Meeting Places
1. 3rd and Ogden
2. Safeway at Hampden and Logan - meet near the gas station
3. U Hills: Colo. Blvd south to Yale. Left on Yale. Take first right into shopping center. There is a Starbucks on your left as you reach the parking lot. We park in the center section of lot in front of Starbucks. If you come south on Holly, turn right on Holly and and drive WEST, then left into U hills. King Soopers is at the east end, we park close to the west end of center lot.
2. Safeway at Hampden and Logan - meet near the gas station
3. U Hills: Colo. Blvd south to Yale. Left on Yale. Take first right into shopping center. There is a Starbucks on your left as you reach the parking lot. We park in the center section of lot in front of Starbucks. If you come south on Holly, turn right on Holly and and drive WEST, then left into U hills. King Soopers is at the east end, we park close to the west end of center lot.
Directions to Trailheads
Big Blue Stem
Take the "back road" towards Boulder, CO 93. You get to 93 by taking 6th Ave. west from Denver all the way past Golden to the stoplighted intersection where US 6 makes a left turn to head up Clear Creek Canyon to Central City. As you approach the light, be in a center lane and go straight thru the light which will put you on CO 93. You'll drive almost to Boulder, passing CO 170 which is Eldorado Springs Drive. A short distance past CO 170, you will see the
South Boulder Creek trailhead. Make a left turn off the highway, and then an immediate left into the parking area.
About 45 minutes from 3rd and Ogden.
Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space
take I-25 south to the Plum Creek exit 181, south of Castle Rock. Take Plum Creek exit right and then go south on the frontage road for 5 miles to Tomah Rd. West on Tomah for 1.5 miles to the Dawson Butte Open space entrance on the right. Porta potties avail.
http://www.douglas.co.us/openspace/documents/DawsonButteProfile_000.pdf
Dunraven / North Fork
I think the best way is I-25 north to the US 34 exit toward Loveland. West on 34 to Drake (thru the beautiful Big Thompson Canyon). At Drake you bear left onto CO 43 toward Glen haven. More beautiful canyon and begin looking for the right turn to County Rd. 51B (Dunraven Rd). This is well marked coming from the south, but I did not make note either of signage or miles coming from Drake. Might be 5 miles or more. County Rd. 51B dead ends at the Dunraven/North Fork trailhead.
Hall Ranch
Get to Lyons your favorite way, either north on I-25 to the CO 66 exit, and then west to Lyons; or take 36 to Boulder, thru boulder and continue to a T intersection with CO 7, turn left and go to Lyons, or take CO 93, the back road to Boulder, then 36 as above. When CO 7 comes to a T intersection in Lyons, go left and drive 1.3 miles to Hall Ranch on the right. We'll use the higher parking area. At 6AM traffic should be OK on all 3 routes.
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
As I recall this was a little confusing to find last year, and there always seem to be road improvements going on in Ft. Collins with resulting detours so, be creative.
Take I-25 north to exit 265 (Tinmath Road).
Go west 7 miles on Harmony Rd to Taft Hill Rd. At this point Harmony Rd. becomes County Rd. 38E
Continue west on 38 E 4 miles to Horsetooth Reservoir and the South Bay entrance. Ignore that and go about 2.5 mi. farther West on 38 E to the Hoursetooth Mountain Open Space.
There is an entrance fee, $6/car last yr. Dogs on leash OK.
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/parks/htmp.htm
North Tenmile Creek
trail west of Frisco. Easiest directions to trailhead ever. Take I-7- west to Frisco exit 201. Take the uinderpass under I-70 to the parking area immediately on your left. This is a 7 mi. out and back with 1,000 ft of gain to hi pt of 10,050 ft. Many flowers, creek, mining ruins. About half way we'll hit the Eagles Nest Wilderness area boundary. Creek crossings for sure so bring walking sticks and even a dry pair of socks just in case. Forest Service rates this trip as moderate to more difficult and apparently the first mile is fairly steep, then the trail levels out. My trail guide mentions numerous seeps so expect wet conditions, trail alternates between forest and meadows, and after 2 miles when we enter the wilderness area trail becomes "narrow, rocky and rooty" .
Take the "back road" towards Boulder, CO 93. You get to 93 by taking 6th Ave. west from Denver all the way past Golden to the stoplighted intersection where US 6 makes a left turn to head up Clear Creek Canyon to Central City. As you approach the light, be in a center lane and go straight thru the light which will put you on CO 93. You'll drive almost to Boulder, passing CO 170 which is Eldorado Springs Drive. A short distance past CO 170, you will see the
South Boulder Creek trailhead. Make a left turn off the highway, and then an immediate left into the parking area.
About 45 minutes from 3rd and Ogden.
Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space
take I-25 south to the Plum Creek exit 181, south of Castle Rock. Take Plum Creek exit right and then go south on the frontage road for 5 miles to Tomah Rd. West on Tomah for 1.5 miles to the Dawson Butte Open space entrance on the right. Porta potties avail.
http://www.douglas.co.us/openspace/documents/DawsonButteProfile_000.pdf
Dunraven / North Fork
I think the best way is I-25 north to the US 34 exit toward Loveland. West on 34 to Drake (thru the beautiful Big Thompson Canyon). At Drake you bear left onto CO 43 toward Glen haven. More beautiful canyon and begin looking for the right turn to County Rd. 51B (Dunraven Rd). This is well marked coming from the south, but I did not make note either of signage or miles coming from Drake. Might be 5 miles or more. County Rd. 51B dead ends at the Dunraven/North Fork trailhead.
Hall Ranch
Get to Lyons your favorite way, either north on I-25 to the CO 66 exit, and then west to Lyons; or take 36 to Boulder, thru boulder and continue to a T intersection with CO 7, turn left and go to Lyons, or take CO 93, the back road to Boulder, then 36 as above. When CO 7 comes to a T intersection in Lyons, go left and drive 1.3 miles to Hall Ranch on the right. We'll use the higher parking area. At 6AM traffic should be OK on all 3 routes.
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
As I recall this was a little confusing to find last year, and there always seem to be road improvements going on in Ft. Collins with resulting detours so, be creative.
Take I-25 north to exit 265 (Tinmath Road).
Go west 7 miles on Harmony Rd to Taft Hill Rd. At this point Harmony Rd. becomes County Rd. 38E
Continue west on 38 E 4 miles to Horsetooth Reservoir and the South Bay entrance. Ignore that and go about 2.5 mi. farther West on 38 E to the Hoursetooth Mountain Open Space.
There is an entrance fee, $6/car last yr. Dogs on leash OK.
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/parks/htmp.htm
North Tenmile Creek
trail west of Frisco. Easiest directions to trailhead ever. Take I-7- west to Frisco exit 201. Take the uinderpass under I-70 to the parking area immediately on your left. This is a 7 mi. out and back with 1,000 ft of gain to hi pt of 10,050 ft. Many flowers, creek, mining ruins. About half way we'll hit the Eagles Nest Wilderness area boundary. Creek crossings for sure so bring walking sticks and even a dry pair of socks just in case. Forest Service rates this trip as moderate to more difficult and apparently the first mile is fairly steep, then the trail levels out. My trail guide mentions numerous seeps so expect wet conditions, trail alternates between forest and meadows, and after 2 miles when we enter the wilderness area trail becomes "narrow, rocky and rooty" .