Horsetooth Mountain Open Space: Horsetooth Rock via Wathen Trail

Today I decided to take an old pair of my work boots to a cobbler in Fort Collins. That meant a day of hiking. I opted to go to Horsetooth Mountain Open Space to hike up to Horsetooth Rock, taking a route I've never before taken: the Wathen Trail. It was an uneventful drive to the trailhead. When I arrived, I went to purchase my parking pass, but the machine was not working. I ended up not having to pay. I hit the trail, 

and initially headed towards Horsetooth Falls. Sierra and I had hiked to the falls back in June of 2022.

The morning was somewhat overcast, but there were still nice views of the smaller peaks of the foothills.

I hiked down to the falls and found it to be just a trickle. 

That's not surprising, given it was also a trickle last time we hiked to it when it should have been running higher with snowmelt. From the bottom of the falls, I made my way to the top. There is a series of pools with small cascades there.

There was also a small "balanced rock" that you can see from near the top of the falls.

After visiting the top of the falls, I returned to the main trail where I watched a female hairy woodpecker climb a ponderosa pine.

Besides the woodpecker, I spotted a few Stellar's Jays and some house finches. 

I continued the climb up the Spring Creek Trail to the Wathen Trail junction.

Once on the Wathen Trail, periodic views of Horsetooth Rock 

and the view over Fort Collins opened up.

I made the final climb to the summit and enjoyed the view up there for about 15 minutes.

For the decent, I opted to take the new Westridge Connector Trail.

This trail was badly needed. Last time I hiked up Horsetooth Rock, I hiked up from the Soderberg Trailhead on the Towers Trail. The Westridge Trail descended down quite a way before I was able to ascend up to the summit. I thought it was silly to descend. Now, hikers no longer have to make that descent as the connector trail eliminates it. Anyway, there were nice views from the new section of trail.

Once back to the car, I made the short drive to Rogers Shoe Repair and then to Funkwerks for a beer before the drive back home.