Hiking Hewlett Gulch in Colorado's Cache la Poudre Canyon

Update: This post was written just a few days before the Cameron Peak fire raged through this area in October 2020. Things probably look different there now.

Hewlett Gulch, just 11 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado, is pretty much top pick for day hikers around here who want to let their dogs roam free. It’s the lowest trail in the Cache la Poudre canyon that allows off-leash dogs. Plus, it’s beautiful, meandering along Gordon Creek north of Highway 14 for about two miles of rolling terrain before heading away from the creek uphill to a ridgeline loop. Those first two miles are especially perfect trail-running terrain.

*Dogs roam free at Hewlett Gulch, the lowest trail in Poudre Cnayon near Fort Collins, Colorado, where you can hike with off-leash dogs*

What to expect on the Hewlett Gulch hike

Hewlett Gulch, in Colorado’s Roosevelt National Forest, is one of many hikes just off Highway 14, which follows the Cache la Poudre River. Besides the appeal of being convenient to town, this trail gives you soul-nourishing views of Poudre Canyon, delightfully cool creek crossings, wildflowers in summer, and interesting remains of cabins built by homesteaders. The hike is essentially an out-and-back with a ridgeline loop at the north end.

*Wildflowers on Hewlett Gulch, Cache la Poudre Canyon*

Downsides of Hewlett Gulch

The Hewlett Gulch hike checks several essential boxes, but here’s what to watch out for:

It’s popular. Anything this good needs to be shared, right? On most nice weekends, Hewlett Gulch can get crowded. The parking lot at the trailhead accommodates only 22 vehicles. But a few dozen people on this trail at the same time can be stressful, particularly if they all have dogs off-leash. As with every other popular place in nature, you can avoid the crowds by going on weekdays, or early morning/late evening on weekends. And don’t hesitate to try this trail in winter for a relatively solitary experience: It’s beautiful.
Dog confrontations. Most people who drive past Grey Rock (probably the most popular Poudre Canyon hike) to Hewlett Gulch are likely going the extra distance so they can hike with their dogs off-leash. To avoid skirmishes, be alert and ready to get (ideally, keep) your dog under control at all times.
Short/moderate. If you’re looking for an all-day, strenuous outing, Hewlett Gulch is not it. But if you need a quick shot of nature or a perfect evening trail run, this is the spot.

*Hewlett Gulch is a beautiful hike close to Fort Collins—so it can get crowded*

Upsides of Hewlett Gulch

We’ve done this hike more than any other in our lives. Here’s why:

Lowest hike in Poudre Canyon where dogs can be off-leash. Anyone who doesn’t have a dog, or doesn’t mind keeping them on-leash, will likely stop at Grey Rock, which is even closer to Fort Collins. But we always head to Hewlett Gulch because we always have a dog or two needing some exercise.
Well-maintained trail. Most of the trail is wide and well-worn, perfect for trail running, especially if you just stick to an out-and-back and forego the loop at the end of Gordon Gulch. The trail rolls along, criss-crossing Gordon Creek and meandering through meadows, with only a few rocky sections to break your stride.
Very little poison ivy. Some trails along the Poudre are rife with green three-leaf, but Hewlett is relatively clear. We worry more about our dogs running through poison ivy and bringing it back to us than we do about running into it ourselves. But in all our times hiking here, we haven’t seen any poison ivy within several yards of the trail.
Stream crossings. All those stream crossings afford water for dogs and a nice splash for people who want to shed their shoes and wade around. You probably don’t need to carry water for dogs at all on this hike unless you’re planning to do the ridgeline loop as well and it’s a super-hot day.

*Hayley cooling it at a Gordon Creek crossing on the Hewlett Gulch trail*

Fascinating history. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Hewlett Gulch trail is part of the Ute Trail, one of many early mountain passages. The gulch is named for Horace Huleatt (the original spelling), who settled here in the early 1870s and is thought to be the first European to live in this gulch. In 1922, the Spaulding family (including 10 kids) built a compound of cabins in the lower gulch and built the first bridge across the Poudre River in 1923. You can see many remains of the Spaulding buildings in the first couple of miles of the hike.

*Hayley pauses by the foundation of a homesteader cabin in Hewlett Gulch*

Evolving burned area. As you go up Gordon Creek, you’ll start to see increasing evidence of numerous wildfires, including the unsparing 2012 High Park fire. It’s fascinating to continue to come back to this trail and see the various stages of regeneration unfolding with bright shocks of wildflowers and green undergrowth.

*Burn area from past wildfires in Hewlett Gulch (with the haze of the active Cameron Peak fire on the horizon)*

What to bring on the Hewlett Gulch hike

As this is a short hike, you don’t need to gear up much, but here are the essentials:

Dog poop bags. Even though your dogs can roam free here, you need to clean up after them.
Sunny weather basics: Sun protection, water—for you and your dog if you’re going to do the ridgeline loop, too.
Winter basics: Hewlett Gulch is a fantastic winter hike because of the generally forgiving footing, which makes a stroll in snow an absolute delight. The creek crossings become magical frost-covered coves. For winter hikes, layer up as you would for any Colorado winter sport. If you’re starting out late in the afternoon, be sure to remember a headlamp. Time can slip away from you up here (and there’s no cell service, so your phone won’t be bugging you).
Shoes: You can get away with trail sandals in the summer, and light hiking boots (ideally somewhat waterproof) in the winter.

Hewlett Gulch resources

Scout your route. The Forest Service fact sheet on Hewlett Gulch has a brief description of the trail, a rundown of rules and regulations, and current alerts and warnings—typically concerning wildfire-related closures during the summer. Geocaching has some interesting historical notes about the Spaulding homestead.
Find your bearings. To get to Hewlett Gulch, take 287 north from Fort Collins, Colorado, and turn west (left) onto Highway 14. About 10.5 miles up the canyon, as you pass through the small community of Poudre Park, look for a bridge on the right with a green road sign for Hewlett Gulch Road. You”ll pull onto the bridge across the Poudre River and up to the trailhead parking lot.
Basic stats: The trailhead is at 5,680 feet elevation. The hike has an elevation gain of 1,389 to the ridgeline. Distance from the trailhead to the end of Gordon Gulch is 3.1 miles; if you continue around the ridgeline loop and back to the trailhead the total distance will be 8.4 miles. A common alternative is hiking to the fork in the road and back, which is about 4 miles round-trip.
Facilities: Forest Service bathroom at the trailhead, but no trash cans, so be prepared to pack out your trash (including dog poop). There is no water at the trailhead. Also: there is no cell service in Poudre Canyon beyond Ted’s Place (the gas station at the corner of Highway 14 and Highway 287). The parking lot accommodates 22 vehicles, and no trailers are allowed.

Hewlett Gulch offers a refreshing pause in a busy day, nearly anytime of year—especially if you can get there on a weekday.