, we’ll rendezvous OUTSIDE the entrance gate (fee area) so we can coordinate which cars will be left at the Kruger Rock trailhead within Hermit Park, and then drive down to the Lion Gulch trailhead, where we should arrive by 8:30 AM.
• Please plan on meeting at Hermit Park and NOT Lion Gulch, because we will likely need all vehicles for shuttle purposes.

FEE INFORMATION:
Hermit Park Open Space is a Larimer County Park, so hopefully some folks will have annual passes. Otherwise, we’ll pitch in for the $10 entrance fee for cars that don’t have a pass.

HIKE SPECS:

• Hike Distance: 10.6 miles
• Difficulty: moderate. The steepest stretch will be the Kruger Rock spur at approximately mile 8, at which point we gain about 900 feet over 1.5 miles.
• Duration: probably 6 hours including a lunch break and vehicle shuttle time.
• Elevation Gain: about 2040 feet from low point to high point. About 2350 total gain.
• Dogs: on leash
• Route link: Lion Gulch to Kruger Rock | COTREX (ignore the listed elevation gain, it's incorrect, and the total length doesn't include the return trip down to the Kruger Rock trailhead) (msg me if this link isn't working)

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Max group size will be 12 people. Please be sure to change your RSVP if you can no longer attend.
• Disclaimer: You are participating at your own risk. I am not a professional guide. By signing up for this event you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for your own safety and will do the necessary research to understand the conditions of this hike and the gear you will require.