Roosevelt National Forest: Kreutzer Nature Trail

 Yesterday, after Sierra's swimming lessons, the Grunwalds drove their pre-packed car southwest through Wyoming and into the Poudre Canyon area of Roosevelt National Forest for our first family camping trip of 2021. We found a decent spot at the Mountain Park Campground with access to the Cache la Poudre River. We spent quite a bit of time relaxing on the banks.

We also spent quite a bit of time relaxing in our site, and even had a campfire and made some s'mores.

The sounds of the river, and of the resident cicadas, were hyponotic.

After a good night's sleep (Rosie was actually pretty good in the tent.) we awoke, ate breakfast and hit the trail right from our campsite.

Immediately, it was a pretty steep climb.

While we had originally intended to hike up to the summit of Mount McConnel, Sierra wasn't feeling well 

and so we opted for the shorter hike on the Kreutzer Nature Trail.

We stopped at a nice overlook of the river canyon to enjoy the view and take a break.

However, due to the fact that the trail traversed through an old burn scar, the views were just as good from lots of sections of the trail.

As usual this time of the year, there were lots of wildflowers in bloom.

We left the Cache la Poudre Wilderness,

and descended back to the campground. We packed up camp and then headed into Fort Collins for lunch and a beer at New Belgium.

Roosevelt National Forest: Emmaline Lake Trail

I awoke this morning, packed up camp, and then made the long drive up Pingree Park Road to the Emmaline Lake Trailhead. I immediately hit the trail, which starts as a seldom used, 4x4 road. (It was blocked by a car with Indiana plates when I arrived.) 

Immediately, there was a lot of evidence of the Cameron Peak fire. The road, soon entered land belonging to the Colorado State University Mountain Campus.

Here the trail, an old road really, was relatively level,

and offered lots of views of the surrounding mountains up to the northern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Eventually, the trail crossed Fall Creek on a wooden footbridge, 

passed through a heavily burned area, and then entered back into the national forest at a wonderful meadow with a fantastic view.

At this point, the easy trail I had been following, became much more difficult. The trail entered the Comanche Peak Wilderness 

and started climbing in earnest. Soon patches of snow made the most direct path difficult to follow.

After a pretty tough climb, and some postholing in the snow, I finally found myself at a wonderful overlook of Emmaline Lake.

I took a break to eat a snack and rest with a wonderful view.

Then, I scrambled up to a high overlook of neighboring Cirque Lake.

I t was a long hike back to the car. At one point I found myself off of the route. It didn't take long for me to find my way through wet, swampy areas back to the trail 

and eventually, the car.

Roosevelt National Forest: Lower Dadd Gulch Trail

 After a morning watching Sierra at her swim lesson and doing a few chores around the house, I packed the car with my camping gear and hit the road, bound for the Poudre Canyon of northern Colorado. It was a pretty uneventful drive. I found a campsite at the Dutch George Campground and then headed over to the Lower Dadd Gulch Trailhead for my hike. 

I thought it was an appropriate place to hike given that Father's Day is coming up.

The trail was pleasant, without too much of a climb.

A good portion of the trail wound through a wooded area along a stream that I crossed multiple times.

The trail also wound through a few meadows.

Blooming wildflowers included columbine,

a white species of lupine,

penstemon,

chokecherries,

and a distinctive orange-yellow flower that I believe is a type of orchis.

The trail continued its gentle ascent,

eventually entering into an area that was burned in last year's Cameron Peak fire.

At a dirt road, the trail reached its upper terminus. 

I turned around and retraced my route through the burn zone, 

then back into the trees and to the car where I drank a refreshing beer as a reward for my hike.

Then I drove back to my campsite at Dutch George for the night.

Roosevelt National Forest: Crosier Mountain Trail: Garden Gate/Rainbow/County Rd. 43 Loop

 I woke up at about 4 am this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. I decided that I would get ready for my day's adventure and the drive down to Loveland, CO. Quickly into the drive it started to get light. As we approach the first day of summer, it seems it starts to get light at about 5 am. The drive was pretty uneventful, though it appears that they got some major hail in Cheyenne last night. There were scattered piles of it along sections of I-25 in town. After a stop to get breakfast to go, and another stop for gas, I headed up the Big Thompson Canyon and then turned onto County Road 43 at Drake for my hike.

I actually missed the trailhead at the Garden Gate section of the Crosier Mountain Trail. There's not a sign along the side of the road, just a small, gravel parking area. Once I backtracked and found the trailhead parking area, I quickly hit the trail and noticed a sign for the trail about 25 yards from the parking area. 

The trail started with a climb through a grassy area with nice views of the surrounding mountains.

Soon the trail entered a wooded area and passed an open mine.

Every now and then views opened up of the surrounding mountains, showing the evidence of last summer's Cameron Peak Fire.

The trail continued an unrelenting climb up into areas with grassy meadows sprinkled with intermittent stands of pines.

After a bit, the climbing relented and the trail entered into a beautiful meadow.

The trail left the meadow and resumed climbing.

Upon reaching the top of the ridge, views opened up to the west overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. I especially appreciated the view of Longs Peak which I had hiked with my brother Kris back in 2009.

As I made my way back to the trail, I found a piece of bone; perhaps an elk vertebrae?

A few other areas along the ridge also offered views of the surrounding mountains.

After following the ridge for a bit, I found myself at the junction with the Summit Trail.

 The Summit Trail was relatively short, but quite steep. I was relieved when I reached the summit area and a wonderful view.

I climbed an outcropping of rocks there to find the benchmark 

and took a selfie.

After a few more minutes admiring the view, 

I started to make my way down the Summit Trail. The views coming down were nice, though different than those up top.

Back on the main Crosier Mountain Trail, I opted to hike down the Rainbow section and then the road back to my car. The next section of trail traversed through a very dense pine forest.

Occasional views opened up to the mountains to the west.

At the Rainbow Trail junction the trail descended quite steeply.

There were a few nice views to be had in the vicinity of Table Rock.

The downhill hiking went pretty quick. Before I knew it I was at the road. The road walk was a bit of a slog, but luckily the view of the river kept things interesting.

All in all it was a good hike. The Garden Gate section of trail was the most interesting in my opinion, with the lush meadows and ridge top views. I look forward to returning to hike the Glen Haven section of trail in the future.