Paradise Cove, Colorado - All you need to know

About two and a half hours outside of Denver, Colorado, lies a tiny town named Guffey. The most famous landmark of this town is called Paradise Cove (or Guffey Gorge). With nothing else around for miles, a dirt parking lot sits on the side of Country Road 102. A half-mile hike lies ahead just over the hill, leading into a gorge with rock structures towering around one hundred feet above. Whether you have come to swim, cliff jump, or just relax in nature, you can find it here.

To Colorado natives, this gorge is no secret, and when the summer months come around, it becomes a hot spot for high school and college kids to travel to.

However, this spot is incredibly hidden and definitely not somewhere a non-local would find incredibly easily. However, it definitely isn't somewhere you wanna miss on your travels through Colorado.

Most make this a day trip, but there are plenty of campsites in the neighboring towns if you prefer to camp. Whether you are just passing through on a road trip, you traveled here for vacation, or have found yourself living in this beautiful state, you must experience this breathtaking adventure.

However, you should know a couple of things before you drive up. That way you can make the absolute most of your trip with little bumps.

The first thing to know has to do with the parking.

There are almost always spots, so that shouldn't be a problem. It is $6.00 to park, which is pretty cheap considering what you get. It isn't as simple as inserting your credit card, though. To pay, you must either (1) scan a QR code THROUGH THE APP. The QR code will not scan otherwise. But keep in mind that there is no service up there, so you must have the app already downloaded. Option 2 is to place 6 dollars into a provided envelope. So make sure you also have cash!

The hike is pretty easy and relatively short. There are no significant obstacles or dangerous parts of the trail. It is, however, absolutely stunning. The whole thing is secluded in rocks and mountains, with a little stream flowing through. Near the end of the hike, it gets a bit steeper and requires better traction on your shoes, so make sure to come prepared with well-equipped shoes.

The second thing you should know is it is a pretty popular spot.

Now, by no means is it completely packed, especially to the point where you don't want to be there. You can always find a calm place to lay your things down. Nevertheless, you won't be alone. On average, there are probably around 20 people, each in their own little groups. Ages range anywhere from little kids (8/9) to adults (50/60). The majority are definitely teenagers, though, mostly college students.

Everyone is super friendly and there to have a good time. They will always help you if you find yourself stuck and always provide a helping hand when needed.

It is actually incredibly beneficial that there are people around because it makes a slightly dangerous activity slightly less dangerous.

Speaking of slightly dangerous: The third thing you should know.

Cliff jumping will not always be safe. Of course, whether others are jumping or not, you should always evaluate whether it is safe for yourself. The gorge consists of snow melt; the water can become super shallow depending on the time of year or even the day. The usual jumping spot is around 15-20 feet high and lands in a shallower water section. There are plenty of other places to jump from, but even those might not be safe.

ALWAYS evaluate the safety of a jump before committing to it.

When we went, the water was far too shallow to jump from the usual spot; however, a lower rock jumps into the deepest section of the water, which I decided was safe for me to jump.

To get to the jump, you have to hike up a ton of rocks around the backside of the gorge. Once up, you must maneuver your way onto the rock you plan to jump off.

The biggest thing you can know before going up: There is no way back down other than to jump.

Way more people get hurt trying to get back down because they bailed the jump than the people who jump. So once you have decided to jump, you have to commit.

Me contemplating jumping for almost 7 minutes straight

The jump in itself is incredibly fun and definitely will get your heart racing. However, the breathtaking part comes when you hit the water… Literally.

Remember when I mentioned that the gorge is mostly snow melt? Well… Snow melt means incredibly freezing water. So cold that when you come up, it feels like you can't breathe. The water temperature quite literally takes your breath away.

For some, like one of my friends, that is enough for them to never jump again. In my opinion, the adrenaline you get from jumping entirely outweighs the cold of the water. Besides, once you have swam your way out (in the quickest fashion possible), you warm up super fast.

A couple more secrets you should know, there are two 'hidden' spots you can go to while at the cove.

The first one is much more obvious than the other but a tad more difficult to get to.

A little waterfall lies behind the cove. It is hidden inside the rocks, however, you can see it while standing on the rocks to jump.

To get to it, you must swim through the freezing water (definitely one of the hardest parts) until you reach the back wall. You can see a tiny bit of water coming out between the rocks.

This is where you are aiming for

Once there, you can step up and strategically climb up onto the small waterfall. From there, all you have to do is slide down and try not to slip while taking in the stunning waterfall encased by rocks.

The second more hidden spot is a second jumping spot. It is much more secluded and has a lot fewer people. I personally didn't find this until we were leaving and really only saw it from a distance.

Nonetheless, simply go straight on the path that you take to get on top of the rocks. You venture a little deep into the forest surrounding you, and to your left is a tiny watering hole with a small cliff jumping spot.

Definitely the spot to be if the crowds bother you.

Overall, Paradise Cove is a must-stop spot for anyone who finds themselves in Colorado.

Even though I grew up here, I never ventured to this spot until this summer, and I am delighted I did. It was a top 5 spot in Colorado for me.

So what are you waiting for? Jump right into some deep (or not so deep) waters.