Sunday Gulch Trail

Sunday Gulch Trail is a three-mile loop from Sylvan Lake into a narrow granite gorge, through its boulder-and-stream section, then back toward the lake. There is no summit at the end; the reason to do it is the close-up scramble through steep rock walls, handrails, small waterfalls and pools. The park classifies it as strenuous and lists two to four hours. Plan about three hours on the trail, more if you take a longer shoreline approach from the parking area.

The official three-mile figure covers the signed gulch loop. Hikers sometimes record closer to four miles when they include extra walking on the Sylvan Lake shore path from the main lots. The mapped route joins that path briefly to close the loop; don't treat the separate full lake circuit as part of Sunday Gulch.

Start from the signed access on Sylvan Lake's west side near the dam. From the public lots around the lake, follow the Sylvan Lake Shore Trail to the Sunday Gulch junction. The shore path is easy to mistake for the hike itself, and other junctions lead toward Black Elk Peak, so keep following the Sunday Gulch signs at the connections. The two routes share the lake area, but this loop does not climb Black Elk Peak.

About a quarter of the hike is the steep, narrow gulch. The trail works over mossy granite blocks and natural stone steps, with metal handrails beside small falls and pools. Water crosses the route several times; expect to get wet, and be ready to slow down where the rocks are slick. Grippy shoes make more sense here than smooth-soled footwear. The rails help with balance, but the boulder steps are still a real scramble.

The rest of the circuit uses more ordinary dirt trail through rocky, wooded ground, with roots, uneven footing and a sustained climb before it returns toward the lake. The change is useful: the narrow gorge is the most memorable stretch, while the outer loop gives your legs more work and takes you back to the shore without retracing every step. This is a rough trail throughout, not a paved approach with one short rocky feature.

The granite formations around Sylvan Lake are more than two billion years old, and the Sunday Gulch route brings you close to their broken walls rather than viewing them only from shore. The shaded canyon bottom can run about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Sylvan Lake in summer. Small waterfalls and pools are part of the route's appeal; their exact flow changes with conditions.

Hikers recommend both directions, so there is no clear consensus on a single best way around. The main tradeoff is whether you would rather descend the steep boulder steps or meet them on the climb; follow the marked loop at the lake junctions either way. If the footing sounds like too much, the one-mile Sylvan Lake Shore Trail is an easier way to see the water and granite scenery without the gulch scramble.