Guffey Gorge

Guffey Gorge is a swimming area with a deep water hole surrounded by granite rock formations and pine trees at 8,658 feet in elevation. The hole provides ample depth for swimming and sits within steep rock walls that naturally shelter the site.

The area near the gorge experienced significant growth between 1895 and 1902 when the Freshwater Mining District supported a large population. This mining region influenced the development of the surrounding valleys, though little from that era is visible today.

Local residents call this swimming spot Paradise Cove, showing how it serves as a popular destination during hot summer months. Visitors come here to cool off in the mountain waters and escape the heat of the surrounding valley.

Access requires a hike of roughly half a mile from a parking area on County Road 102, with a day use fee and rules against alcohol. The trail is best traveled during summer months when weather is stable and the water is warmest.

A large meteorite fell near the gorge in 1907 and is now kept at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. This cosmic event links a rare scientific specimen directly to this mountain valley.

Location: Colorado

Address: 13999 Main St, Guffey, CO 80820, USA

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 06:00-20:00

Phone: +17192698500

Website: https://blm.gov/visit/guffey-gorge-paradise-cove

GPS coordinates: 38.77160,-105.33400

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:47