PHYSICAL FEATURES
Fulford Cave, at an elevation of 9,880 feet, was designated the 8th largest cave in Colorado in 1972. As of 1959, a total distance of 2,600 feet has been mapped. This popular cave has a great variety of features to discover and explore. There are gaping crevices, vast spaces, pillars, stalactites, stalagmites and narrow gorges. The passages range greatly in size; the Breakdown room has a total length of 300 feet and part of the Register room is over 60 feet high. A turbulent stream passes through a 300 foot length of the cave that was found to emerge at a surface spring in the campground. The main entrance at the end of the trailhead is a small downward-sloping culvert.Please sign the register next to the bulletin board before and after hiking the trail leading to the cave. Vault toilets are available for use at the Fulford Cave Campground next to the trailhead. Camping at one of the campground's 7 sites costs $8.00 per night; drinking water and trash disposal are available. HISTORY
Fulford cave was named after the historic town of Fulford, located several miles up FDR 415. Captain Nolan Smith claimed to be the original discoverer in 1890. In 1892, a man by the name of Maxwell, filed a mining claim on the area surrounding the cave, proclaiming that he had found rich silver ore deposits and veins in the cave. He apparently dug the pit entrance and timbered the entrance chamber. During the year 1941, Seward S. Cramer of Chicago, Illinois visited Fulford Cave for the Explorers Club of America. Mr. Cramer was a pioneer spelunker having visited 500 of the 610 caves known in the U.S. at that time. CAVE FORMATIONS
Centuries of percolation from the lime surroundings have whitewashed the interior of this solution cave. There are numerous clusters of stalactites and stalagmites in some of the rooms. The various mineral chambers contain spar, iron and galena within the blue and dolomite lime. Some specific formations include Flowstone Draperies in the Stalagmite room and the Attic contains soda straw structures and cave coral that cover the flowstone in the lower areas.
Directions from Eagle: Follow Brush Creek Road, FDR 400, 10 miles south of Eagle; turn left onto East Brush Creek Road, FDR 415, and drive 7 miles southeast following FDR 415. There is a parking area at the base of the Fulford Cave Trail, #1875. From the parking area, a 0.7 mile hike gaining 440 feet in elevation leads to the cave opening. Please sign the register, next to the bulletin board, before and after hiking the trail.
Directions from Vail: Travel west on I-70 to Eagle (exit #147). Turn left and drive into Eagle. Turn left on Capitol Street and follow to Brush Creek Road. Turn left and follow Brush Creek Road 10 miles south of Eagle; turn left on the East Brush Creek, FDR 415 and drive 7 miles southeast. There is a parking area at the base of the Fulford Cave Trail, #1875. From the parking area, a 0.7 mile hike gaining 440 feet in elevation leads to the cave opening. Please sign the register, next to the bulletin board, before and after hiking the trail.
Directions from Beaver Creek: Travel west on I-70 to Eagle (exit #147). Turn left and drive into Eagle. Turn left on Capitol Street and follow to Brush Creek Road. Turn left and follow Brush Creek Road 10 miles south of Eagle; turn left on the East Brush Creek, FDR 415 and drive 7 miles southeast. There is a parking area at the base of the Fulford Cave Trail, #1875. From the parking area, a 0.7 mile hike gaining 440 feet in elevation leads to the cave opening. Please sign the register, next to the bulletin board, before and after hiking the trail.
Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible:
June through October
(NOTE: Seasons and access vary depending on weather.)
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Trail to the cave is wet in places. FDR 419 to the trailhead is open. Updated: 2002-05-16 08:28:00.0
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