 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Boulder County & Rocky Mountain Hiking Guide and Trails: Readers' Favorites
These small lakes epitomize high-Rockies scenery. They make a great late-season destination—the memory of which will last long after the lakes are locked in ice. The trail winds through coniferous forest, reaching Mitchell Lake after about a mile. The woods are home to chipmunks desperately hoarding the last of summer’s bounty before winter sets in. Chickaree squirrels—they’re owners of the huge heaps of shredded cones—can often be seen gathering fungal delicacies almost as large as themselves. The trail skirts Mitchell Lake, crosses a small creek and leaves the forest to climb through low willows and tussocky subalpine grasses for another mile and a half. Depending on the day, Blue Lake can seem impossibly blue. Mount Toll and Paiute Peak in the background frame the scene to make it picture-postcard perfect. By late September (if the snows haven’t arrived) an extravagant palette of bronzes, yellows, golds and russets sets the scene afire. –Ann Cooper
This county open space area is rich for many reasons. It’s a junction zone between two habitats, where ponderosa pines give way to shrubland full of meadowlarks, lark sparrows and spotted towhees. The slanted ridges of the hogback jut like a peninsula into the plains, and the views west and south are magnificent. Reliable springs, shelter, plenty of game and good lookout potential made this a favored winter camp of the Arapaho Indians, and several tepee rings can still be seen along the trail. A trail from the parking lot parallels the road and gently zigzags up to the saddle through skunkbush and mountain mahogany. At the saddle, a right spur cuts across the road to pick up Indian Mesa Trail and Eagle Wind Trail. The Little Thompson Overlook Trail heads north over rock slabs and through sparse, outlying ponderosa pines and topiary junipers browsed by long-gone cattle. This is rattlesnake territory, so watch your step! After following hillside contours, the new trail diverges from a two-track, grassed-over road and heads gently downhill. After crossing a rock-scree gully and several dry streambeds, it reaches a rocky promontory overlooking the green riparian ribbon of the Little Thompson River. The tilted rimrock to the north is a haunt of hawks and eagles as there are plenty of rabbits around. And listen for the true essence-of-wild: curdling calls of hunting coyotes. –Ann Cooper
South Boulder Peak is a rocky summit with a bird’s-eye view of Longs Peak to the north, Pike’s Peak to the south and the Plains east to Kansas, it seems! Take Mesa Trail, or the prettier Towhee Trail, until it links with west-heading Shadow Canyon Trail. Towhee winds through thickets of chokecherry, hawthorn and wild plum—perfect habitat for towhees, robins and solitaires. Shadow Canyon Trail passes by old cabins crumbling amid overgrown orchards. Open meadows give way to woods with chattering pine squirrels and squawking Steller’s jays. The trail then zigzags steeply past huge boulders in a shadow-filled canyon of fragrant pines. When you reach the saddle, turn left to South Boulder Peak (right leads to Bear Peak). At 8,549 feet—a 3,000-foot climb and 2.5 miles from the willow banks of South Boulder Creek—it feels as if you’re on top of the world. –Ann Cooper
Cottonwood Trail extends south and north from Independence Road (just north of Boulder Municipal Airport). Going south, the paved trail parallels an irrigation ditch and offers between-tree glimpses of Hayden Lake before winding past businesses and residences to feed into city bike-commuting routes. Heading north across Independence Road, the gravel trail follows Fourmile Canyon Creek ditch to Jay Road, providing a good illustration of riparian ecology and the value of water in this area. Ditch banks are dense, overgrown tangles of cottonwoods, willows, plum, chokecherry, ash, box elder and clambering clematis. This rich bird haven offers sightings of flickers, chickadees, tree creepers, wrens, red-winged blackbirds and passing migrants using this watery, winding ribbon of lushness. By contrast, adjacent pastures appear dry and unpromising—until two vole-hunting kestrels hover into view. Vistas vary too. The west offers a panoramic mountain backdrop, from South Boulder Peak and the Flatirons to Dakota Ridge and Mount Sanitas. The east offers a snakelike strip of yellow willows along Fourmile Canyon Creek, and intimate rural views of tranquil hay meadows and cattail wetlands that hint at what eastern Boulder County was like before explosive growth. –Ann Cooper
Thanks to its preservation of habitat diversity, Caribou Ranch lends itself best to a casual stroll around the 4.5-mile roundtrip trail. Because both dogs and mountain bikes are prohibited in the open space park, the slower pace appeals to bird watchers as well. As for leaf-peeping, the first mile of trail leading from the parking lot to the perimeter trail around the meadow winds through aspen stands for an insiders’ look at the foliage. The Blue Bird Loop perimeter trail borders forests on the outside and meadow on the inside, treating hikers to fall color vistas framed by the Indian Peaks in the background. It has the effect of enclosing hikers in what feels like their own private valley. The path also has the welcome distraction of culturally diverse sites. Accessed from a short side trail, the Blue Bird Mine complex highlights the area’s silver ore mining, which attracted tourists via the Switzerland Trail of America. The park’s namesake, Caribou Ranch, sits in the meadow as a reminder of its diverse past—a prospector’s ranch, an Arabian horse-breeding operation and, until recently, a music producer’s ranch and recording studio. And another small side trail encourages hikers to slow down and dip their feet in the chilly North Boulder Creek. –Michelle Lang
Sound is the first thing I notice as I step on the trail leading to Saddle Rock. Rustling leaves cast intricate shadows, and a passing hummingbird emits a high-pitched eee-ing sound. Winds sigh through Gregory Canyon and after a moderate climb, a marker points to Saddle Rock. A golden butterfly flutters by a wooden footbridge beside an enormous boulder snuggled next to a tree. The trail climbs gently from here, but gets tougher when the first Flatiron and Green Mountain come into view. But that’s fine because the panorama expands abruptly into a sea of pines and ruddy mountaintops. Soon I reach a clump of rocks that require navigating. One is perfectly centered among four pines and reminds me of a shark fin. Nearby, moss-covered rocks resemble tombstones. After passing these markers, a sharp switchback leads even higher. Toward the top, a section of white rock jammed between dark rock reminds me of an Oreo cookie. Farther on, moss-covered rocks appear blue; I don’t know if it’s the light or just a different moss species. Continuing upward, I finally reach my spot. It’s not Saddle Rock—just two magnificent rock formations. The redder one on the right looks like it just bubbled out of an enormous lava lamp. A baby rock hugs its top, as if waiting for the perfect moment to roll down. I hope it’s not anytime soon, as I’m resting in its shade soaking up the many sights and sounds.
The St. Vrain Greenway winds along the St. Vrain River, passing historic sites, public art and multiple parks on its path through the middle of Longmont. The trail begins at Main Street in the Burlington Village shopping center parking lot. Take a minute to read the granite marker by the street commemorating the St. Vrain Valley’s first cabin, built near this spot in 1860. The trail heads west, passing over the river and under Pratt Parkway to emerge at a stone sundial. All mileages on the Greenway are measured from this sundial. Continuing west, the trail follows the river through a small industrial park. It was in this area in the late 1800s that the Longmont Ice and Cold Storage Co. once dammed the river for ice ponds that provided Longmont residents with ice for their iceboxes. A little farther along, the Greenway joins with Izaak Walton Park—beautifully redeveloped only a couple of years ago. After crossing Sunset Street, the trail winds through grasslands, crosses the river again, and comes to my favorite piece of public art on the Greenway—Listening Stones by Robert Tully. Be sure to sit in the curved bowl-like stone for the full effect. The trail continues along the river’s south edge, through Roger’s Grove Park, before going under Hover Street. After a lovely section along the river, the trail reaches the last park—Golden Ponds. These six ponds were formed by gravel mining, which still occurs west of the park. Watch for signs of beaver activity and the occasional heron. The Greenway currently ends at the western edge of Golden Ponds, but plans are underway to extend it both west and east.
One of my favorite Boulder County trail runs is the spectacular White Rocks Trail in east Boulder, which offers amazing vistas of unique white cliffs and the magnificent Front Range. The trail passes through White Rocks Nature Preserve consisting of rolling grasslands and a wetlands area. This ecosystem supports an abundance of wildlife including songbirds, owls, blue heron, shrikes, white-tailed deer, foxes, coyotes, raptors, fish and snakes. The trail through the nature preserve is private land, for which the city of Boulder holds a public easement. All runners and hikers are reminded to stay on the trail to protect the rare plant and wildlife habitat. The trail starts west of 95th Street on West Phillips Road just north of Valmont Road. A small parking lot is just north of West Phillips Road at the trailhead. The trail’s western end is the Gunbarrel Trailhead at the intersection of Boulderado and Cambridge in the Heatherwood neighborhood. From West Phillips Road through the wetlands to the water tank on top of the hill and back down to the Heatherwood gate is approximately 4.2 miles one-way. Dogs and bikes are only permitted on the trail’s most northern portion and not in the White Rocks Nature Preserve area. White Rocks Trail also connects on the south to Teller Farm Trail, which heads south to Arapahoe Road.
From a biker’s standpoint, the Eagle/Sage/Lefthand Trail north of Boulder near Boulder Valley Ranch is one of the nicest trail networks in Boulder County. This multiuse trail is easily accessible, can be ridden by people of varying bike-riding skills and offers beautiful views all around. You can always ride something new, too, as so many interconnecting trails are worth exploring. Whether you’re looking for fast-paced single-track, challenging technical climbs or just an easy ride, these trails have it all. Some days I want to get out and take a quick loop; other days I feel like pumping down the trail. No matter what my mood is on any particular day, I can always find a ride to fit it. One nice aspect of this network is beautiful views. Pastureland surrounds you on all sides, and small lakes and streams dot the trail. The Front Range and Flatirons stretch to the west and south; Haystack Mountain sits on the northern perimeter. One of my favorite things is riding along the farm ditch that borders Sage Trail. Here, mature cottonwoods provide plenty of shade as well as fun climbing opportunities.
When I hike, I like an easy to moderate trek that gets me away from the everyday hubbub and provides sightings of wildlife, wildflowers in full bloom and respite from the heat. The Anne U. White Trail in north Boulder’s Fourmile Canyon meets all my requirements and then some. It’s a moderate three-mile round-trip that follows Fourmile Canyon Creek between towering canyon walls that often give way to sunny meadowland. Even in a drought year, much of this trail is leafy, cool and moist. Wildlife in this quiet canyon is abundant due to the creek and dense stands of aspen, spruce, cottonwood and pine. Flowering understory provides nectar and seeds for birds, bees and butterflies. Sightings of a Western tanager and a shimmering ruby-throated hummingbird delighted this amateur birder one summer morning, as did numerous thrushes, sparrows and swallows. Sunning lizards and excitable black Abert’s squirrels can also be seen along this trail if you slow your pace and open your senses. Anne U. White can be difficult to negotiate because it crosses the creek numerous times as it winds along, but numerous stepping stones guide you across. Near the end, a small waterfall tumbles over medium-sized boulders that, in dry times, provide a shady spot to sit, have a sip of water and breathe in the surrounding calm. This riparian environment has its share of ferns and moss-covered rocks, but flowering cacti bloom alongside a profusion of wild roses, columbine and native daisies in summer.
Sponsored Links |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||
