3 East Coast visitors here for a few days – hooray! Wanted to show off my state – but limiting that tour to parts of Colorado not currently on fire 🙁 Fires to the north, a new fire to the south (near Colorado Springs) – Go WEST young man!
Dropped Ro off at Cottonwood Kennels for 2 days. He’ll play for a solid 48 hours, then crash at home for the next 24 after being out day & night with the boys. That’s his history after Ashton’s graduation in early May. Expect the same this go-around.
South to Denver, then 2 ½ hours west on I-70 to Glenwood Springs. Probably the most amazing stretch of interstate highway in America – traversing through staggering Glenwood Canyon. Refueled in Georgetown, then full-steam ahead to Hanging Lake – a ‘no dogs allowed’ hike. Since Ro was at Cottonwood, decided to fit in many ‘no dogs allowed’ points into our all-Colorado itinerary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNqcNH7ez4k&feature=related (I-70 thru Glenwood Canyon)
4 of us started the trail at Hanging Lake – one little Indian suffered altitude sickness, then there were 3 (poor Sheila).
1.2 mile vertical climb to the top – SPECTACULAR view! Crystal clear water, emerald green hue, and a mountain waterfall. Sure that mountain spring was cold but I needed to be in the water – that’s the W-O-W moment! Shot a video short of the waterfall. SUCCESS!
Hanging Lake (waterfall video)
Did the return hike in just over 30 minutes, regrouped and eased to our evening vacation activity – Glenwood (mineral) Hot Springs. (Naturally) geo-thermally heated, then cooled down to 104-degrees so we guests are not boiled alive 🙂
Day One ended with smiles – good sign for tomorrow!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Lake
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- ‘difficult’ is only a state of mind
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- approaching tunnel
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- No Rowan this hike (just seems wrong, huh?)
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- young Dan leads the way
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- 1.2 mile vertical climb
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- SUCCESS!
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- clear & emerald green
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- mountain waterfall
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- Hanging Lake (from behind the Falls)
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- Spouting Rock
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- behind the Falls
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- W-O-W moment!
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- hike followed by mineral hot springs (hmmm..smell of sulphur – LOL)
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- geo-thermally heated, then cooled to 104-degrees for guests
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- still all smiles after Day One
“All of your photos look the same – snow and rocks.” Er…I happen to like snow & rocks (& lodgepole pines) 🙂
That said, decided to mix things up this weekend and hiked SOUTH of Denver. Ro’s first ‘no snow’ hike.
Chose Castlewood Canyon in Franktown because of its waterfall – what a way to welcome Spring! Ro led this week’s hike challenge – literally down the river to the Falls. Sure it’s Spring but whew – April river water is still mighty COLD. Of course after your feet go numb, it’s all super fun. Not sure if Ro likes snow or water more – either way, good day to be a dog.
After viewing the Falls, we bouldered up the canyon wall. Hiked the rim, then down to the park’s collapsed Dam.
Waterfalls, rock climbing and some site-seeing (1933 collapsed dam) – EXCELLENT ‘no snow’ day!
https://www.cherrycreekbasin.org/pdf/castlewood%20dam.pdf
https://www.parks.state.co.us/parks/castlewoodcanyon/Pages/CastlewoodCanyonHome.aspx
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- Franktown, SE Colorado – no snow here
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- after your feet go numb, it’s super fun
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- a downed tree slowed water velocity
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- top of the Falls
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- You wanna do WHAT?
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- I wanna boulder up the canyon wall. (Honestly only lifted Ro 2 times; he’s a good climber.)
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- waterfalls, rock climbing – EXCELLENT day!
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- natural water basin
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- view from the top
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- Canyon Rim walk
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- we’re not in Boulder County
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- Dam collapsed in 1933
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- “The Night the Dam Gave Way”
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- Good day to be a dog
Needed a nudge to get Ro & I out of Boulder County before we ran out of unique hikes (yeah, yeah – that’ll never happen in Colorado :)). East Coast (flatlander) friend here for a visit – ROAD TRIP!
Travelled north to Fort Collins and after some minor difficulties locating the trailhead, were on track to see Horsetooth Falls. Waterfalls in winter? Gotta do this, check 🙂 [Lesson learned: using GPS coordinates to map trailheads going forward.]
Layering is a hiking must in Colorado because of our 300+ days of annual sunshine. Snow underfoot but warm sun and high altitude = necessary clothes shedding. Sun-exposed trail was clear of snow; shaded side of mountain was more than a foot deep [of snow]. LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!
Can’t say Horsetooth Falls was a waterfall gusher but the Falls created a beautiful February icescape. ALSO tacked on a 5th consecutive week to Ro’s obligatory ice-walk pics 🙂
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University so have heard hikes at Horsetooth can be crowded. Happy to report, February is the ideal time to go! Minimal hiker traffic, plenty of snow – AND a waterfall!
protrails.com – Horsetooth Falls
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- Horsetooth trailhead
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- fresh snow…TGI the weekend!
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- Sunshine & Snow (jacket optional) – Reason #105: why we call this HOME!
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- How high are we going?
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- bottom of the Falls (thanks to photographer Stephen)
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- weekly obligatory pic of Ro walking on ice
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- Waterfalls in winter ROCK! AMAZING day!
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- Don’t leave me down here!
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- Pic from behind the Falls
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- Sno Ro
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- 35F – time to shed the jacket
