Roxborough State Park: Fountain Valley Loop Trail

 Our 2021 summer vacation has officially begun! Last night we made the drive down from Gering, down through Fort Morgan and into the Denver Metro area. It was an uneventful drive and we spent the night in a hotel in Englewood, Colorado before heading over to Roxborough State Park for our hike. Roxborough State Park is a beautiful little park that reminds me a little bit of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. There are red-colored sandstone hogbacks all around. Upon arrival, we paid our entrance fee, and parked the car at a lot for the visitor center ant trail system. We would hike the Fountain Valley Loop Trail, a short loop that leads to the most spectacular scenery in the park. The awe inspiring scenery was evident immediately!

From the parking lot, we followed a paved trail that led to the visitor center and the start of the unpaved trail. An interpretive sign along the way encouraged touching the sandstone. Sierra complied.

As we started the Fountain Valley Trail proper, the scenery was very pleasant.

Shortly into our hike, we observed a rabbit giving itself a dust bath in the trail.

The surrounding rock formations were very interesting,

and there were lot of flowers in bloom along the trail.

We opted to do the loop counter-clockwise. This means we got to see the Lyons Overlook first, before heading down into a creek valley. The Lyons Overlook is a little spur side-trail loop 

with a wonderful view of the surrounding sandstone formations.

I'm not sure if this particular formation is trying to send us a message.

After enjoying the view from the Lyons Overlook, we headed down into a grassy prairie where we watched a rattlesnake cross our trail.

Then, at about the halfway point of the hike, we found ourselves at the Persse Place. It's an old home and the remnants of an attempt at developing a resort in the distant past.

After exploring the Persse Place area for a little while we continued on the loop into a wetter area.

As we headed back towards the start of the hike and our car, we enjoyed lots more views of the distinctive sandstone formations along the trail.

The Fountain Valley Loop was an easy, enjoyable hike; with lots of great scenery. If you are ever in the vicinity of Roxborough State Park, I would highly recommend a visit!