The McCullough Gulch Trail is located 2.2 miles west of HWY 9 on the north side of Quandary Peak. It follows an old mining road and trail 1.3 miles to White Falls and Upper Blue Reservoir. A challenging, unimproved route continues into the capacious upper valley to six additional lakes and tarns.

The unmaintained route above Blue Lake Reservoir opens in the upper valley to several unnamed lakes like this one at 12,555'

Nannies average 170 - 240 lbs, while billies can reach 240 - 300 lbs

A cirque below the headwall of McCullough Gulch valley, approximately 3.15 miles from the trailhead

Blue Reservoir is ringed by willow, open rock and scalable outcrops

It's a 500' climb on an unimproved trail to reach the upper valley, where grades are nearly level

There's less oxygen available to us in the lower air pressure environment of high elevations

Nannies and Billies both grow horns that are never shed

Quandary Peak (14,265') is the tallest peak in the Ten Mile Range

The trail climbs over 800' in just 1.35 miles to the first lake

Most alpine flowers are perennials, which means they use the same root system at least several years

The summer monsoon pattern brings thunderstorms to the high country most summer afternoons

White Falls pour from the outlet of Upper Blue Reservoir

Approaching the west shore of Upper Blue Reservoir, where the unimproved trail continues into the upper valley

Hemoglobin levels in our blood rise as we acclimate to high elevations

Finding the unimproved trail on the far side of the lake can be the route's main navigational challenge

The upper valley is framed by 14,265' Quandary Peak, and two others just below 14,000'

Looking down at Upper Blue Reservoir, which is much larger than it may appear when you first arrive

The Quandary Peak Trail, located just below the McCullough Gulch Trailhead, climbs 3300' in 3.1 miles to the summit