Garden of the Gods: Palmer, Buckskin-Charley, Niobrara, and Bretag Trail Loop

After breakfast this morning, we packed up the car and made the short drive to Colorado Springs' Garden of the Gods Park. We found a parking spot in the mostly empty lot (at least when we arrived) 

and hit the trail for a loop hike on several trails that encircle the outside of the most scenic parts of the iconic park. We would be completing the hike in a counter-clockwise direction.

There are immediately pretty awesome views of the red rock formations that make the park famous. I just couldn't stop taking photos of the great scenery.

We followed the Palmer Trail west and then south for a bit, passing the rock formations in the park, but also enjoying views of Pikes Peak and the other mountains outside the park.

We crossed the park road and hiked portions of the Scotsman and Buckskin Charlie trails, heading southeast.

We passed over a dam overlooking a neighborhood with spectacular views across to Pikes Peak.

Then, the Ute Trail followed a ridge heading north. Again, there were awesome views of the rock formations off to the west.

The trail passed an interesting looking area called Rock Ledge Ranch (perhaps a place to explore during a future visit to Colorado Springs) and then descended to a flat area and paralleled the road back to the parking area. 

Once back to the car, we opted to check out a the Perkins Central Garden area. However, it was too crowded to be enjoyable and so we just did a quick walk through. Still, it was a mostly enjoyable and easy hike of about 5 miles if include the portion of the Central Garden that we hiked. 

Garden of Lights at the Gardens on Spring Creek

 After our short hike earlier in the day, we went into Old Town to kill some time and walk around. Then, we headed over to the Gardens on Spring Creek to check out the Garden of Lights. The gardens are tastefully decorated with Christmas lights, making for a pleasant stroll on a warm December evening. Here's what we saw:

After exploring the beautiful lights for about an hour, we headed south to Manitou Springs where we are spending the night in preparation for more adventures tomorrow. 

Kingfisher Point Natural Area

Today was the first day of our Winter Break Road Trip down to Santa Fe. We packed up the car this morning and headed down to Fort Collins for the first part of the drive. Our first stop was for lunch at the relatively new Breckenridge Brewery. We had eaten here before, but when it was Sweetwater Brewing. We had a nice lunch and then headed over to Kingfisher Point to stretch our legs. 

We parked at the southernmost of the two trailhead parking lots off of Timberline Road. Then, we hit the trail, 

a wide gravel path that immediately passes between two sandpit ponds: Canvasback Pond on the south side of the trail and Gadwall Pond on the north side. Noelle took a few minutes to look for birds on the waters of the two ponds.

From the ponds the trail curves north and heads towards the Nix Farm, now the headquarters for Fort Collins Natural Areas.

It's an impressive cluster of old buildings that has been repurposed. The trail through the headquarters area is a little confusing, but continues north where it intersects with the paved Poudre River Trail. As we made our way east on the Poudre River Trail we passed the very interesting Beet Effluent Flume.

 It's a suspension bridge that once carried waste from the processing of sugar beets from the factory across the Cache la Poudre River to fields on the other side where the waste material was dumped. 

From the interesting bridge we continued along the Poudre River Trail, passing beneath Timberline Road and into the Cattail Chorus Natural Area. 

We followed a short children's interpretive trail spur and then turned around to head back to the car. We took a trail that paralleled Timberline Road back to the trailhead parking area. We ended up making a loop of just over two miles for our short hike. 

Roosevelt National Forest: Mount Olympus

I woke up early this morning and made the drive down to Loveland, Colorado. My plan for the day was two-fold: 1) take some photos of the elk that congregate on the Mariana Butte Golf Course, and (2) hike up Mount Olympus, outside of Estes Park.

I stopped off at the Oxbow Natural Area, adjacent to the golf course to see if I could find some elk. I was not successful in finding elk, though I did see a red-tailed hawk perched in a tree to photograph.

After about 20 minutes of looking for elk, it was time to move on. I made the drive west on US-34 towards Estes Park. Just before reaching town, at the boundary of Roosevelt National Forest is a pullout on the side of the highway. It is marked with a sign stating that the area is closed during parts of the year to protect cliff-nesting birds.

I parked, donned my microspikes, 

and then hit the trail. Almost immediately I found some pretty nice views west into the mountains. 

The nice views just kept coming and though it was a steep ascent, soon enough I found myself at the summit of Mount Olympus. I grabbed my camera to take some photos and realized that I had lost the wrist strap somewhere along the way. I would have to look for it on the way down.

Anyway, I took lots of photos from the summit area. I took wide views of the surrounding mountains.

I switched over to my telephoto lens and took a few photos of individual mountains.

I also took a self-portrait from the summit.

It was incredibly nice weather for December. It was warm with no wind! After about 45 minutes, it was time to make my way down. Luckily, I found my wrist strap on the trail towards the bottom.

Back at the car, I headed back to Loveland for lunch and then a beer at Verboten.

I returned to Oxbow Bend and Marianna Butte, but no luck finding the elk to photograph.

The Grunwald's 2024 Christmas Tree Adventure

This morning Noelle, Sierra, Mom T and I made the drive north through Alliance to cut down the 2024 Grunwald Christmas tree. We got our permit online at Recreation.gov and were prepared with our saw and tie downs for this year's adventure. We stopped off at the Chadron City Ponds for a short walk 

before heading to our spot east of the Pine Ridge Job Corps complex. 

We parked the car in a grassy area off to the side of the road in a small ravine 

and headed up the ridge to have a look around. After about 20 minutes we found her: our latest Christmas tree.

I cut it down and we started to make our way back to the car. Mom was unable to make it up the ridge with us, so we stopped once we met up with her for a family photo.

We got the tree up on the roof of the car,

then headed back to Alliance for lunch at Ken and Dale's and beers at Brewery 719. With full bellies we made the drive home and set up our tree. She's a real beaut!

Bobcat Ridge Natural Area: Ginny and On The Rocks Trails

This morning I made the drive down to Fort Collins. I arrived at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area just as the nearly full moon was beginning to set behind the mountains.

I hit the trail and immediately started to ascend into the foothills. There were wonderful views in all directions.

As I ascended, I passed a few small deciduous trees still clinging to the last of their leaves.

The trail weaved into and out of the natural area and Roosevelt National Forest.

It also passed through an area that burned in last summer's Alexander Mountain Fire. There was charred wood and rocks stained with red fire retardant. 

Views opened up to Palisade Mountain and the higher peaks to the west. Soon enough I made it to the junction with the On the Rocks Trail. It's designed as a very difficult mountain biking trail, marked with black diamonds.

Like the trail's name would suggest, its route was extremely rocky.

I made it up into Mahoney Park and stopped to rest and enjoy the view for a bit.

Then it was a long descent on the Ginny Trail back to the trailhead.