Spiral Point Hike Trailhead: Lot 8 Parking Lot (Snowmass Mountain) Activities: Hiking, Biking Closest Towns: Snowmass & Aspen, Colorado Driving Directions to Trailhead: From Highway 82 (the highway that runs between Glenwood Springs and Aspen), head west on Brush Creek Road (the main road into Snowmass). Follow Brush Creek Toad for 2.7 miles, then take the first exit at the roundabout. Continue another 2.8 miles up Brush Creek Road beyond the roundabout. Turn right onto Carriage Way Road and go 0.1 miles. The Lot 8 Parking Lot will be on your right. The trail starts out of the north end of the parking lot. Hiking Distance: ~ 4.5 miles (roundtrip) Description: For the Spiral Point hike, head out on the Nature Trail, a wonderful and rolling trail, from the Lot 8 parking lot. Go 0.4 miles on the Nature Trail. Take a right and travel 0.33 miles on the South Rim Connector Trail. You’ll pass by an old dilapidated cabin along the way. It’s when you hit the Rim Trail South Trail that things get steep! Go another 1.3 miles up on the Rim Trail South Trail. Take a left at the top of the hill and go about another 0.2 […]
Doc Holliday Trail Trailhead: 12th Street and Bennett Avenue (downtown Glenwood Springs) Activities: Hiking Closest Towns: Glenwood Springs, Colorado Driving Directions to Trailhead: Head south (towards Aspen) from the Grand Avenue Bridge at the Colorado River. Take a left on 11th Go three blocks until you reach Bennett Avenue. Take a right on Bennett to 12th Street, and park in the neighborhood along the street. You’ll see obvious signs and the well-worn path from there. Hiking Distance: ~ 1 mile (roundtrip) Description: Although relatively short, the Doc Holliday Trail through the Linwood Cemetery is a perfect way to spend an hour or two. The best part is that the cemetery is right on the edge of town and within walking distance from most hotels, including the Hotel Denver where we stayed. The trail, while short, is all uphill to the cemetery on a dirt path. The trailhead on 12th and Bennett is well signed. Enter the small path and immediately begin climbing through scrub oak. About .1 mile into the hike, amazing views of Glenwood Springs and the Roaring Fork Valley begin to open up. There are numerous benches and resting points if you need to catch your breath or enjoy the scenery. […]
Trailhead: Visitor Center (Park Headquarters) Activities: Hiking, Camping Closest City / Town: Fruita, Colorado (Grand Junction) Driving Directions: Take Highway I-70 to Exit 19 (Fruita exit) and go south on Highway 340 to the west entrance, which is approximately three miles from Fruita. The Visitor Center is four miles up from the west entrance. Hiking Distances: 1.0 mile (roundtrip) Description: Colorado National Monument’s Canyon Rim Trail is a superb way to enjoy some of Colorado’s canyon country. The trail is perfect for young children and for those looking to take unforgettable, awe-inspiring photographs. From the Visitor Center, the trail takes off to the east. Follow the trail along the canyon rim for approximately .5 miles. From the end of the trail you have two options: 1) head back to the Visitor Center or 2) continue to the north, and hike the Window Rock Trail. We highly recommend pursuing the second option! Worth Noting: This trail, although relatively short, offers some of the best views in Colorado National Monument. Sentinel Spire, Pipe Organ, Independence Monument, and the Kissing Couple can all be viewed from the Canyon Rim Trail. Colorado National Monument rests on the northern edge of the Uncompahgre Uplift; it […]
1750 Rimrock Dr Fruita, CO 81521
***Please note that The Colorado Hiker is no longer being updated. For current information on this trail and other Colorado tips, please visit Nomad Colorado. You can find specific information on this trail by visiting the McDonald Creek Trail page on Nomad Colorado.*** Trailhead: McDonald Creek Trailhead Activities: Hiking, Camping Closest City / Town: Fruita, Colorado Driving Directions: Head out west from Grand Junction on I-70 for about 30 miles to the Rabbit Valley exit (Exit #2). Take a left (south) at the stop sign; cross over the freeway and a cattle guard. Stay on the main road going straight (southwest) for about 2.5 miles. The turn into the canyon is marked by Castle Rocks. When you reach this rock, you’ll turn left (east) onto another two-track road which follows the stream bed for about 0.3 miles to a parking area. NOTE: No motorized vehicles or bikes are permitted beyond this point!!! CAUTION: A high-clearance vehicle is recommended to get to the trailhead!!! Hiking Distance: 3.0 miles (roundtrip) Description: The McDonald Creek Trail is a fun and relatively gentle hike in Colorado (McInnis) Canyons National Conservation Area. Because there really is no trail, hikers simply need to follow the winding path of the usually dry creek bed. Tamarisk […]
Trailhead: South Turkey Creek Road & Highway 285 Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Sledding, Snowshoeing Closest City / Town(s): Aspen Park & Conifer, Colorado Driving Directions: From Denver, head west into the mountains on Highway 285 for approximately 16 miles. Jump off on the exit that is located 0.5 miles before reaching Aspen Park (the exit is on the right-hand side of the highway). Go beneath the overpass and park in the parking lot immediately in front of you (The lot is actually off of the beginning of South Turkey Creek Road). Hiking Distance: There are a number of different loops that you can hike throughout the park. The route described on this page is approximately 5.0 miles roundtrip. Description: Meyer Ranch Park is one of Jefferson County Open Space’s crown jewels. Hiking in the area offers great wildlife viewing potential and a sense of solitude. There is a nice picnic area located 0.5 miles away from the main parking area. Just follow the Owl’s Perch Trail up to the picnic facilities. Also, the area provides wonderful sledding possibilities during the winter months, all within eyesight of the parking area. As for the best hiking opportunity in the park, take the Owl’s […]
***Please note that The Colorado Hiker is no longer being updated. For current information on this trail and other Colorado tips, please visit Nomad Colorado. You can find specific information on this trail by visiting the Mount Falcon page on Nomad Colorado.*** Trailhead: West Parking Lot (Note: Mount Falcon can also be accessed on the east side via Highway 8) Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Snowshoeing, Skiing Closest City / Town: Morrison, Colorado Driving Directions: Head west out of Denver on Highway 285; Take the Indian Hills turn-off from U.S. Highway 285, and follow Parmalee Gulch Road for 5 miles to Picutis Road; Hang a right on Picutis Road and follow the signs to the west parking area. Hiking Distance: 4.6 Miles (roundtrip) Description: There are a ton of hiking options at Jefferson County’s Mount Falcon Park. We have hiked every inch of every trail in the park; the hike described here is our favorite because it provides the greatest amount of solitude, in addition to exhibiting the best large-landscape views! From the west parking lot, follow the Castle Trail for .8 miles (don’t forget to visit the John Brisben Walker Castle along the way, which is located about .6 miles into the hike). Next, […]
***Please note that The Colorado Hiker is no longer being updated. For current information on this trail and other Colorado tips, please visit Nomad Colorado. You can find specific information on this trail by visiting the South Valley Park page on Nomad Colorado.*** Trailhead: South Parking Lot Trailhead Activities: Hiking Closest City / Town: Denver, CO Driving Directions: From Denver, travel south on C-470. Take the Ken Caryl Avenue exit and head west. Turn left onto South Valley Road. Avoid the South Valley Park north parking lot. Take a left on Deer Creek Canyon Road. The south trailhead is located on the left. Note: There is a portable restroom facility at this trailhead. For picnicking and better restroom facilities go to the north trailhead (see the Swallow Loop trail description). Hiking Distance: 4.6 miles (roundtrip) Description: South Valley Park is a great, easy way to escape the hectic hours and toils of urban life. Moreover, you don’t have to travel a great distance to get there (at least for Denverites). However, like many other Jefferson County Open Space parks that line the Front Range along the Metro Denver corridor, South Valley Park can be scorching hot in the summer. We recommend finding time during […]
South Valley Park Trailhead: North Parking Lot Trailhead Activities: Hiking Closest City / Town: Denver, CO Driving Directions: From Denver, travel south on C-470. Take the Ken Caryl Avenue exit and head west. Turn left onto South Valley Road. Go over the hill and look for the South Valley Park north parking lot on the left. Note: there is a well kept restroom facility, nice picnicking areas, and benches at the north trailhead. Hiking Distance: 2.0 miles (roundtrip) Description: South Valley Park is a great, easy way to escape the hectic hours and toils of urban life. Moreover, you don’t have to travel a great distance to get there (at least for Denverites). However, like many other Jefferson County Open Space parks that line the Front Range along the Metro Denver corridor, South Valley Park can be scorching hot in the summer. We recommend finding time during the fall, winter, or spring to visit the area. The Swallow Loop is a relatively easy hike that follows the Swallow Trail and Coyote Song Trail. From the parking area, look for signs on the south end of the parking lot that point to the Swallow Trail. Head south on the Swallow Trail for 0.9 […]
Trailhead: Heritage Square Parking Lot Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking Closest City / Town: Golden, Colorado (Denver) Driving Directions: Take I-70 to the Morrison Exit (Exit 259); Get off on the Morrison Exit, and then hang a right (north); East access is on the northeast corner of the Heritage Square parking lot; The trailhead is well signed. Hiking Distance: 5.6 Miles (roundtrip) Description: The Enchanted Forest Loop in Jefferson County’s Apex Park is probably the least used route in the open space – especially during the winter months. This route closely parallels the old Apex and Gregory Wagon Road. The route is relatively gentle. From the Heritage Square Trailhead, hike 2.5 miles up the Apex Trail. This trail is well delineated and should not be difficult to follow. Once you reach the top (west end) of Apex Park, hang a left (heading south) on the Enchanted Mesa Trail. Follow the Enchanted Mesa Trail for 1.3 miles; you’ll eventually run back into the Apex Trail. Hang a right (east) on the Apex Trail, following it back down to the parking lot. Worth Noting: Apex Park is full to the brim with historical value. The Apex and Gregory Wagon Road was carved through Apex Gulch […]
Trailhead: Grizzly Gulch Trailhead (Near St. Elmo) Activities: Hiking, Camping, Skiing, Snowshoeing Closest City / Town: St. Elmo, Colorado Driving Directions: From Nathrop travel west on County Road 162 for about 16 miles to the Grizzly Gulch parking area. The gravel parking lot is located on the left side of the road right before the old renovated mining town of St. Elmo. This is the best area to park if you are going to make the hike up to Grizzly Lake. Although the road is vehicle accessible, it is extremely difficult to drive. There is a major vehicle obstacle located approximately .5 miles up the road. Hiking Distance: 5.6 Miles (roundtrip) Description: This is one of those hikes where hikers simply have to ignore vehicles all the way up and down the trail. Once you park at the Grizzly Gulch parking area, you will reach a junction with County Road (CR) 295. Take a left onto this road and continue on it for .2 miles. In .2 miles you will hit Forest Road (FR) 296. FR 296 will take you all of the way up to Grizzly Lake. The views of Grizzly Lake, the mining cabins leading up to the Lake, […]
Trailhead: Geneva Creek Activities: Hiking, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Camping Closest City / Town: Grant, Colorado Driving Directions: From Denver, drive southwest on US 285 approximately 40 miles to Grant. Turn right (north) onto Park County 62 (towards Guanella Pass), and drive 5.5 miles to the trailhead. The trailhead is on the west (left) side of the road and is located just south of Burning Bear Campground. Note: there is a large parking area at the trailhead. Hiking Distance: 5.5 miles (one way); 11.0 miles (roundtrip) Description: The first mile of the Burning Bear Trail is relatively flat. You then leave the meadow area and begin climbing through a stand of lodgepole pine. Approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead you will come to remnants of an old log cabin on the left (see “Rustic Cabin” photo on the right). The trail then becomes steep and switchbacks to the ridge summit at 3.7 miles. A six-foot tree stump that has 2 metal diamond-shaped markers (cross country ski markers) designates the high point of the trail. From this saddle, the trail begins to descend in a southwesterly direction. Fifteen minutes down the ridge you will cross Lamping Creek as it drains west. From this point, […]
Trailhead: Just about anywhere (there really are no formal trailheads used to jump onto the Great Sand Dunes, although most people begin their hike near Medano Creek) Activities: Hiking, Camping (paid campground or backpacking) Closest City / Town: Blanca, Colorado Driving Directions: From Denver, Colorado Springs, or Pueblo, the fastest route is to start by heading south on I-25 to Walsenburg. Head west on US 160. Finally, swing north on state highway 150. Colorado 150 will take you directly to the Great Sand Dunes. Hiking Distance: As short or as long as you desire. The Great Sand Dunes — encompassing 30 square miles — offer excellent free-lance hiking. Description: We can’t provide you with too much information because there is no trail on the dunes. What we can say is that visiting the Great Sand Dunes is a life experience that you will likely never forget. Try to visit the Great Sand Dunes during the late spring or early summer when Medano Creek is flowing full-force. Bathing in the creek is a great way to beat the heat. It’s also a perfect way to keep your kids happy and fully entertained. The “High Dune” is neither the highest in elevation nor […]