A loop in Roxborough state park and the nearby USFS lands
I continued to enjoy the extended warm weather in Colorado and did a foothill hike in Roxborough state park.
A small park, but it does coincide with nearby USFS lands in the Pikes National Forest.
All together, my friends and I did a nice ~16 mile loop on a beautiful late fall day.
The same rock formations found in Lost Creek Wilderness, Garden of the Gods and of course the Red Rocks Amphitheater are found in this park.
Despite being so close the Denver metro area, it was a quiet park.
You could see the edge of the plains gradually meeting the foothills.
The last of the wildflowers were present…
And the divide is starting to gather a covering of snow…
As we ended the trip, the soft light of the late afternoon gave the red rocks a warm glow as we were headed back to the visitors center.
After the urban “Brew hike” of Saturday, it just the walk needed.
A frost advisory is in effect as I type this essay.
Winter is almost here.
But I have enjoyed the extended Fall.
Not sure I want it to end.
Definitely an under-used and under-appreciated park. It always surprises me how few people there are once you leave the inner loop. A good birding site in the spring as well. Too bad they’ve banned dogs from the trail, I’ll have to enjoy reports like yours from now on.