Description: Gudy Gaskill is a fairly new trail in the Jeffco system. Access is via the Beaver Brook trail. We get there via Genesee, the Mt. Vernon Country Club area. You can also get there from Lookout Mountain Rd (Windy Saddle) or Chief Hosa, making for much longer runs. There are great views overlooking Clear Creek Canyon. It can be icy in the winter; it's shaded and has a lot of N facing trails.


We'll all start down the dirt road to the W, Columbine Glen. As you start, look at the road to the N, under the Mt. Vernon CC sign. Most will be finishing from that direction. The road turns right at the houses. Another ~150 yards, go around the gate (A) and onto the service road. We'll run together until here. Continue along the road (SR1) until you clear trees, at the top of the meadow on the right, just before the power lines (B). Most of us will be finishing from straight ahead. At the beginning, we'll take a sharp right onto a single track (TR1). Follow the single track around the upper edge of the meadow to another service road (C). Take a left, down the steep road (SR2), ~200 yards, to the Beaver Brook sign (D). Here the routes will split.

Short: Stay left at (D), via BB3, to (E), the W end of the Gudy Gaskill Trail. Stay left on the Beaver Brook (BB4). This trail climbs steeply. The shortcut trail, to the left, doesn'e exist. At the top, walk out on the rocks on the right for a great overlook of Clear Creek Canyon. Just after the overlook, the trail forks at a Beaver Brook sign (G). Stay left onto SR3 (yellow). Do not head down BB5. Follow SR3 around Bald Mt, to SR1, back to the trail junction where we started (B) (I haven't taken TR2, but it should work too). Return to Columbine Glen and the finish. Start-A-B-C-D-F-G-H-J-B-A-Start.

Intermediate: At the Beaver Brook sign (D), go right. Follow BB1 ~½mi to the E end of the Gudy Gaskill trail (E) - IMPORTANT! If you miss this turn, it's another ~4mi to Lookout Mtn Rd. Go left onto GG trail. It's a ~2.5mi loop, with some nice views of the canyon. At the W end (F), go left onto BB3 back to junction (D). Stay right and climb SR2, past (C), and up SR4. At the top of SR4, you'll go around a chain, and meet a dirt road (K) - IMPORTANT! Make a sharp right on the road, around the hill, then right under the Mt. Vernon CC sign, to the Start. Start-A-B-C-D-E-F-D-C-K-Start.

Long: Follow the intermediate route to (F). Go right there, and climb BB4. Check out the overlook at the top. Just after the overlook, the trail forks at a Beaver Brook sign (G). Stay left onto SR3 (yellow). Do not head down BB5. Follow SR3 around Bald Mt (I haven't taken TR2, but it should work too), to SR1, back to the trail junction where we started (B). Return to Columbine Glen and the finish. Start-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-J-B-A-Start.

Extra Long: Follow the long route all the way back to the (B) junction. Go left ont TR1, like how we started. At the other end of the meadow (C), go right up SR4. At the top of SR4, you'll go around a chain, and meet a dirt road (K) - IMPORTANT! Make a sharp right on the road, around the hill, then right under the Mt. Vernon CC sign, to the Start. Start-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-J-B-C-K-Start.