Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge
Guffey, Colorado · on West Fourmile Creek · Royal Gorge Field Office
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- creek
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $6 per vehicle
- SEASON
- May
About Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge
Paradise Cove, also called Guffey Gorge, is a BLM day-use site on West Fourmile Creek near Guffey, Colorado, reached by a roughly half-mile trail leading to a natural granite gorge with a small cascading waterfall and plunge pool. It is a well-known regional swimming hole and cliff-jumping spot managed by the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, with a seasonal per-vehicle parking fee and posted safety warnings.
The site sits in a narrow granite gorge cut by West Fourmile Creek in the Gold Belt region of Park/Teller County, reached via a moderately challenging trail with steep slopes, loose rock, and slippery footing that descends from a gravel parking area to the creek.
Swimming at Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge
Swimming happens in a pool below a small cascading waterfall inside the gorge. Depth is inconsistent and changes frequently along the pool, and the site is popular for cliff jumping from ledges reported to range roughly 20 to 100 feet, though the managing agency explicitly states jumping or diving is not recommended due to shallow, variable depths and past injuries and rescues.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Colorado Springs, take CO-24 west toward Florissant (about 35 miles), then head south on Teller County Road 1 (about 9 miles), turn onto County Road 11 (about 4 miles), then County Road 112 (about 3 miles) to the parking area; the site is then roughly a 15-minute, half-mile hike from the lot.
Parking: Gravel BLM parking lot at the trailhead; parking is limited and the lot fills quickly on warm days. Roadside parking along the county road is illegal and vehicles have been ticketed or towed by the Park County Sheriff's office when the lot is full.
The hike in
- To the water
- about 0.5 mile one-way
- Time on foot
- roughly 15 minutes one-way at a normal walking pace
Difficulty: moderate, short in distance but with steep sections, loose rock, and slippery footing per the official BLM description; one aggregator source characterizes it as 'moderately easy with elevation changes.'
Trailhead: Gravel BLM parking lot at the end of County Road 112 (reached via CO-24 west from Colorado Springs, then Teller/Park CR1, CR11, and CR112)
Short, unnamed spur trail running the full distance directly from the parking lot down into the gorge to the swimming pool, there is no longer approach; the entire hike is the half-mile access trail itself.
Hikers should stay on the designated trail (no cutting switchbacks, per BLM regulations) and wear shoes with good traction given the loose/slippery footing.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The BLM's own posted warning (Recreation.gov listing) says the plunge pool has shallow, frequently-changing depth and explicitly discourages jumping/diving due to a history of injuries and rescues; the site is also a well-known cliff-jumping destination (reported jump ledges roughly 20-100 ft) even though the agency advises against it. The short access trail is steep with loose rock and slippery footing. Families with young kids should stick to wading in shallower sections near the base and supervise closely rather than treat it as a jumping spot.
Parking
Paid, $6 per vehicle (May 15-Sept 30)
Gravel BLM lot at the end of County Road 112. Space is limited and fills quickly on warm days/weekends in peak season (June-July); the aggregator source recommends arriving early or carpooling. Roadside parking along the county road is illegal, vehicles have reportedly been ticketed or towed by the Park County Sheriff's office when the lot is full. Fee is pay-on-site only (cash, check, or Scan & Pay via the Recreation.gov app), no advance reservations.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms are located at the gravel BLM parking lot at the trailhead (confirmed by an independent aggregator source describing 'bathrooms and trail maps' at the lot); exact fixture type (vault toilet vs. flush) was not specified in any source found.
Hours
Open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year per an aggregator source; the official BLM/Recreation.gov listing similarly states the site is daylight-hours-only with no overnight camping. Best season is May-September, with peak visitation in June and July.
On the water
Restrictions: No evidence found of kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or motorboat use at this site, and it is not practically suited to watercraft: the swimming area is a small, waterfall-fed plunge pool inside a narrow granite gorge on a small creek, not a lake or navigable stretch of river, and no put-in/take-out is described anywhere.
No official regulation explicitly bans watercraft (none was found addressing it either way), but the physical setting makes it a non-issue in practice.
What regulars say
Visitors report the lot fills fast on warm days, so arriving early or carpooling is advised; June and July are peak season, with lines reportedly forming for cliff jumping; and BLM's own site notes a history of injuries and rescues from jumping into the variable-depth pool, so it is worth treating jump reports (some describing 20 to 100 ft ledges) with caution.
Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge: FAQ
Does Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge charge a fee?
$6 per vehicle required between May 15 and September 30, paid on-site only (no advance reservations); preferred payment is Scan & Pay via the Recreation.gov app, with cash or check also accepted, and proof of payment must be displayed in the vehicle windshield.
Is Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge kid friendly?
The BLM's own posted warning (Recreation.gov listing) says the plunge pool has shallow, frequently-changing depth and explicitly discourages jumping/diving due to a history of injuries and rescues; the site is also a well-known cliff-jumping destination (reported jump ledges roughly 20-100 ft) even though the agency advises against it. The short access trail is steep with loose rock and slippery footing. Families with young kids should stick to wading in shallower sections near the base and supervise closely rather than treat it as a jumping spot.
How hard is the hike to Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge?
A hike is required, about about 0.5 mile one-way to the water (roughly 15 minutes one-way at a normal walking pace). Wear real shoes, since approaches to natural swim spots are often rocky or rooty.
Where do I park for Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge?
Gravel BLM lot at the end of County Road 112. Space is limited and fills quickly on warm days/weekends in peak season (June-July); the aggregator source recommends arriving early or carpooling. Roadside parking along the county road is illegal, vehicles have reportedly been ticketed or towed by the Park County Sheriff's office when the lot is full. Fee is pay-on-site only (cash, check, or Scan & Pay via the Recreation.gov app), no advance reservations.
When is the best time to visit Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge?
May through September, with peak conditions and water levels reported in June and July.
What are the rules at Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge?
No alcohol, glass containers, amplified music, or marijuana; pets must be leashed; stay on the designated trail (no cutting switchbacks); pack out all trash; site is open daylight hours only with no overnight camping; no open fires or charcoal (gas grills only).
What water body is Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge on?
Paradise Cove / Guffey Gorge is on West Fourmile Creek, a natural creek verified in USGS hydrography data.
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