Mayflower Gulch is what high alpine dreams are made of! And there aren’t many hikes with views like this that are doable with kiddos so this one is a rarity in my book. While it has gained popularity over the years, it’s still a bit tucked back behind the craziness of the i-70 corridor.

The highlight of the trail is definitely the abandoned mining cabins that sit within the gulch about 2 miles in - kids will love exploring these. The backdrop of the alpine gulch behind the ruins is breathtaking. This is a great spot to turn around too if your kids are smoked (this is where we started our trip back). I have hiked the entire trail solo and it’s mostly the same viewpoint for the rest, you just see some additional smaller, mining ruins.

The main drawback to this hike is that it’s a bit of a sh*t sandwich - it starts out beautiful and ends beautiful but the middle is kinda boring and steep in sections. I used more than a few trail treats (aka gummy bears) to keep my kids moving during this part. Still 100% worth the trek.