Quandary Peak parking reservations and Breckenridge shuttles begin July 30

Attention Quandary Peak climbers: As of this weekend, you must reserve a trailhead parking space by purchasing one online or take a new, free shuttle to the trailhead from Breckenridge. The reservations system for the Quandary Peak lot goes into effect on Friday.

Summit County officials instituted the plan because overflow parking at Colorado’s busiest fourteener has been creating headaches for hikers and hazardous obstacles for first responders when emergencies happen on the trail. There also will be shuttles between the Quandary Peak trailhead and McCullough Gulch.

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Here’s what you need to know:

• Making parking reservations: Reservations can be made online only at Parkquandary.com
• Parking prices: Half-day parking from 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. will cost $20. The latter is primarily for McCullough Gulch visitors, because the best time to climb high-altitude peaks like Quandary is before noon (otherwise, hikers expose themselves to the dangers of afternoon thunderstorms, which can be deadly above timberline). Full-day parking (4 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) will cost $50. Three-hour shifts for McCullough Gulch, beginning a 4 a.m., will cost $5.
• Reserving in advance: Officials urge Quandary Peak hikers to make their reservations before they get to Summit County. “We don’t want folks going up there and realizing that they can’t park or reserve, because there essentially isn’t any cell service up there, and we are strongly encouraging the use of the shuttle,” said assistant county manager Bentley Henderson. “It is, however, like any other parking lot. If you get there and there are spaces available, and you drive to some place that has service, you can certainly try to reserve a spot.”
• Free shuttles: The free Quandary Peak shuttle will operate from the Breckenridge Airport Road lot from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., running every 30 minutes to the Quandary Peak trailhead. Getting on the shuttle is strictly first-come, first-served. Another free shuttle will run back and forth between the Quandary Peak trailhead and the McCullough Gulch trailhead. Hikers heading to McCullough Gulch will need to reserve a parking spot at the Quandary Peak trailhead or take the Quandary Peak shuttle from Breckenridge.

This is being called a pilot program, which means it’s a test to see whether it works, and it will be in effect from July 30 until Oct. 31. Illegal parking on county roads near the trailhead or on nearby Colorado Highway 9 will result in aggressive ticketing by the Summit County sheriff, officials say. For more information: summitcountyco.gov.1446/quandary

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