Bowen Gulch Trail

Bowen Gulch Trail #119 is a hard out-and-back from Bowen-Baker Trailhead to Bowen Pass in the Never Summer Wilderness. The full mapped route is about 16 miles round trip and takes roughly 9–10 hours. It climbs from the Colorado River valley to 11,465 feet. Published one-way figures range from 7.4 to 8.1 miles; the longer map includes the rough lower approach on unpaved road and two-track. This is the main #119 route, not the short Bowen Gulch Connector #119.1.

The walk starts beside the Colorado River, with an open meadow and the Never Summer Range across the valley. The lower approach follows rougher road and two-track before narrowing to dirt tread. It then climbs west into forest with occasional meadow openings. Around two miles in, stay on the Bowen Gulch line where it meets the Continental Divide Trail; the branch toward Willow Creek Pass is a different direction.

Expect several stream crossings, mostly on log bridges, and muddy patches. The climb grows more forested, and about five miles in the trail reaches some of the area’s oldest spruce and fir in the moist gulch. Farther up, it leaves the stream for a rockier doubletrack and passes the Blue Lake and Bowen Lake junctions before continuing to Bowen Pass. The route returns the same way, so the downhill still includes the full series of crossings.

The Never Summer Wilderness was designated in 1980 and covers 21,090 acres along the park’s western edge. Across the starting meadow, the Never Summer Range is the park’s only volcanic mountain range. Moose have been reintroduced to the wider wilderness, and its streams and lakes support trout; sightings are never guaranteed. From the meadow, grasses in the foreground help frame the range beyond.

Bowen-Baker has auto parking, a vault or composting toilet and three picnic tables; food service and drinking water are not listed. Seasonal timed-entry requirements may apply to enter the park. No overnight camping permit is required in the Never Summer Wilderness. Dogs are prohibited on the park’s trail section, so pets cannot use the full route.