dogs | Fun Colorado Hikes

Mitchell Creek Trail and Chuck’s Trail at Gateway Mesa

Trailhead at Gateway Mesa
Gateway Mesa Open Space Park, near Castle Rock, offers an easy hike called Chuck’s Trail. The area offers a mesa-top trail with views of the the black forest area, Parker, Cherry Creek, Mitchell Gulch and the mountains from Pikes Peak all the way to Mt Elbert.

rock formations along Gateway Mesa trail
Chuck's Trail on Gateway Mesa

There is little shade on this trail so the best time to hike it is early in the day before it gets too hot. The openness of the trail allows you to see views of the cliffs near Castlewood Canyon.

meadow view on Chuck's trail

A good route from the parking area is to go left on Chuck’s Trail. The terrain is flat with the trail crossing over packed dirt and large, flat rock. It leads out to a bluff where you have nice views of Franktown and Parker to the east. The trail has plenty of trail markers (stacked rocks) to guide you over the rocky areas. Pay attention so you don’t lose the trail.
Chuck's Trail overlooking Parker east
When you get to the trail junction (marked with a large map), go right to head back to the parking lot to complete the Chuck’s Trail loop (1.8 miles).

Another option is to go straight on Mitchell Creek Canyon Trail for a short way until you reach the bluffs overlooking the lush gulch where the creek keeps the trees a brilliant green. You will have beautiful views of the cliffs, creek and pond below, and the hawks flying in this beautiful gully. If you follow Mitchell Creek Canyon trail to the end (.75 miles), it dead-ends at the head of the gulch. Turn around and go back the way you came until you reach the trail junction again. Go left back to the parking lot to complete a 3.3 mile hike. Below are Mitchell Creek Canyon Trail views:
Mitchell Creek Trail straight ahead Trail markers
Mitchell Gulch Trail overlook east
trail crosses into private property on Mitchell Creek trail
overlook Mitchell Creek Canyon
on top of Mitchell Creek trail
Trail junction of Chuck's and Mitchell Creek Trails Chuck's Trail return

Chief Mountain Trail on Squaw Pass Road

Dawson Butte Ranch Trail

Located just five miles south of Castle Rock, Dawson Butte Ranch Park offers a five mile loop trail that is easy-moderate over rolling terrain and through beautiful trees and meadows.

The trail also offers views of Pikes Peak, Dawson Butte, Devil’s Head, and the front range mountains as it meanders through the woods and scrub oak below the butte.

The trail is well traveled and maintained with several benches along the trail where you can sit and rest awhile.

The elevation change over the course of the trail is about 200ft so it’s somewhat hilly but no strenuous or steep ascents.

The majority of this loop trail is nicely shaded by the huge pine trees. The trail does not loop around or up on top of Dawson Butte which is private property.

This hike is just perfect for those who want to hike but don’t want to make the one hour drive to the mountains. A very nice park trail for the whole family in the hills of Douglas County.

Repeated Black Bear Sightings at trailhead - Oct. 2011

Mt. Sherman

I hiked this in 2005 and only just writing it up now, but I promise you I am not making anything up that I don’t remember!

There are a couple places to park when getting ready to climb Mt. Sherman. The first one is across the road from an old abandoned and broken down mining building. This is the one to start from if you want to hike the full 3000 vertical feet. If you don’t have that requirement to meet, then you can drive as far as the road goes and come to the parking area just in front of the metal gate at the trailhead.

Shortly after passing the gate you will begin to see some old mining equipment. There is a good bit of it along the trail at least near the beginning, and it’s interesting to see.

Make sure to follow the piles of rocks that indicate the trail but you can easily just follow the line of people up, depending on what day you are hiking. This is a popular hike!

There was snow in a few places when I was up there in early July. If you hike in late July or August it’s possible there will be none. Like every 14er, it’s a strenuous climb but this one does not require any climbing skills, just a good set of hiking boots will do the trick.

Maxwell Falls Cliff Loop Trail

From the parking lot (upper Maxwell Falls trailhead) start down the trail toward the falls. The trail will fork two times; take the left trail both times and you will be moving up a slight incline.

This loop trail (called The Cliff Loop) goes through pine, aspen forest, and up-over-and-around huge rocky cliffs and then eventually down along the Maxwell Falls.

The falls are really a series of cascades in a beautiful lush, green forest. There is plenty of shade all along the trail. It is well-traveled and maintained. There are many hikers and dogs along the way.

Be careful when you near the end of the loop (above the falls) it is a long way down. (You will see people lounging on the cliffs above the falls). This is a great place to spend a lazy day and/or make it an early evening hike. Weekdays and evenings at Maxwell Falls are not so busy. No restrooms available at the trailhead.

Picnic Spot Recommendations: Pack a picnic and eat on one of the high points of the trail where you can see some views of the surrounding mountains in shades of blue and green trees.

Glendale Farm Open Space Trail

This is one great hike just outside of Denver! It offers a 1.6 mile loop trail that crosses rolling hills covered in tall wavy grass, scrub oak, grazing cows, and rock croppings.

You will amble along the trail just enjoying the scenery around you. Though the interstate is not far off in the distance, once you hit the trail the sound of the traffic becomes a light din in the distance.

Your views are panoramic and include the mountains from Pikes Peak all the way up to Longs Peak and Rocky Mountain National Park and the rolling grasslands towards Parker.

A hint of past endeavors is evident at the trailhead. There are several apples trees that still drop fruit every autumn. The history of this area is very interesting.

“Although the farm buildings no longer stand, remnants of a barnyard and orchard remind us of the dedicated spirit of the early pioneers who came to farm this challenging land. Austrian immigrant Joseph Kroll settled here in 1885 after working the coal mines in Leadville. To develop his ranch he would return each winter to the mines, leaving his wife, Maria, and his children on the ranch. Mrs. Kroll endured this lonely hardship each season, though she was terribly afraid of the bobcats and prairie rattlesnakes living in the area. In 1918 the Krolls sold the ranch and moved to Castle Rock. Later, son Jake Kroll opened ‘Krolls Grocery’ across from the old courthouse” (Division of Open Space and Natural Resources).

This trail is well traveled and is accessible year-round. You can hike it almost any time of year depending on the snowfall. One caution: recently melted snow causes a lot of mud on the trail.

Picnic Recommendations:
Pack a lunch and blanket to sit on top of one of the rolling hills to eat.
Port-o-potty available at parking lot.

Columbine Lake Trail TR 11.1

Falls Columbine lake trail

In the Arapaho National Forest you will surely enjoy this scenic hike beginning from the Junco Lake Parking Lot and Trailhead.

The Columbine Lake Trail takes you through a beautiful area of the Indian Peaks Wilderness through varying terrain. The trail is well-maintained and lightly-traveled and takes you on a gradual uphill climb to the lake. Some areas are flat and easy while other parts of the trail require you to climb over hills and rocks. At 1.8 miles on the Caribou Pass Trail, take the right fork towards Columbine Lake.

Creeks by meadow

There is beautiful scenery from beginning to end. You will begin in pine forest, then move into open marshy meadow with brilliant wildflowers, past waterfalls and on to Columbine Lake at the end of the trail. At the top you will be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the water, the water falls, and the Rocky Mountains that form the continental divide around you. At the foot of Mt. Neva, the lake is clear, shallow and contains trout. Tent camping is allowed in the area with a permit. Stay a while and enjoy the peace and quiet of the area.

creek beside meadow Columbine Lake

Restrooms available along the road before you arrive at the trailhead.

Picnic spot recommendations:
Pack yourself a picnic to enjoy at Columbine Lake.

Sisters Trail at Alderfer Three Sisters Park

Alderfer Three Sisters Open Space Park offers a variety of trails to chose from. The Sisters Trail is good choice for a variety of terrain and views.

This hike leads through meadow and proceeds through pine forest. It will take you over some hills, through large rocks and over to the massive rock outcroppings known as the Three Sisters and The Brother. From this section of trail there are views of Evergreen Lake to the east and Mt. Evans to the west.

Starting at the west parking lot, go right on Bluebird Meadow Trail to Silver Fox (go left), then merge right onto Ponderosa Trail and then left on to Sisters Trail which will lead up and around the sisters rocks. Sisters Trail loops back to this junction and you will follow Ponderosa, Silver Fox and Bluebird Meadow trails back to the parking lot. Grab a map at the trailhead.

The trail is heavily used, and well-maintained. The surroundings are beautiful with views east and west, pine trees, aspen trees, wildflowers, and varying terrain. This is a busy park so hike early in the morning or on a weekday – parking spaces are limited in the lot. Restrooms available at parking lot.
A more challenging hike at Alderfer Three Sister Open Space is Evergreen Mountain Trail.

Picnic recommendation:
At the base of “three sisters” there are places along the trail to stop and eat. Another option is to picnic near the big, brown barn on the edge of the meadow (close to the parking lot). There are some picnic tables available.

Cherry Creek Trail and Creek Bottom Trail at Castlewood Canyon

Castlewood Canyon State Park hosts a number of fun and scenic trails. Begin at the Westside parking lot and trailhead.

Start your hike on the Cherry Creek Trail north to the Lucas Homestead site. From there, take the Homestead trail until you meet up with the Creek Bottom Trail where you will go right (you may want to stop and take a look at the water while you are at this intersection- a great place for throwing stones into the water). After that section of the Creek Bottom Trail, you will go right onto the Cherry Creek Trail again back to the parking lot. Grab a map at the trailhead.

The trail offers hiking through scrub oak, small hills, and eventually down into the canyon itself. The canyon walls are covered in trees and lush vegetation, and the bottom of the canyon is covered in huge boulders. It is well maintained and has areas of gradual incline, creek crossing and and shade.

Picnic Recommendations:
We enjoyed packing a lunch and eating on the side of the trail once we found a large rock to call our table. There are many such areas along the trail – down near the water is open and there is a lot to see. Or, you may choose to have your picnic at one of the many picnic tables provided at the trailhead.

Restrooms available at trailhead.

Note:You may also enjoy: Inner Canyon Trail

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