Gilpin County

Author(s): Nathan Pieplow
County Seat: Central City
County Size: 149 square miles
Low Elevation: 6,905 ft. - North Clear Creek on the Jefferson border
High Elevation : 13,294 ft. - James Peak
Best Birds : Vermilion Flycatcher (1987)
Checklist : Download pdf | View HTML
Introduction: Gilpin County. This tiny county--smaller even than Denver in area and larger only than Broomfield--is often overlooked despite its proximity to Denver. Like many other mountain counties, it lacks a wide diversity of habitat, but it also contains some wonderful birding spots. And butterfly enthusiasts may rejoice: this county's Fourth of July Butterfly Count routinely leads the nation in species diversity, beating out even the counts in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas!

Birding Locations

Los Lagos Reservoir #3
Description - This lake lies right on CO 119 at the Boulder County line. Don't let the placement of the Gilpin County sign fool you: very little if any of the lake is in Boulder County. It doesn't look like much, but it supports breeding Osprey and Ring-necked Duck.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Mountain Meadow, Lodgepole Forest
Directions - This lake is on the west side of CO 119 about three miles south of Nederland.
Delorme - 39 A6
Roads of Colorado - 56 A4
Manchester Lake
Description - One of the largest lakes in the county, Manchester has potential for diving ducks, especially in late fall. It is a private lake and must be viewed only from the public road. The landowner has advised us that trespassers will be prosecuted.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Lodgepole Forest
Directions - The road past the lake heads south from 119 at a sharp angle just south of mile marker 21.5, less than a mile south of the Boulder County line. While birding, remain on the road and respect private property.
Delorme - 39 A6
Roads of Colorado - 56 A4
Rollins Pass (east side)
Aliases - Moffat Tunnel, Karel Park Lake
Description - The Moffat Road heads west from Rollinsville to the Moffat Railroad Tunnel, and then up the east side of Rollins Pass to the only road-accessible tundra in the county. The road is open past the tunnel only in summer. It is no longer a through road to Grand County. The lower portion of the road runs along South Boulder Creek, the best dipper stream in the county, and past Karel Park Lake, which can be productive for waterfowl though it is quite far from the road.
Habitat - Stream, Lodgepole Forest, Mixed Conifer Forest, Mountain Meadow, Streamside Willow, Alpine Tundra
Directions - Drive west from Rollinsville on the Moffat Road. Karel Park Lake is visible well to the north of the road about 5 miles west of town. The rough road up the pass heads east at an extremely acute angle from the main road about two miles short of the Moffat Tunnel.
Delorme - 39 A5-A6
Roads of Colorado - 55 E4-F4
Thorn Lake
Description - This is a nice little lake with potential for dabbling ducks, kingfisher and possibly other water birds. Cinnamon Teal may breed here. The lake is private, but easily scanned from the road.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Streamside Willow, Lodgepole Forest, Mountain Meadow
Directions - From CO 119, turn east onto Gap Road, but instead of taking the immediate right towards Golden Gate State Park, continue straight on Meadow Lake Road, which does a loop around the lake.
Delorme - 39 A7
Roads of Colorado - 56 A4
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Aliases - Bootleg Bottom Trailhead, Ole Barn Knoll, Dude's Fishing Hole
Description - This large state park is popular with visitors from Denver. It can be an excellent spot for mid-elevation mountain birds.
Mountain Base Road (CR 1) plunges at a 19% grade down the length of the park from north to south. Along the way it accesses some nice mature Ponderosa habitat, the best of it along the Mountain Lion Trail starting at the Bootleg Bottom Trailhead. Pygmy Nuthatch is common here and the trail has potential to produce Flammulated Owl. More Ponderosa can be found around the Ole Barn Knoll Trailhead just to the south.
At the bottom of the road lies Kriley Pond, typically waterbirdless, and the similarly handicapped Slough Pond. Both ponds, however, are surrounded by wet meadows and willows good for Lincoln's Sparrow, Wilson's Warbler and the like. The nearby park Visitor's Center has some very nice nature trails through pondside willows and mixed coniferous forests.
Aspen Meadows Campground is aptly named: it is adjacent to some large meadows and a few extensive young aspen groves. The road into the campground leads downslope a half mile to the trailhead for Dude's Fishing Hole, a small artificial lake only a short distance down the trail. It is unlikely to attract much besides an occasional Mallard or Spotted Sandpiper, but the willow, aspen and wet meadow habitats below the dam are excellent.
The Buffalo Trail leaves from Gap Road near the Jefferson County line. Only the first few hundred yards of the trail are in Gilpin County. Jefferson County starts somewhere near the remains of an old log cabin on the west side of the trail. The campground and the Gilpin County section of the trail are surrounded by young lodgepole forest with a few aspens; the creek which follows the trail, however, supports some nice willow riparian habitat good for MacGillivray's and Wilson's Warblers. Townsend's Warblers and other high-elevation migrants can be found here in late summer and early fall. The Jefferson County portion of this trail gets into open meadows and ponderosa pine forest. It should be checked at night in May and June for Flammulated Owl.
URL - Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Habitat - Lodgepole Forest, Ponderosa Forest, Aspen Grove, Stream, Streamside Willow, Wet Meadow, Mountain Meadow, Pond/Lake/Reservoir
Directions - Aspen Meadows Campground, the Buffalo Trail, and the top of Mountain Base Road can all be accessed from Gap Road, which heads east from CO 119 about nine miles south of Nederland. The east end of Gap Road is called Twin Spruce Road; it heads west from CO 72 in Coal Creek Canyon in extreme northwestern Jefferson County. The Visitor's Center, Kriley and Slough Ponds, and the bottom of Mountain Base Road are all accessible from CO 46 (Golden Gate Canyon Road) just west of the Jefferson County line.
Delorme - 39 A7-B7
Roads of Colorado - 56 A4, 72 A1
Missouri Lakes
Description - These two small lakes are right along Highway 119, and a convenient pullout allows easy scanning. Unfortunately, the lakes nearly always suffer from extreme Gilpinitis (ducklessness), but they are always worth a check.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Mountain Meadow
Directions - The lakes are on the east side of CO 119 a little over 3 miles north of Black Hawk.
Delorme - 39 B6
Roads of Colorado - 71 F1
Chase Gulch Reservoir
Description - Not marked on most maps, this small reservoir is open only to residents of Gilpin County, but can be scanned from the road by anyone. Like the Missouri Lakes, it is mostly a "maybe next time" reservoir.
Habitat - Pond/Lake/Reservoir, Mountain Meadow, Lodgepole Forest
Directions - Chase Gulch is about two miles northwest of Central City along Upper Apex Road, which connects Central City with the Apex Valley Road.
Delorme - 39 B6
Roads of Colorado - 71 F1
Smith Hill Gulch
Description - Here in the southern part of the county is a stretch of the lowest-elevation habitat Gilpin has to offer: rocky hillsides with low scrub and scattered junipers. Look for Rock Wren, both towhees, Townsend's Solitaire, Virginia's Warbler and the like. On the other side of the road is dense forest with a high percentage of dead trees; keep an eye out for woodpeckers and flycatchers. Higher up, above the gulch, the road passes through mountain meadows that may produce bluebirds and sparrows. Unfortunately there is no public access to any of these lands, so all birding must be done from the road. The road does not get much traffic but its curves are often blind and its shoulders narrow, so be very cautious if you stop the car.
Habitat - Foothills Scrub, Mountain Meadow, Aspen Grove, Lodgepole Forest, Burn Area
Directions - Smith Hill Gulch is accessed via CR 7, which heads north from CO 119 about four miles north of US 6 and the Clear Creek/Jefferson county lines.
Delorme - 39 B7
Roads of Colorado - 72 A1