Castlewood Canyon State Park

This morning after breakfast Noelle, Sierra, Rosie and I headed east from our hotel to the interesting Castlewood Canyon State Park. We parked the car at the trailhead and hit the Lake Gulch Trail.

The trail started off as a winding hike through small oaks (and small acorns)

and scattered junipers and Ponderosa pines.

Soon, we caught our first big view: a wide grassy canyon.

Soon the trail started to descend into the canyon.

We crossed Cherry Creek on a bridge 

and then headed over to the remains of the failed Castlewood Dam.

We explored the dam for a little bit, climbing a trail to the top.

After our exploration we continued up the canyon along Cherry Creek.

Views opened up down to the stream below.

There was even a small waterfall.

The trail continued to follow the creek downstream.

Eventually, we crossed the creek 

and then started to climb out of the canyon.

Spectacular views opened up of the surrounding area.

Parts of the trail here passed very close to the rim of the canyon.

Then, the trail descended back down to the dam.

From the dam we returned to the large bridge we had crossed earlier in the hike, but instead of crossing over it, we followed the creek upstream for a bit before returning to the car.

Back at the car, we drove into town for lunch at an Indian restaurant with a lunch buffet.

Pike National Forest: Devil's Head Lookout

It's Sierra's fall break and we opted to head down into Colorado for a few days of exploring in the Castle Rock area between Denver and Colorado Springs. We made the drive south this morning and, after eating a picnic lunch at an empty roadside campsite, arrived at the trailhead for our first hike at Pike National Forest's Devil's Head Lookout. 

Fall colors seem to be a little past peak at this higher elevation, but a few aspen trees still held their colorful, golden leaves.

Most of the leaves, however, littered the ground.

As we ascended the trail, intermittent views opened up out across the Rampart Range.

We ascended higher and higher.

Soon enough we found ourselves at the base of the staircase that leads up to the fire lookout. 

There is a cabin here for the lookout to stay in. 

This is one of the few remaining fire towers that is still staffed during the fire season. Here we took turns making the climb. Noelle and Sierra went first 

while I stayed down below with Rosie. Rosie pretty much whined the whole time the girls had left us behind.

After about 15 minutes Noelle and Sierra descended back down the stairs.

Now it was my turn to make my way to the summit. As I climbed, I was struck by just how much the scenery here resembles that of the Black Hills. The hike reminds me a lot of the hike up Black Elk Peak.

I waited my turn to walk the catwalk that surrounds the lookout and even found the summit benchmark.

Then, I headed back down to the girls for our return hike back to the car.

We headed into Castle Rock, checked into our hotel, and then headed out for dinner at Great Divide.