Orchard Gulch
Fun
Tech
Views
Traffic
Shade
Usage
Biking, Hiking
Dogs Friendly?
Yes
Length
1.6 mimiles
ElvElevation
712'
Rating
Orchard Gulch is a nice singletrack that offers a scenic, secluded route in the middle/upper foothills. There’s one steep section as you climb up over a saddle, but the rest is pretty mellow. Orchard Gulch makes a nice hike on its own, or a nice bike loop with 5 Mile Gulch or Watchman.
Recent Trail Reports
July 30, 2018 at 3:41 pmTALLLLLLL grass!
March 12, 2018 at 5:00 pmOrchard Gulch very wet and snow covered (a good part of it) this afternoon. Some hike-a-bike to get to the tree. RC Rd in great shape. Connector to 5 Mi Gulch also very wet and snow covered (a good part of it). 5 Mi Gulch somewhat wet with a little snow at beginning, but otherwise very good.
February 20, 2018 at 8:24 pmChoppy packed snow with a fair amount of foot tracks. Some deeper snow drifts harder to push through on the upper open section once you get out of the gully.
February 5, 2018 at 8:13 amSaturday afternoon there were a couple ice strips melting off but 98% perfect. The dirt was all grip, no stick. The descent into Watchmen had a couple 3 yard long ice sections but are 100% manageable, just check your speed going into corners.
February 3, 2018 at 12:55 pmPacked and very slick ice beginning about 0.5 miles in from the road.
January 30, 2018 at 11:06 am9-9:30 a.m. Tue. After long opening straight of patchy snow, hit un-bikable stretches of slippery icy/slushy snow causing up-hill spin-outs. Mostly clear after the last creek crossing. Climbs are semi-frozen, so not destructively muddy. Downhill on Five Mile is a slushy, slippery adventure. Rocky Canyon Rd. wet but not icy from 5-mile to Orchard.
TALLLLLLL grass!
Orchard Gulch very wet and snow covered (a good part of it) this afternoon. Some hike-a-bike to get to the tree. RC Rd in great shape. Connector to 5 Mi Gulch also very wet and snow covered (a good part of it). 5 Mi Gulch somewhat wet with a little snow at beginning, but otherwise very good.
Choppy packed snow with a fair amount of foot tracks. Some deeper snow drifts harder to push through on the upper open section once you get out of the gully.
Saturday afternoon there were a couple ice strips melting off but 98% perfect. The dirt was all grip, no stick. The descent into Watchmen had a couple 3 yard long ice sections but are 100% manageable, just check your speed going into corners.
Packed and very slick ice beginning about 0.5 miles in from the road.
9-9:30 a.m. Tue. After long opening straight of patchy snow, hit un-bikable stretches of slippery icy/slushy snow causing up-hill spin-outs. Mostly clear after the last creek crossing. Climbs are semi-frozen, so not destructively muddy. Downhill on Five Mile is a slushy, slippery adventure. Rocky Canyon Rd. wet but not icy from 5-mile to Orchard.
Yesterday morning was a great snow trail with only 1 track up, we added 3 more, so it may be packed down nicely for snow biking or hiking.
Hiked it today. The new snow yesterday didn’t add much. I’d say ride it with plus tires or larger. Bare spots here and there.